T42 60GB -> WD 320GB upgrade - positive experience...

[jeffcrilly]

Just thought I'd share a positive experience for a change...

My late 2005 thinkpad T42 has been a bit wonky in the OS (XP), so I thought is was time to do a reinstall.
Additionally, the internal 60GB 7200rpm disk was a bit full, and I needed more room.
I also have a 100GB 7200rpm drive in the ultrabay for more space, but it prevents me from running with two batteries.

I've considered picking up a T500, but its just a tad bit large for my liking.

Recently, I discovered the WD 320GB 5400rpm drive for about $100.. which is about what I paid for the 100GB 7200rpm drive a few years ago. Seemed reasonable. I also picked up an external case for the old 100GB drive -- the plan for the ultrabay to install the old 60GB main boot drive in it.

Step 1 was to make recovery CDs. This went ok, but there were a few glitches getting the program to write to the CDs.. I think there was a conflict with autoplay. Nonetheless, it wrote the 6 "product recovery" CDs plus the "rescue" CD.

Step 2 - out with the old drive and in with the new. Not having an extra drive frame is a bit of a pain, but ok.

Step 3 - boot from rescue CD.. for some reason the new drive was not visible.

Step 4 - try using the WD edition of True Image. No luck.

Step 5 - boot windows from the old drive. Inspect new drive. I was weary of adding a partition, as I would like to migrate the service partition also. But I went ahead and made the whole disk one partition (NTFS).

Step 6 - reboot and try TI again. No luck.

Step 7 - reboot to RnR from CD Success.. it sees the drive, and the recover process starts.

Step 8 - after feeding all the disks, and letting it reboot numerous times, I then have a installed (2005 era) windows XP _and_ a service partition. Afaict, the service partition occupies the "correct" part of the disk.

Step 9 - Update windows. Ugh. Did this overnight. And after a few more updates I'm update SP3.

Step 10 - Update IBM drivers & utilities.. I first downloaded the drivers one-by-one.. but then when I tried to install some of the drivers, there was a complaint about the software installer... after digging and digging on the lenovo site I did manage to find.... Thinkvantage System Update

Step 11 - System Update is __fantastic__. It just does it all for you, including the install. wow.

Step 12 - I'm now feeling like I have a pretty clean machine - fairly snappy - and am now slowly getting around to installing office, and other essentials.

While it did take hours getting software downloaded and installed, it has worked out pretty good. I've still not got my full environment back... one step at a time.

jeff

[sktn77a]

Do you notice any speed penalty going from the 7200rpm drive to the 5400rpm drive?

[jeffcrilly]

not really. it seems snappy. tho i've not run any tests.

[dr_st]

Larger (higher density) newer 5400RPM drives will, in most cases, be faster than older 7200RPM drives. No surprises here.

Nice upgrade. I guess that makes the absolute largest possible drive in a T4x, right?

[Tasurinchi]

I guess that makes the absolute largest possible drive in a T4x, right?

...and for the X3* series as well... I did have the same upgrade for my X31 and am more than happy!

[Norway Pad]

So if I'm correct, the recovery discs installs an old version of everything, meaning XP SP2 and all drivers/Thinkpad software in old versions? I bought a recovery CD kit for the T43 online, so I assume these discs also installs the same version that was installed on the T43 when it was new? (2005 era) Interesting to know how much time I need to schedule in case I am doing a reinstall later.

This weekend I am working on our neighbour's HP (UGH!) where Windows Update hasn't been run/allowed for some reason, so it has taken some hours so far to get it up to date.

Interesting to read the details about your disc upgrade, btw. Thanks!

[sjthinkpader]

Generally it will take 3-4 hour to get an OS fully installed and brought up to date.

[jeffcrilly]

So if I'm correct, the recovery discs installs an old version of everything, meaning XP SP2 and all drivers/Thinkpad software in old versions? I bought a recovery CD kit for the T43 online, so I assume these discs also installs the same version that was installed on the T43 when it was new? (2005 era) Interesting to know how much time I need to schedule in case I am doing a reinstall later.

This weekend I am working on our neighbour's HP (UGH!) where Windows Update hasn't been run/allowed for some reason, so it has taken some hours so far to get it up to date.

