T40 replacement HDD not found in the BIOS- SOLVED

[super_kiwi_fulla]

Hi guys,
I hope someone can shed some light on this problem we are experiencing.

The T40 we have inherited had some trouble with its HDD, and it crashed big time.

We purchased a new HDD (specs below) which is an 80GB PATA, but it is not recognised by the BIOS.
We flashed the BIOS with then latest update fromthe lenovo site.

The new HDD works fine in a caddy plugged in via USB to a working PC, so we know it is functional.

SEAGATE DRIVE:
ST980815A
Momentus® 5400.3 hard drives incorporate perpendicular recording technology for maximum capacity, reliability and performance in demanding operating environments. Perpendicular recording technology increases capacity and reliability by storing data vertically instead of horizontally for maximum data density on the hard drive and reduced potential for thermal decay.


Specifications 80 GB
Model Number ST980815A
Interface Ultra ATA/100
Cache 8 MBytes
Capacity 80 GB
Areal density (avg) 132 Gbits/inch2
Guaranteed Sectors 156,301,488
PHYSICAL
Height (max) 9.5 mm (0.374 inches)
Width (max) 69.85 mm (2.750 inches)
Length (max) 100.5 mm (3.957 inches)
Weight (typical) 102 grams (0.22 pounds)
PERFORMANCE
Spindle Speed 5,400 rpm
Average latency 5.56 msec
Random read seek time 11.0 msec
Random write seek time 13.0 msec
RELIABILITY
Annual Failure Rate 0.60%
POWER
Maximum start current, DC 1.0 amps
ACOUSTICS
Acoustics (Idle Volume) 2.4 bels
Acoustics (Seek Volume) 2.9 bels



ANYONE know why this wouldn't work?

Cheers

[citizenNB]

Hi,

did you format this new hdd already? If not, plug the hdd in the caddy a second time und format the drive by the working PC. After that the drive should be rcognized by the T40 BIOS.


citizenNB

[zdriver]

The Seagate drive should work with no problems.
It sounds like the new drive is not fully seated in the T40 and making solid connection with the ide motherboard connector.
The drive orientation is pc board up (upside down in the caddy)
Maybe temporarily slide the bare drive without the caddy into the T40 to ensure it makes solid connector contact and power up to see if it appears in the setup bios.
You can put a piece of tape on the drive so you can easily remove it to mount it properly.
After the T40 can see the drive in the bios, it just needs to be allocated - a partition created and you should be ready to go.

[super_kiwi_fulla]

Thanks for the replies guys.

1) Yes we put it in the caddy and initialised the drive in XP, and then formatted it.

2) Will try without the caddy. The only answer I have for that is that it seems to fit in quite nicely, as in, it slots in hard, and you can feel the pins going in. I will try it however.

My collegue did the BIOS update..... does anyone know what the latest update is for this laptop? maybe a link, and I will run it again, to make sure.

Also, in the BIOS, if the drive was working successfully, I am guessing that inthe BOOT ORDER it would say
IDE HDD 0: seagate.... etc

At the moment, nothing comes up next to the first HDD.

Any help is appreciated

[citizenNB]

Hi,

did you set the jumper to MASTER?


citizenNB

[super_kiwi_fulla]

Lads,
You are all lifesavers.
thanks for the information.

The Caddy was the problem, as I followed zdriver's idea and inserted the drive without the caddy.

I also set all defaults in the BIOS (stupidly, so i don't know which actually fixed it, but I am guessing the caddy)

The drive can now be seen in the BIOS, and I have successfully started a win XP install.

I will source some decent screws for the caddy, and insert again properly once the build is finished.

i am not sure how to mark this as solved....

Cheers again for your help.

[zdriver]

Glad everything worked out well and you are up & running ...

Just need to get it back in the caddy with the proper screws and... "she'll be apples"
(hope australian slang works in new zealand or I will be in trouble like Harryc was with "no worries mate" in a past thread)