UPDATED mSATA + SSD upgrade on IBM X41, drive not recognized

[kcckhk]

HI everyone,

I just purchased a

PCI-E MSATA SSD 50MM 3.3V to 2.5" IDE 5V 44PIN on ebay
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/281031474403?ssP ... 328wt_1144
and i purchased a
ADATA XPG SX300 128GB mSATA 6Gb/s SSD.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_ ... _id=050650

After I replaced these with my old PATA drive from a X41. My computer doesn't seem to recognize it.

Am I doing something wrong? Do I have to flash the BIOS first? Or is there a setting somewhere in the BIOS I need to change?

Appreciated all your help and Looking forward to a answer. THANKS

/*************************************************************************/

[SOLVED by kaitanium]
I purchased a 5v adaptor, and x41 needs a 3.3v.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/281031469911?ssP ... 180wt_1144

I will keep you guys updated when I finish my modification.

[UPDATED on April 16th, 2013]
My 3.3v board arrived last night, and my computer recognized it right away (Yay). However, I am having a difficult time installing an OS on my hard drive. On Windows, once I click "next" on the Install Windows screen, I get some "Windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error 0x80300025. I am not sure what to do yet. If some of you guys know how to overcome this, let me know please. Thanks.

Just burned a DVD for my Win XP installation, and it seems to install properly now. But I am still not sure if the issue is solved by my Disc installation (I was suspecting my bootable USB was drawing too much power), or only Win Xp works..

I will continue my testing by burning a Win8 installation DVD, and see if it works. STAY TUNED!!

[Conclusion]
I tried USB boot Win7, and Win8. Doesn't work
I tried Disc boot Win8, Doesn't work
Only thing that works is Win XP disc boot.

BEFORE

AFTER


Enjoy, if you need help, just PM or leave a comment.

[ganon11000]

Doing the same mod, with the same adapter from the same seller (with FedEx express delivery) and I'm using a 64GB Crucial M4 mSATA drive (£65 from play.com) I hope it works! I've seen tutorials using the same adapter and ssd working!

[whalepirot]

I will keep you guys updated when I finish my modification.

Please do. I bought a HK adapter that doesn't work, despite claims it would.

[ganon11000]

Please do. I bought a HK adapter that doesn't work, despite claims it would.

What is the voltage of your adapter and what ssd are you using?

*my adapter came now I must wait for the ssd.....*

[Bibin]

At some point you may want to modify the X41 to directly take SATA drives... right now you basically have a SATA -> PATA bridge followed by a PATA -> SATA bridge, and throughput will not be very good...

[ganon11000]

that looks so hard, and you get about 80-100MB/s with the adapter apparently (my ssd isn't here) and do you see a big difference with sata cause i thought the Pentium m would hold you back?

[Bibin]

that looks so hard, and you get about 80-100MB/s with the adapter apparently (my ssd isn't here) and do you see a big difference with sata cause i thought the Pentium m would hold you back?

It's more that you'd just expect a small amount of latency. It isn't a big difference, just that it's worth keeping in mind for some day down the line.

[ganon11000]

It's more that you'd just expect a small amount of latency. It isn't a big difference, just that it's worth keeping in mind for some day down the line.

In all honesty I'd have a newer thinkpad by the end of the year :p (WDDM capable!)

[iychang]

I'm have the same problem with error 0x80300025 during installation of Windows 7/8 on Sandisk U100 24gb mSata. I had no problem with Samsung 32gb mSata. If you ever figure out the solution, I'd be interested as well!

[ganon11000]

Could a SSD be to small? Or is it just that its a cheap adapter and only likes some SSDs? BTW no problem installing anything on my Crucial M4 64GB , still using windows 8 on it.

[iychang]

I don't think it's because of the size of the msata drive, OP has the same problem with his ADATA 128gb. I've heard it might be related to having TRIM enabled during installation/setup and that you might be able to install windows 7/8 on a HDD, disable the TRIM, and then copy the image over to the msata, but I haven't tried myself yet.

[iychang]

Success! I imaged the windows thin pc installation on the samsung msata drive where I had trim disabled, and I was able to transfer over the installation to the sandisk u100 . The only complication is that I needed to run startup repair to fix the mbr and boot parameters after the transfer in order to boot correctly. Hope this helps the next person having msata woes on the x41/x41t.

P.s. for those not in the know, windows thin pc is essential a slimmed down windows 7.

[ganon11000]

I don't think it's because of the size of the msata drive, OP has the same problem with his ADATA 128gb. I've heard it might be related to having TRIM enabled during installation/setup and that you might be able to install windows 7/8 on a HDD, disable the TRIM, and then copy the image over to the msata, but I haven't tried myself yet.

I installed windows 7 (after ~2 hours or more) and then disabled trim, then upgraded to windows 8 and all is still good.