Thinkpads Forum

Hi Guys,

I've acquired an old IBM T43 (CPU 1.86GHz) and want to upgrade it to use for low level programs and Internet.

I know its old. It has XP installed and I'd like to upgrade to Windows 7, will I need to upgrade the Bios first ?
If so does anyone have a link to a newer Bios download ?

Second, will Windows 7 detect the drivers in the T43, win 7 not supported by Microsoft anymore.

I'd thought about upgrading to a solid state harddrive, I don't need much storage space so a 120Gb SSD would be fine, would the Bios recognise an SSD. ?

The T43 has 2 Gb RAM, could I upgrade to 3Gb, even with a 32 bit Windows 7 OS ?

Would you recommend any other mods or components to be replaced ?

Thanks
Mike.

I'm pretty sure 2GB is max.

An SSD will work if it is a PATA SSD or if you put it in the ultrabay with an adapter adapter. There is also a SATA mod noted by folks here to allow a SATA drive to be used in the primary drive bay.

I think,but am not sure that the T410 / T510 W7 recovery discs will install, but others here know more.

You will need a BIOS update and there is someone here who can post a link to it.

Welcome to the forum.

The T43 will not boot with more than 2GB of RAM, so that's maxed out.

You can get an SSD (the BIOS doesn't care if it's an SSD or an HDD), but because T43 actually takes PATA (IDE) drives, you either need to mod it, or get an SSD that is integrated into a SATA-IDE adapter (another option is a PATA SSD, but these are old rare, and not very good).

If it's ATI GPU-based T43, it should play relatively nice with Windows 7. If it's an Intel iGPU-based unit - not so sure.

I think being on the latest BIOS is a good thing in these models, regardless of anything else.

Sad to say, there's not much you can do with the T43 with regards to its performance.

* Max RAM is 2GB

* No upgrade path to dual-core processors

* The HDD port is a mess, in the sense that it's actually a SATA port that is routed to a SATA-IDE bridge chip. This doesn't cause a problem with IDE HDDs, but any IDE SSD that uses a SATA-IDE bridge chip internally would cause various issues (like max speed reduced to 33MB/s, SSD detection issues, severe lagging, etc.)--this includes most IDE-to-mSATA or M.2 adapters.
The solution is to remove the SATA-IDE bridge chip on the T43's system board and make it a SATA port, but it requires considerable skill in electronics to pull it off. Here's an illustrated guide http://mikejmoffitt.com/articles/0000-t43sata.html

* Personally I'd remove the WiFi card (especially if It's the Intel 2100B) and use a USB dongle instead.

* I don't recommend Windows on a machine this old.

Trying to go online with a T43 and any Windows version is asking for trouble.
Use a minimal Linux distro if you want to go online and use a wifi card like the TP-Link TL-WN861N.

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:57 pm

Trying to go online with a T43 and any Windows version is asking for trouble.

Well if you want security updates you can install Windows 8.1 Update 1 on T43. that's still perfectly supported.
I know it works because I had it installed before upgrading to Windows 10 (ATi graphics only)

dr_st wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 04, 2021 11:02 am

The T43 will not boot with more than 2GB of RAM, so that's maxed out.

The T43 WILL boot with more than 2GB of RAM but you will never be able to use more than that so totally pointless.

dr_st wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 04, 2021 11:02 am

If it's ATI GPU-based T43, it should play relatively nice with Windows 7. If it's an Intel iGPU-based unit - not so sure.

An ATI GPU based T43 can run both Windows Vista and Windows 7 natively with Windows Aero with Windows vista drivers. It can also run Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 up to 1607 but with some minor quirks.
An Intel GMA GPU on T43 can run Windows Vista and Windows 7 with XP drivers, but it requires quite a bit of fiddling. You need to install in safe mode and install only one of the two iGPU devices, or Windows will glitch out and uninstall both drivers for you. No driver support for Win8+
The 2100 3A/3B cards are similar to this. You need to select all exe files inside the driver extract and force them in compatibility + administrator privledge mode or it will stuck at driver installation for half an hour and then fail.
Windows 8+ do not work with XP wifi drivers so that's out of the question. Only the 2200BG/2195ABG has Vista drivers. All of them also only have x86 drivers - not an issue anyway unless you pull those cards out and install in a desktop
So the smoothest install experience is with the 2195ABG/2200BG wifi and ATi Radeon X300 graphics on a T43 if untouched.
As for installing SSD's, you can always install in the Ultrabay instead and then no problems afterwards, plus you get SSD + HDD combo.

Wow Guys,

Thanks so much for the knowledgeable advice, its brilliant to get accurate information from experts. It will save me time and money by not going down the wrong upgrade paths.

The display card is a ATI mobility Radeon x300.

I'll initially try the windows 7 OS and then later take your advice and try a Linux OS, perhaps one recommended for older slower processors like the one in my T43.

The WiFi card is Intel and so I've ordered a TP-Link USB wireless adaptor from Amazon.

I've decided its not worth upgrading the HDD to SSD, so I'll manage with the stock 40 Gb. I'll use the cloud and USB for extra storage.

I would like to upgrade the Bios and so would be grateful of a link to a download for a Bios file.

Thanks Guys, your help is much appreciated.

