T61 14.1 non-WS .. firewire? where?

[esmail]

Hi,

Ok, I feel silly asking this ...

I have the non-WS 14" T61 .. doesn't this system have firewire? It looks like the documentation that comes up with the blue ThinkVantage (?) button shows it, but I can't find it.

I find something that could be a "door" in the front to the left of the wireless radio switch, but I haven't been able to open it (if that's where it is). Pushing hasn't helped, and I've tried (relatively gently) to pry it off.

So, is there firewire? Am I looking in the right place?

Thanks!
Esmail

ps: there seem to be some differences in the ports between different T61 modes. I have seen pics where the mic/audio ports where in the front instead of the side as on mine.

pps: since the system came with basically no printed documentation (unlike my 560x and T23), is the main documentation we have access to via the ThinkVantage button/center? I wish there was a manual as before.

[sugo]

4:3 14.1" T61 doesn't have firewire.

[esmail]

4:3 14.1" T61 doesn't have firewire.

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. Are you sure? It seems like my system documentation that comes up with that blue button says I do?

Do some of the other T61 models have firewire? If so, how come this one doesn't (surely not because due to a 4:3 screen?)

[sugo]

Tabook says 4:3 14.1" T61 doesn't have firewire. I also own a 4:3 14.1" T61.

[esmail]

Tabook says 4:3 14.1" T61 doesn't have firewire. I also own a 4:3 14.1" T61.

bummer.

i guess the 15" also comes with an additional memory card reader in the front.

[Peak2Peak]

According to the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the T61 14.1" - Non-WS (Jan-2008) under Specifictions - I/O port: IEEE1394 connector (Some models).

Granted, I have not seen any T61's 14.1" (Non-WS) with IEEE 1394 connectors now on Lenovo's US & UK site - but they may on their way soon (Poss this or next quarter?).

[Rob Mayercik]

Tabook says 4:3 14.1" T61 doesn't have firewire. I also own a 4:3 14.1" T61.

Then the $64,000 question is, can it be added?

[erik]

Then the $64,000 question is, can it be added?

there's no provision for firewire on the 14.1" 4:3 T61's system planar.   sorry.

cardbus or expresscard adapters are the next best alternative.

[gator]

There is no firewire on regular 4:3 T61. Even the WS models have a single only unpowered 4-pin port ... If you want to run a HDD etc, you need to find a cardbus or expresscard options with 6-pin firewire 400 or firewire 800. I have the following card and it is great.

Apricorn Dual Ignitor 400

There are a lot of other options that if you want Firewire 800, just search in www.newegg.com

[Rob Mayercik]

Then the $64,000 question is, can it be added?

there's no provision for firewire on the 14.1" 4:3 T61's system planar.   sorry.

cardbus or expresscard adapters are the next best alternative.

That would probably be a better route for me anyhow, since I'd then be able to use it on the 600 as well.

From the "why ask why?" department: If Lenovo made no provision on the planar for firewire, why'd they spend the money to provide the trap door for it on the shell? It's not immediately apparent to me how one could use the same shell mold for both the WS and non-WS systems.

Perhaps there's a mini-PCI firewire card with a rat-tail that could be routed there?

[qmp198596]

it doesn't have 1394 on non-wide screen;if you need,i think you should buy the wide screen one

[Rob Mayercik]

it doesn't have 1394 on non-wide screen;if you need,i think you should buy the wide screen one

Come on, where's the fun in that?

Actually I don't need 1394 on either of my TPs, but my mind runs from time to time, and now it's churning on why the shell of the non-WS model has the physical provisions for the 1394 connector if it doesn't have the electronic ones.

I wonder what else might be able to go there?

[EAkamai]

I find something that could be a "door" in the front to the left of the wireless radio switch, but I haven't been able to open it

Yes yes yes! It seems that they cheaped out somehow, as this looks like the logical place it SHOULD be. And it is very close to where the port for the 14" WS is. hmmmm. Well, i've done board level repairs in the past. Isn't there a module that can be added there? I'm crazy enough to try it. .... or am i? Well in case i chicken out:

Onto another big question: for all of us that have this 14" non WS version and need the 1394a or b. Does anyone have any suggestions for cards that have worked for them? There are so many choices and with the added choice of eSata vs. PCMCIA, can anyone offer choices that have worked for them? Don't want to get stuck with a lemon card.

