R51 - how to put HDD on the caddy and caddy cover?

[writebunny]

Hello all,

I just bought my first Thinkpad, an R51 off ebay. It is a 15" model 1836.

I had to buy the HD caddy, screws, and cover separately - and also a HDD.

I bought the caddy and screws from a seller I saw recommended here on the forum. (NYTech I think? - on ebay) It is the caddy specifically for the 15" model.

Here's the problem:
Since I've never seen a caddy and HD assembled before, I'm having a hard time putting this one together. It doesn't look like the one on Lenovos web site.

It looks like this:
http://www.machinaelectronics.com/store ... 1/NL016586

And this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320831018753?ss ... 1439.l2648

THINGS I DISCOVERED:
- I found out that the face of the HD will actually face downward when installed. (It faces up in the caddy, but down in the computer)
- I gather, of course, that the prongs insert into the computer body (Smart or what?)
- I got the HDD to line up right in the caddy - but there is a gap at one end of the sled at the non-pronged end of the HD - should this be there? (I can take a pic if necessary)
- The "open" end of the caddy is on the prong end, right? And the slightly closed or end of the caddy with modest metal tabs goes on the caddy cover end, right?

WHAT I DON'T KNOW:
- Inside the plastic caddy cover is a plastic bit that seems designed to not allow the back of the HD to actually go inside of the cover. I feel foolish admitting that I can't figure out how this caddy cover is supposed to attach to the HDD and the caddy plate.
- The caddy cover has those metal "wings" with holes that could line up over the screws that attach the hard drive to the caddy, but there is nothing to make the cover attach in any way. I must be totally misunderstanding this.

Does anyone have suggestions? I've scoured the internet for example pics but found none on this exact issue. Anyone have a pic? I've emailed the seller but no answer yet.

[RealBlackStuff]

Turn the caddy upside down, so you see the white plastic, and the 2 long edges/sides point up.
On one side of each of the edges you fill find a short angled piece, ca. 1/8" long.
That side is where the pins of the hard disk connector go.
Put the hard disk in the caddy, with the label facing you (the underside electronics will be protected by the caddy.
Now put the 4 (small) screws in, 2 on each edge. Don't overtighten them.
Looking at the Machina picture, the black hard disk cover shows with the bottom up.
The caddy should be in the same position as pictured there.
Put the metal 'legs' with their opening over the screws at the short end of the hard disk where the pins are NOT,
in the position as displayed on the Machina pic.
Now open the lid of the laptop. On the right side front is the opening for the hard disk.
Turn the combo chard disk/cover upside down (label to the table) and slide it (hard disk first) into the HD slot.
Wiggle it a bit, until it fits flush with the short side of the laptop.
Turn laptop over and secure HD cover with the 5th screw.
Pfhew...

[writebunny]

I can't tell you how happy I am for your instructions.

One quick question - just so I don't mess up.

When you said this:

"Put the metal 'legs' with their opening over the screws at the short end of the hard disk where the pins are NOT, in the position as displayed on the Machina pic."

So that's all that keeps the cover in place? It isn't screwed or otherwise made to stay attached to the caddy other than the "legs" slide over those screws and sort of hold loosely like on a hinge? (I envision it letting go one day if I want to remove the drive - panic makes me ask this.)

If that's correct, I'll move ahead and put it in the thinkpad.

[writebunny]

Like this, right?

[RealBlackStuff]

Exactly.
The two 'legs' are tight enough to hold the hard disk in place.
Via the HD cover you can push/pull the HD into/out of the laptop.
You can lift up that construction by the HD-cover, and the HD just 'hangs' in there literally.
DON'T drop it!
Now turn your right-bottom pictured HD over (remember: label to the table!) and slide it in, then secure it.
Honestly, that wasn't so hard, was it?

[writebunny]

Eureka, it worked.

Thanks so much for helping me figure it out. After getting your detailed instructions and feedback, it was a piece of cake.

Hurray!

Now I just have to mosey back over to the Vector Linux forum and see how I am to format the drive before I do my installation. I've been running on Live DVDs for over a week and the R51 has been very snappy.

Thanks again.

[RealBlackStuff]

Check our Linux forum for stuff like that.

[writebunny]

Thanks for letting me know about the Linux forum. I've just posted a new topic there, since I'm having more difficulties that I can't figure out. That topic is here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 79&start=0