Interesting to read the details about your disc upgrade, btw. Thanks!

Yep.. it was pretty much like it was when I got it in (?) 2005. However, office 2003 wasnt pre-installed. B^(

It was waaay out of date. Hence lots of windows update followup and also the thinkvantage "System Update" which really worked well.

This version of the bios (its a T42) obviously doesnt have the 2010 error related to the hard drive check. I thought the T43 supported the "sata/pata" bridge, so better check on that issue... lots was written about using non IBM drives in, iirc, the T43.

Yep.. the t42 feels like a new machine. Nice and clean.

This weekend I installed outlook and moved over the PST mailbox files from the old disk. I imported the accounts using a regedit hack...
See http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/ ... -File.html for more info.
1) Basically, I booted from the old drive (do F12 on boot and select other drive), then ran regedit to export the account info.
2) Then booted from the new drive.
3) Then I edited the regedit export to substitute in the "key" that is on the new drive.
4) Then did regedit "import" and it worked.
However, I did have to re-enter all the passwords... and yes I did forget some of them and had to get att to change them for me... hassle.

Btw, booting from the "old" drive in the ultrabay works, but it boots as drive D:.. problem is that the OS and some programs (outlook) cant find a bunch of stuff that hard-configed to C:. I'm not sure how to fix this... e.g. "always make the boot drive C:".. its not a big deal tho.

[MisterBill]

I'm looking to upgrade my daughter's T43 which also currently has a 60gb drive. It seems like the drive to get is the WD Scorpio 320gb. Are there any other options worth considering? I could get smaller, like 160gb for $70, but it's probably worth going big for an extra $30. Right now my daughter has her pictures on an external drive. This way she'd be able to move everything back onto the internal drive.

Does anyone ever put the 320gb drive on sale? I see a few on ebay for a little cheaper but they do not appear to come with the 3 year warranty.

[RealBlackStuff]

For the (supposed) monetary gain, you don't know the state of that HD. Buy a new one from e.g. Newegg.
Buy the WD Scorpio Blue, NOT the Scorpio Black.

[MisterBill]

For the (supposed) monetary gain, you don't know the state of that HD. Buy a new one from e.g. Newegg.
Buy the WD Scorpio Blue, NOT the Scorpio Black.

Yes, I know to get the Blue (PATA) not Black. I was only looking at new drives on ebay but even they only seemed to come with a 6 month warranty. And there is one from mp3superstore for $86 but it does not say how long the warranty is. I've emailed them for details.

ZZF has the drive for $95 now and $15 back if you use ebillme and spend $100 but I can't find anything else to buy. Maybe I'll pick up a 1gb SODIMM for the machine, I think they have one for $30, which would make it $15. Sadly the memory is OOS.

[Beaver]

I'm looking to upgrade my daughter's T43...

I think you will suffer by "2010 error" when using the 320 GB Scorpio drive.

[Tasurinchi]

I see a few on ebay for a little cheaper but they do not appear to come with the 3 year warranty.

Is the price difference worth to buy it from Ebay? I personally don't think so, unless you know the seller very well.

OTOH I have the same drive in my X31 and I'm very happy. I also would recommend maxing out the RAM.

[MisterBill]

I think you will suffer by "2010 error" when using the 320 GB Scorpio drive.

Well, what is my other option for the T43? It seems like the 2010 is an annoyance but it will still work.

[Beaver]

Agree, it will be just bothering you/daughter by beeping

[Tasurinchi]

Well, what is my other option for the T43?

Option will be to stick to the official list of IBM/Lenovo drives, but then you'll have:
- Far less space in your hard drive
- Probably a slower drive

If the beep is very annoying you can still hibernate instead of shutting down

My 0.02 cents...

[MisterBill]

Agree, it will be just bothering you/daughter by beeping

Much less than having her hard disk be over 90% full and having to connect her external HDD to load photos.

BTW I am about to order it from Tiger Direct. They have 15% back from Bing Cashback today. Ordering 1gb PNY memory for the machine as well, $22.99 after rebate ($5). to get over $100 and get free shipping.