Can an X40 boot from SD card?

[pdudas]

Hi!

I have an X40. I want to use a Linux live cd and I dont want to boot from the X4 docking station (in my car .......). So I want to boot a linux from the Usb key or the SD card.

This is a Knoppix live cd, which can be booted from USB (I find the way to make the usb key bootable when I copied the contents of the image). I dont have a big USB key, so I want to ask if the built-in SD card reader is bootable?

Then I can buy some 1GB SD card and all the images I need will be with me I use Hiren's boot cd, Security Administrator linux cd, ......

Did anyone tried this?

[em500]

The built-in SD reader isn't bootable. If you really want to use an SD-card you probably could boot it through a small USB-SD adapter like this one. Note that even if you boot from the built-in SD reader, there are no linux drivers for it available. If you have to buy one anyway, you might as will buy a 1Gb USB key, they're around the same price as SD now.

[pdudas]

I dont want to use adapters outside the thinkpad.
I'd use my 2.5" USB2.0 external Hdd enclosure if I cannot find a solution.

Do you think the PCMCIA-SD (or cf with Microdrive ) cardreader is bootable?

I know the Pcmcia interface is bootable, but what about the Sd reader in this slot?

[em500]

I doubt it. I've tried unsuccessfully to boot an X21, T23 and X40 using a CF card with a PCMCIA adapter (and the X21 directly in the CF slot). My only success has been with my old TP 600E. I suspect none of the newer machines can boot from a PCMCIA harddisk (which is what a CF through PCMCIA essentially is), only from selected PCMCIA CDROMs.

I wish it was different. The SD-slot on the X40 (and CF on the older X series) would be perfect for rescue software or alternative operating systems, but the BIOS just refuses to boot them. I think your best bet is still a small USB flash disk, like the Sandisk Cruzer Micro, otherwise the 2.5" enclosure should do fine.

Also, be aware (as I've posted before) that at the moment there are no Linux drivers for the SD slot, and I'm not aware of any efforts to write one. I believe the main problem is that the controller manufacturer (Ricoh) does not release any specs.

[pdudas]

I think I'll buy an 1.8" hdd. It will work with a modified 2.5" HDD USB enclosure with one usb port attached. (modified, because the drive is shorter than the 2.5" model.)(Electrically will be the same)

I removed my X40's 1.8" Hitachi drive and it worked in a Vipower USB2.0 2.5" hdd enclosure powered from 1 usb port on the same thinkpad.

This is the perfect solution for my problem.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... ode=100525

Unfortunately I live in Hungary, so I dont know if they ship here.

[phr]

If 1gb is enough, why not just buy a 1gb usb key? They're less expensive than that Hitachi drive, about 60-70 usd if you shop carefully. Some of them have write protect switches so you can be sure that your rescue process doesn't mess up the contents of the key. In that regard they're better than hard drives.

Also, I don't understand why you want to use a 1.8" drive. I'm using a 2.5" drive (Toshiba 4200 rpm 40gb) in one of those usb2 enclosures and it works fine with my x40 under usb power. I'd only get a 1.8" drive if I wanted to upgrade the x40 internally (they make them in 60gb now).

[pdudas]

phr: can you give me the type of the drive you used?
Is it working from one usb port attached?