Thinkpads Forum

Hi folks!

I tried searching for an answer and haven't seen any issues, but was hoping someone else has seen this.

I have a T61P (currently Win7 but also noticed this on Vista), and typically use a second HD in the Ultrabay adapter. The drive is a standard ~200GB, 7200RPM SATA drive. Most of the times, the drive works fine. Sometimes, though, the drive just stops responding. The HDD light under the monitor will stay on, but there doesn't appear to be any activity. The drive disappears from explorer. If I try to properly eject the drive, I get a message that the drive is in use and cannot be safely ejected. But if I do it anyway, I can put it back in and it starts working again.

Obviously I've stopped using it for anything critical.

Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions for a fix?

Thanks much!

Is the drive bootable or is it just a data drive? I have heard several reports of this with the ultrabayslim drives in the T4x and T6x with no rhyme or reason (the drives work fine in other computers and the computers work fine with other drives). I think it may be a drive connector/bay connector connection tolerance issue.

Thanks for the reply -- drive is just data.

If connection tolerance issue, any potential workarounds such as small shims or something?

I guess this might mean needing to go back to external drives...

Is the adapter a "real" one or aftermarket?

richk wrote:Is the adapter a "real" one or aftermarket?

100% genuine.

Unfortunately just not in warranty.

I would recommend a 5400rpm drive for use in Ultrabay HDD adapter.

I'll give that a try. Actually, I need to find a 5400 drive first... hate to buy one just to test.

I have a T61p running Vista and often use 7200 RPM drives in the Ultrabay caddy, both PATA and SATA (both adapters aftermarket). I've never had the problem you describe.

+1.
The drive's RPM is irrelevant to the problem you are describing.

+1
i too use a 7200rpm 500gb seagate in the ultrabay adapator and have had no issues. the caddy is from ibm/lenovo