Thinkpads Forum

Are T60's related to the T43's in that you will get BIOS error code if you swap the HD with a non-IBM approved one?

So if I buy a T60 with say, a 100GB HD, can upgrade that to say 160GB or higher using a non-IBM branded hard drive?

Thanks.

I swapped mine for an OEM drive from Newegg - no BIOS error.

I have used 2 non IBM HDs as Clones in my T60. However, I needed to mount the new HD IN THE T60 During the Cloning Procedure (Using the Apricorn Cloning Kit) to produce a Bootable Clone.

OK, I'll bite:

What's this kit you are referring to?

> I needed to mount the new HD IN THE T60 During the Cloning
> Procedure (Using the Apricorn Cloning Kit) to produce a Bootable
> Clone.

Paul -

Does that mean that you put the original drive in the Apricorn, and the new drive in the TP, before cloning? Did you boot from the Apricorn before cloning?

I used the Apricorn USB Cloning Kit: http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi-bin/s ... temid=a8.3

For Thinkpad use, Apricorn Tech Support told me that I had to 1. Disable Security for Pre-Desktop Area (In BIOS). 2. Clone from the USB Drive TO the Internal Drive.

Accordingly, I Removed the HD supplied with the T60 and mounted it in the USB kit. Then, I mounted the new HD in the T60 HD Bay. Then, I booted from the Apricorn CD. Then, I cloned the HD using the USB HD as the SOURCE and the internal HD as the DSTINATION.

The clone (Now mounted in the T60) is a bootable clone and may be left in the T60 if desired.

I found that if I (Initially) simply cloned from the Internal HD to the USB HD, the resulting clone would not be bootable (just a blinking cursor after initial Lenovo Screen).

However, I subsequently found that only the FIRST cloning had to be made from USB TO Internal. After that, I could clone from the INTERNAL HD to the USB HD and produce a Bootable Clone. I.E, for a clone to be bootable it must have been in the T60 for its first cloning.

Note: By "Bootable" I mean that when the HD is Mounted IN the T60 Drive Bay, it's bootable. I assume that any HD mounted in the USB kit is NOT Bootable (and have not tried that).

The Apricorn Cloning Software theoretically can be used to clone Only the regular Partition (and delete the Recovery Partition, if desired) and change the Partition size (on the Clone) although I have not tried this. This would be the method used to clone to a larger HD.

Edit: Of course, you can (theoretically) clone a HD to a Larger HD and retain the Recovery Partition at it's current size and INCREASE the size of the C: Partition to "Fill Out" the new, larger HD. This would require you to use the "Custom" (instead of "Automatic") Cloning commands when using the Apricorn Software.

I bought my T60 CTO-1953 in late November 2006 and it has a 60 GB 5400 RPM HD. Lenovo specs that I saw did not specify if it's IDE or SATA. Which would it be?

T60s have SATA HDs.

Paul,

That post on apricorn is excellent. I will get one of those cloning kits..

Temetka: A few final precautions:

1. To prepare for Cloning, Open the CD Drawer, Then turn off the Computer.

2. Plug the USB drive into the USB Port, then place the Apricorn CD in the drawer and close.

3. Power up the T60, The Apricorn CD will boot. (The CD must be ahead of the HD in the Booting order, My T60 came from the factory this way).

4. Clone the HD. After the Cloning is complete, Don't exit the cloning program. Open the CD drawer and remove the CD. Then do a Forced Power Down (Hold Power Button down for 5 seconds).

5. With the power off, Disconnect the USB HD.

6. Power up the T60 normally.

Using this procedure, the USB Drive is NEVER exposed to the Normal Windows Operating System, This can corrupt the Clone (If it is in the USB Case).

A final precaution. The default cloning procedure is to use the Internal HD as the SOURCE and the USB HD as the DESTINATION. If you are cloning from the USB HD to the internal HD you must be sure to Select the USB HD as the SOURCE and the Internal HD as the DESTINATION HD. If you are not careful,you can overwrite the IBM HD!!