Mike (UK)

Don't forget the whitelisted BIOS that will complain if a "non-supported" HDD is installed.

Someone here has links to T40 series BIOS that not only removed the whitelists (for Wifi too) but also installs the SLIC 2 into the BIOS for no hassle win7 activation.

Can the person(s) who have links to the BIOSs please post? Thanks.

With 2GB, I would only recommend the 32 bit versions of whatever OS you use.

cadillacmike68 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:38 am

With 2GB, I would only recommend the 32 bit versions of whatever OS you use.

Don't forget it's not until T60 with an upgraded Core 2 Duo processor that you HAVE to settle with a 32 bit operating system either way.

Mike-G6 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 07, 2021 8:21 am

The WiFi card is Intel and so I've ordered a TP-Link USB wireless adaptor from Amazon.

You have to see whether you have the Intel 2100, 2200BG or the 2915ABG. With the latter two you can have flawless driver support in Windows 7, while with the 2100 you have to fiddle around the driver a bit to get it working, and it's a much slower wifi card (but believe it or not where it shines is in Windows 98).

TTAV134 is who you want: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_ ... ified_BIOS

Guys,

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. I acquired a non IBM approved HDD. The 80Gb drive doubled the storage capacity of the original and thanks to your link for a Bios upgrade it fixed the 2010 POST error.

I was particularly impressed with the BIOS software that downloaded with the file. It made the upgrade easy and quick, with details of the process displayed on screen.

My attention is now focused on the OS. I've looked on Ebay and noticed several copies of Linux on CD. I know its available to download but at a cost of a little over $2 including postage, I might send for one and give Linux a try.

I'll keep you informed on my progress, but so far its been a breeze.

Regards
Mike (UK)

Most Linux distros can be downloaded for free.
Burn them onto a CD/DVD.

Guys,

I've installed windows 7 (32bit) and am having problems finding a Display Driver for the ATI graphics card.

I'd be grateful if anyone has a link to a download.

Other than that its performing quite well considering its age. LOL

Regards
Mike.

PS
I have two T43 (2668) Thinkpads and I've decided to install a Linux OS on the other one. Would I be correct in thinking something like Zorin 15.3 Lite would be a sensible option for a first attempt at Linux for a Windows operator.

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds001310

Vista driver that works in W7.

Guys,

Many thanks for the Link to the Vista Display Driver, it works fine on Win7 with my ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Card on my T43 type (2668)

Looking in Device Manager, I have the following drivers to sort.

ACPI\ IBM0068

ACPI\ IBM0071

ACPI\ NSC1100

Plus the Network Controller, but I'm using the TF-Link Wifi USB dongle at the moment.

I'm assuming Vista drivers might work on my Win7 if i can't find Win7 drivers ?

Regards
Mike
(UK)

One of those ACPI\IBM devices is the power management controller.

The NSC1100 is the infrared I believe. If you want the driver for it, I think I can find it, and I found it as a preloaded driver from Windows vista that's somehow removed in Windows 7 and up but works just fine even in Windows 10

Re: Infrared Drivers

Hi Guys,

If you have a Link to a driver I could use that would get rid of the Error in Device Manager I be grateful.

Regards

Mike
(UK)

Are you actually going to use the IR port? If not, then remove it , save some HDD and CPU cycles.

Remember IR is straight line of sight. It is not a wireless signal.

Mike-G6 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:35 am

If you have a Link to a driver I could use that would get rid of the Error in Device Manager I be grateful.

There you go: https://1drv.ms/u/s!At7-rt1KJ7WviP1u7Ex ... Q?e=J6xP4u
On a side note if you don't use it you can also just disable it in the BIOS settings

Guys,

A big shout out of Thanks for all your advice and help giving my old T43 a new lease of life.

I'm really pleased how it performs with Win7.

I loaded the remaining drivers and even the Infrared, which I may never use. The advice about disabling items not used in the BIOS was excellent. Its often the obvious things we sometimes miss.

One last job on my T43 that may need doing (or not) I've seem YouTube video's of replacing the Silicon Heatsink compound on old CPUs, do you think it makes a difference in helping cooling of the CPU after many years of use. ?

Mike-G6 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:15 am

One last job on my T43 that may need doing (or not) I've seem YouTube video's of replacing the Silicon Heatsink compound on old CPUs, do you think it makes a difference in helping cooling of the CPU after many years of use. ?

You should definitely re-paste the machine given its age.

Get a reputable branded thermal compound while at it. Things like Arctic silver, mx series or thermal grizzly are some on the top of my mind.
Replacing it with Chinese no name thermal paste can yield worse performance than the 14 year old compound inside your machine.
If you have 14.1" disassembly for removing the heatsink is somewhat easier as on the 15" the keyboard bezel and palmrest is one whole piece and it loves to crack right above the fingerprint scanner

I've had good experience with Shin-Etsu thermal paste.

With that said, I would monitor the temperatures first before determining whether it's worthwhile to disassemble it and repaste.

Thanks again for the advice guys.

I have found some quality Thermal Paste online.

Regards
Mike

Mike-G6 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:59 am

Thanks again for the advice guys.

I have found some quality Thermal Paste online.

Regards
Mike

If thermal grizzly is what you bought online, be aware there are fakes on ebay!