Thinkpad Ultrabay 2000 problem

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kain1384 · #1 Post by **kain1384** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:03 am

Hi, I've been having problems with my T22's disc drive lately, a lot of times my computer will randomly freeze for a second, then a message will pop up, either saying 'you can remove the ultrabay 2000 device from the system safely' or 'the device was attached successfully,' usually it does it when the laptop's moved a little. I checked the thinkpad ultrabay device properties, and it says the same thing for the status, the problem is that when it says you can remove the ultrabay 2000 device, I can't seem to find the disc drive anywhere in the My Computer folder, and when I insert a disc, the computer doesn't seem to read it. Does anyone know what may be causing any of this?

Purcy · #2 Post by **Purcy** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:20 am

Hello, welcome. Have you checked Device Manager for your drive, to check the status of the driver? You might first try to uninstall the driver, take out the drive, shut down the computer, pop the drive back in, boot and see if Windows finds the drive and installs the driver.

kain1384 · #3 Post by **kain1384** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:13 am

Device Manager? Do you mean like the 'Add/Remove Programs' Icon in the Control Panel? There's a 'ThinkPad Ultrabay 2000 Hot/Warm Swap Driver' listed in there. Is that it?

Purcy · #4 Post by **Purcy** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:43 am

no, click on:

My Computer
Properties
Hardware
Device Manager

find your CD-ROM drive and see if it shows your drive listed in there, if so double click it and it will open the screen for it; look in the window at the bottom that shows the status of the drive.

dsvochak · #5 Post by **dsvochak** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:30 pm

...usually it does it when the laptop's moved a little

A basic question: is the drive loose?

That is, when you move the laptop, are you perhaps moving the Ultrabay device and it disconnects?

kain1384 · #6 Post by **kain1384** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:50 pm

There's 'disk drives' and it contains 'generic nec floppy disk' and 'generic ide disk type01,' is it that last one? The status for it says the device is working properly.

A basic question: is the drive loose?

That is, when you move the laptop, are you perhaps moving the Ultrabay device and it disconnects?

Maybe, what do you mean by loose exactly?

TomKroscavage · #7 Post by **TomKroscavage** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:12 pm

There is a micro switch between the ultrabay latch and the right hinge. That micro switch is your problem. Tighten all the screws and make sure none are missing. If that does not work you will have to take it apart to investigate.

Orevin · #8 Post by **Orevin** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:40 pm

Spirit-1776 wrote:There is a micro switch between the ultrabay latch and the right hinge. That micro switch is your problem. Tighten all the screws and make sure none are missing. If that does not work you will have to take it apart to investigate.

The reason is a broken bracket on the Ultrabay cage. This causes the laptop case to flex and the switch can't work properly. I have marked the part in this image.

Phazer · #9 Post by **Phazer** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:12 pm

What Orevin said also happened to mine, I've got a spare if you need it. Also, if it is broke, it can crack /break your keyboard bezel.

kain1384 · #10 Post by **kain1384** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:39 pm

Yeah, I'm starting to think something might be broken. I'm not very experienced with computer programming, so what should I do? Do I need to take it out somehow?

Phazer · #11 Post by **Phazer** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:57 pm

It's not hard, just intimidating. If you don't have it, download the HMM from Lenovo and it will pretty much tell/show you how to do it, of course that only works if you print the relevant pages or can load it on another computer. Pay attention to the pictures, it will tell you what else needs to be removed but you'll have to look up those items seperately.

BTW....a tight RH hinge can be the ultimate problem of all this. While you have it apart, put a drop of 3-1 on the washers below/beside the nut and work it sloooooowly until it loosens up. Be aware that with the bezel and the 2000 drivebay support removed that the bottom/motherboard will flex "ALOT" unless you press down lightly on the RH rear corner.

#12 Post by **rkawakami** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:14 pm

Here's the broken piece you are looking for:

http://www.rkawakami.net/images/broken_ ... racket.jpg (5KB)

It's attached to the back of the laptop by one screw and is usually attached to the Ultrabay frame. As Phazer says, the strain of opening and closing a tight lid can cause this tab to break off from the rest of the Ultrabay frame. It seems like metal fatigue and a thin, 90 degree bend are the prime reasons why this is a common problem. I've already replaced three of them on the T23s that I have and I think that there's two more that need fixing.

kain1384 · #13 Post by **kain1384** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:28 am

I don't know anything about taking my computer apart, I'm afraid I'm going to break it.

