T42 2373, ruggedized HDD use query

[bobox]

Hello all (-:

My T42 2373 4WG brought me here ... I'm very glad to have found this site. It's a great resource which should (fingers crossed) allow me to sort out my T42.

I have a general query about what precipitates the need to rebuild, and a specific request for feedback/comments about Seagate ruggedized drive use. (My background is lifelong computer 'user' but never had to do anything beyond software installation before)

What precipitates the need to rebuild?
Is it usually software failure (umm .. how does this happen?); if this, then HPA is useful.
Or physical (other?) disc failure? If this, then going through the seemingly extra-ordinary loops required to get the HPA onto a new drive will do little good.

Since my existing HDD (Hitachi 40GB) has no space for a dual boot Linux install I want, and is in any case looking a bit long in the tooth (manufactured 23feb2004 ... definitely need contigency plan for failure) I've been looking into upgrades.

In this context I've come across Seagate's ruggedized drives (e.g. 80GB Seagate Automotive extreme ST980818AM). The idea of having a 'rugged' drive is appealing, since anything I can do NOT to have a future failure is appealing ... but does anyone have any experience/opinion/comment on using these discs ? I'd appreciate any & all feedback regarding slotting one of these drives into my T42.

TIA

M

[poshgeordie]

Hi Bobox and welcome to the forums.

A couple of things that would cause a rebuild - or at least some sort of strip down could be:

• Laptop is running hot / fan not working, and the CPU fan assembly needs cleaning out and heatsink compound on the CPU replaced.
  
  The display freezes or goes off during use, which indicates faulty soldering of the graphics chip necessitating a reflow or reball of the chip by a specialist company. This very common problem can be reduced by carrying your Thinkpad correctly. This leaflet may help as a reminder.

Others will contribute I'm sure.

Replacing the HDD only involves removing one screw, opening the lid slightly, and pulling it out in its carrier.

Your choice of HDD looks very interesting but is probably a bit over the top for normal use - great idea for ruggedised use though.

This document will also help you in stripping down a 14" T4x laptop.

[craigmontHunter]

The hard drive in the t4x are shock mounted, and with the active protection, there is not really any need for a ruggidized hard drive, the computer takes care of it.

- I know this from experience (fastest time going down a flight of stairs ), and the hard drive still works.

[bobox]

Hi Bobox and welcome to the forums.

A couple of things that would cause a rebuild - or at least some sort of strip down could be:

• Laptop is running hot / fan not working, and the CPU fan assembly needs cleaning out and heatsink compound on the CPU replaced.
  
  The display freezes or goes off during use, which indicates faulty soldering of the graphics chip necessitating a reflow or reball of the chip by a specialist company. This very common problem can be reduced by carrying your Thinkpad correctly. This leaflet may help as a reminder.

"Ouch!" and I've been known to carry my T42 in some of those ways!
Thanks for the heads-up. And consider me repentant!
M

Others will contribute I'm sure.

Replacing the HDD only involves removing one screw, opening the lid slightly, and pulling it out in its carrier.

Your choice of HDD looks very interesting but is probably a bit over the top for normal use - great idea for ruggedised use though.

This document will also help you in stripping down a 14" T4x laptop.

[bobox]

The hard drive in the t4x are shock mounted, and with the active protection, there is not really any need for a ruggidized hard drive, the computer takes care of it.

- I know this from experience (fastest time going down a flight of stairs ), and the hard drive still works.

I sympathise ... I've done that too. It hurts. Was the HDD on at the time?

[craigmontHunter]

Standby - so the hard drive was off (thankfully)

Now when people ask why I don't upgrade, I ask them if they would like to see which computer would still work after an express flight down stairs . They don't ask twice.

Long Live Thinkpads!!!!!!!!