Can a CF-IDE adapter be installed w/o removing the palmrest?

[SailingAway]

Is it necessary to remove the palmrest portion of the laptop in order to insert the CF-IDE adapter into the IDE port? I didn't know how difficult it would be to line up the pins without removing this part.

If anyone has any other tips for installing the adapter, please post them.

Thanks.

[Neil]

It's possible. I usually do it without removing the palm rest, but it's not easy. You can't really see what you're doing, so it takes some carefull alignment, and a few misses before you get it right.

[AGoodSolution]

Is it necessary to remove the palmrest portion of the laptop in order to insert the CF-IDE adapter into the IDE port? I didn't know how difficult it would be to line up the pins without removing this part.

If anyone has any other tips for installing the adapter, please post them.

Thanks.

I've searched long and far for a trick/tip or guide to make this easy and have yet to find. Please share yours if you have one.

I've literally fried CF cards if the adapter isn't properly plugged in and powered on.

The X41 will pass POST but the CF card fails to detect and various "OS Not found" or just a blank screen error occurs while the card cooks from the center and melts the manufacturers branding decal (which Lexar, Transcend or Sandisk will look for as signs of abuse upon warranty request) and hot enough to burn skin.


Since then, I go through the trouble of removing just eight of screws from the bottom half the deck which is enough to flex pry the palmrest high enough ensuring the IDE pins are properly aligned.

I avoid removing the CF adapter by using a Sharpie or any suitable nonmetallic tool to keep the CF adapter anchored when removing the tightly inserted CF card itself and this prevents the necessity of costantly reinserting the entire adapter if just removing the card.