#14 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:51 am

Download the Hardware Maintanence Manual (HMM) that Phazer mentioned earlier. It details the steps needed to remove every piece of hardware from the T22. Available from here:

HMM for T2x systems

you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader program (a free download as well) to view the documentation. After reading through the sections on how to remove the keyboard, the hinge cover, the keyboard bezel and then the Ultrabay slot (starting from page 74), you should get a good idea on what is involved. A small phillips screwdriver is all that you need. You probably should also have a way of keeping the various screws together, and separate from the other groups of screws. Several small paper cups, a desk drawer organizer or compartmentalized utility box works great. For each of the major pieces you remove (i.e., each designated FRU), label whatever storage system you use with that name, and place the screws inside. That way you're not guessing what screw goes where. Take your time, study the drawings in the HMM and you shouldn't have too many problems. There is a little "trick" on how the Ultrabay slot gets removed from the laptop base, but if the bracket has indeed broken off, then it's really a little bit easier than normal.

kain1384 · #15 Post by **kain1384** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:29 pm

I'm not even sure if it is in fact broken, sometimes, like right now, the disc drive does seem to work.

Phazer · #16 Post by **Phazer** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:32 pm

See if moving the monitor back and forth causes it to eject.

kain1384 · #17 Post by **kain1384** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:44 pm

It does sometimes when I adjust the monitor position.

Phazer · #18 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:19 pm

I'd bet dollars to donuts the support ear is broke. That's exactly how mine acted and the keyboard bezel was broke also.

Does the monitor feel stiff when moving it?

kain1384 · #19 Post by **kain1384** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:12 am

Yeah, kind of.

Phazer · #20 Post by **Phazer** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:09 pm

Bad thing is, you tread a very fine line betwen enough tension to hold it and loose enough not to cause long term problems.

kain1384 · #21 Post by **kain1384** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:16 pm

What do you mean?

Phazer · #22 Post by **Phazer** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:17 pm

Usually a few drops of oil and work it back and forth for about 1/2 an hour loosens it up just right. I had to actually loosen the nuts on one of mine to get it to swing more freely. But I had to readjust it about 10 times before I got it so the LCD won't drop back on it's own. Getting the nuts loose was almost enough to flex/break the chassis. Just oiling them ought to work, but your half way to checking the cage by taking the hinge cover off.

MikeATL · #23 Post by **MikeATL** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:16 pm

Any suggestions on where to find a replacement Ultrabay guide rail for my T22? Mine recently broke (along with the keyboard bezel) and I'd like to replace it before any more damage is done.

Thanks.

#24 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:20 pm

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

You can put a "WTB" (Want To Buy) or "LF" (Looking For) post here in the Marketplace forum or you can try eBay. There are other online sources for IBM Thinkpad parts but generally they are somewhat higher in cost than what you might find on the "bay".

kain1384 · #25 Post by **kain1384** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:41 am

What sort of oil would work, and where exactly should I use it?

Phazer · #26 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:19 am

I used 3-1 oil. You have to remove the keyboard and then the hinge cover. Each hinge has two nuts on it and just to the outside of those two nuts, you'll see some (two I think) wave washers. Just put a drop on the top of the wave washers and then slowly work the monitor back and forth. Press firmly on the edge of the base (by the PgUp/PgDn keys) to keep the lower chassis assy from flexing too much until it gets a little freer. If you don't know how to remove the keyboard and cover, download the HMM from lenovo and print the relevent pages dealing with removong those items. And.........keep track of which screw goes where. It DOES make a difference. You should be able to check the ear/tang on the drivebay to see if it's broke. The screw that retains it is the one on the very left (when veiwing from the rear) under the oval cover by the external keyboard port.

Thinkpad Ultrabay 2000 problem

Thinkpad Ultrabay 2000 problem

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