Thinkpads Forum

Hi All !
My wife fried her T60 2007-72u by running it w/o fan (one long, 3 short boot beeps). It’s a standard machine, no add on options etc.

Question: I would like to insert my wife's current hard drive into a working Thinkpad to get her back up and running again.
I’m pretty sure it has to be a T60 (?). But does it have to be a T60 2007-72U ? If not what other model T60 qualify to be able to boot her hard drive without issues?

Thanks in advance,
Carl

Welcome to the forum!

That hard drive should boot in any T60/p, or even a R60.

Good luck.

Hi Carl, welcome to the forum. Wish it were under better circumstances.

There is a good chance that the HDD will boot in most any T60 with ATI graphics without much issue. Doesn't have to be the exact type. Does it have the original ThinkPad install of XP? If not, my experience has been that Windows wants to be reactivated with any hardware change. The original install won't.

Other options would be to repair the current machine, depending on what "fried". If the motherboard is OK, and just a CPU and fan needs replacing, that would be a fairly easy repair. You have one of the more desireable screens on that machine, so a motherboard swap would not be too far fetched. A little more work, but probably less money that buying another similar machine. Just my $.02.

xajkula66 and Neil, Thank you for your quick responses.

xajkula66,
if I use a different machine don't i need all the correct drivers for that model? i.e. R60

Neil,
I’m a little lost on the windows reactivate issue given new hardware. My wife's T60 is refurbished via IBM employee discount around about 2009 (prior to retirement). The bottom has an two MS Windows XP Pro stickers. One is the original and the second statesMS Windows XP Pro Refurbished (IBM). Based on this info, will I have to reactivate? What is involved with this reactivation?

Goal: Purchase a T60 2007-72U or $139.00 w/o battery and hard drive granteed to work. Use my wife’s existing hard drive and battery to get her running again.

Thoughts (anyone),

Regards,
Carl

cace2002 wrote:
xajkula66,
if I use a different machine don't i need all the correct drivers for that model? i.e. R60

From an electronic standpoint, R60 is the twin brother of T60, but with no fancy clothes...a couple of drivers might or might not differ between the two.

Goal: Purchase a T60 2007-72U or $139.00 w/o battery and hard drive granteed to work. Use my wife’s existing hard drive and battery to get her running again.

If you can buy a 2007-72U in good shape for $139 with no battery or hard drive, I'd say go for it. Feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood your goal.

RE: Windows reactivation.

Don't worry about it. I doubt that it will be an issue at all following the path you've decided to take. It really has nothing to do with the license stickers on the bottom of the machine, but with how the OS was originally installed. At any rate, if reactivation should be required, it's just a matter of doing it online with a couple of mouse clicks. No big deal.

Hello again !

As stated in the beginning: My wife fried her T60 2007-72U by running it w/o fan. It’s a standard machine, no add on options etc.

I found a used T60 2007-73U (vs. 72U) in good working condition (not purchased yet), which should be a good match to be able to just plug her hard drive into and boot w/o probs. But then I noticed it does NOT have a 'Finger Print Input reader' like my wife machine does. Can anyone tell me if that might be a severe show stopper upon booting my wife hard-drive in this machine? I can get this machine for a good price ($139) if not a big issue w/ 'Finger Print Input reader'.

Again, thanks for everyone input
Regards,
Carl

Not a show stopper in the least.

And you can swap the palmrest with FPR from your wife's machine into the new one, will take you less than 10 minutes.

That's right... I had to remove it to look under the keyboard, replug mem, etc... you-da-man!
Sometimes I can't connect the dots.. dah..
Thank you!