Thinkpads Forum

I have recently updated from a Thinkpad T42p to a Thinkpad W500.

My T42p has a 2nd HDD adapter ultrabay slim with a 60Gb ATA/IDE drive.

Can I use this item with my W500?

triumph wrote:I have recently updated from a Thinkpad T42p to a Thinkpad W500.

My T42p has a 2nd HDD adapter ultrabay slim with a 60Gb ATA/IDE drive.

Can I use this item with my W500?

Doubt it. I had a CD drive from a T41 and it doesn't fit. Here is the one I bought at Lenovo...compare the part #s and you should have your answer:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... 5867D31462

No, you cannot. The T4x and T6x had slightly different ultrabay devices, which were incompatible AFAIK. The W500 and other new thinkpads have a SATA ultrabay, so any previous device (batteries excluded) will not work, even if it fits. The T6x and prior had PATA ultrabay connections.

I thought this might be the case.

Is it possible to take the HDD and mount it in an external box and access it via USB or via an ExpressCard connection?

You can go external USB 2.0, but speed will be about 30-80% slower than the latest eSATA enclosures: depending on your planned usage, that may not matter to you.

Easiest is a ExpressCard that slides into the slot at the side of your W500, with an eSATA capable external hard drive enclosure. More challenging and expensive route is an Advanced Dock:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_Advanced_Dock
and a PCI-e eSATA adapter in the dock, but I've had issues with my T61p (which uses same dock) and getting it to boot and not hang at SATA scanning during POST: wound up turning off eSATA drive to get thru boot, then turning back on again. Depends on eSATA controller chipset you choose.

Hope this helps!

Many thanks for all your replies.