Thanks!

[o1001010]

why do you possibly want firewire on your thinkpad? it is the biggest security risk there is

[beeblebrox]

I find something that could be a "door" in the front to the left of the wireless radio switch, but I haven't been able to open it

Yes yes yes! It seems that they cheaped out somehow, as this looks like the logical place it SHOULD be. And it is very close to where the port for the 14" WS is. hmmmm. Well, i've done board level repairs in the past. Isn't there a module that can be added there? I'm crazy enough to try it. .... or am i? Well in case i chicken out:

Onto another big question: for all of us that have this 14" non WS version and need the 1394a or b. Does anyone have any suggestions for cards that have worked for them? There are so many choices and with the added choice of eSata vs. PCMCIA, can anyone offer choices that have worked for them? Don't want to get stuck with a lemon card.

Thanks!

I figured out that the T4x series had firewire when I installed Linux on it and it told me about the firewire driver. When I checked the hardware I found that the R5x series had the very same motherboard and some R50 had firewire.
As usual manufacturers produce one type of mainboard that is assembled in various configurations.
E.g. your can place a Samsung Flash on the empty space of an G4 iPod nano and upgrade. The 8GB version has both places with flash chips, the 4GB has one empty.
The T4x has no external port, some R50 have the extra connector. It is all about configuration to discriminate prices for various models.

If you are good at soldering you can add a firewire slot and a S/PDIF audio interface with a few wires. Hell, even 5.1. Audio is there!!

I assume the same with the T6x series...

[Rob Mayercik]

why do you possibly want firewire on your thinkpad? it is the biggest security risk there is

Gee, I don't know, maybe because most digital video cameras use a firewire interface?

How is firewire any more of a security risk than USB, RS232, parallel ports, etc.?

[EAkamai]

How is firewire any more of a security risk than USB, RS232, parallel ports, etc.?

I too, am curious about the answer to this question and the reason for the extra concern. I usually just disable them if i don't use 'em anyway.

[Pascal_TTH]

4/3 have the IRDA. 16/10 have Firewire. The Firewire is on the infrared *door*. This *door* is a translucent part with regular model and the IEEE connector mount for widescreen.

[o1001010]

How is firewire any more of a security risk than USB, RS232, parallel ports, etc.?

I too, am curious about the answer to this question and the reason for the extra concern. I usually just disable them if i don't use 'em anyway.

firewire have a built in backdoor and if you the software to take advantage of that backdoor, poof instant administrator account.
some advance os addresses that by seprating the fw into a different subroutine. see here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewire#Security_issues

Devices on a FireWire bus can communicate by direct memory access, where a device can use hardware to map internal memory to FireWire's "Physical Memory Space". The SBP-2 (Serial Bus Protocol 2) used by FireWire disk drives uses this capability to minimize interrupts and buffer copies. In SBP-2, the initiator (controlling device) sends a request by remotely writing a command into a specified area of the target's FireWire address space. This command usually includes buffer addresses in the initiator's FireWire "Physical Address Space", which the target is supposed to use for moving I/O data to and from the initiator. [24]

On many implementations, particularly those like PCs and Macs using the popular OHCI, the mapping between the FireWire "Physical Memory Space" and device physical memory is done in hardware, without operating system intervention. While this enables high-speed and low-latency communication between data sources and sinks without unnecessary copying (such as between a video camera and a software video recording application, or between a disk drive and the application buffers), this can also be a security risk if untrustworthy devices are attached to the bus. For this reason, high-security installations will typically either purchase newer machines which map a virtual memory space to the FireWire "Physical Memory Space" (such as a Power Mac G5, or any Sun workstation), disable the OHCI hardware mapping between FireWire and device memory, physically disable the entire FireWire interface, or do not have FireWire at all.

This feature can also be used to debug a machine whose operating system has crashed, and in some systems for remote-console operations. On FreeBSD, the dcons driver provides both, using gdb as debugger. Under Linux, firescope[25] and fireproxy[26] exist.

i never ever will buy a laptop with fw built in.