T30 does not see hard disk

[karotlopj]

I have a problem with a T30 not sensing the hard disk. The disk is fine as I can use it in an enclosure or another machine. What could be the problem? Maybe the port needs cleaning... Is there any way to test/replace it?

[dr_st]

First, be absolutely sure that the disk is inserted all the way and the orientation is correct.

[JBUK]

Second, try another HDD in the same slot. This is a good test of the port's function. I presume it is not recognised by the bios.

[cadillacmike68]

AND try the same HDD in another system. You need to determine if the problem is with the HDD or the ThinkPad.

[karotlopj]

AND try the same HDD in another system. You need to determine if the problem is with the HDD or the ThinkPad.

I've tried around 20 disks in an X21 and they all seem to be recognised.

[RealBlackStuff]

Put it in with the correct side up?
Use the proper caddy?

[evening_hunger]

I'm not into resurrecting old threads, but just wanted to say I recently got a T30, and it kinda sorta has a similar issue. I.e. the IDE hard disk (Hitachi, 120GB) has had episodes where it "dissapeared" from the BIOS.

The machine came in w/o the caddy, which strangely was provided separately. I thought the seller must've had some related issues, and I was right - use a caddy and you can be dead sure the BIOS won't detect the HDD. Without the caddy, we "see" the disk, and can write to it. So, no magic here, there's got to be some issues with the ide port in the mobo.

As pointed up by RealBlackStuff et al. there's a need for more checks, so I've already ordered another disk, also an adapter ide->sata so I can test the disk in some modern system (T30 is from 2001, c'mon )

My first attempt to install Debian on the machine failed, work in progress.

Oh, I forgot. The "Windows purists" could ask why would I remove the original Windows XP. Well, I didnt. The disk, however intermittently, sometimes works right and upon boothing the T30 from it, I discovered it has a prioprietary OS used by the BMW car servicing company. Interesting hardware and soft. This reinforces my opinion that it's just the IDE interface, not the broken disk, as it can sometimes go for hours straight.

take care.