How to use 60GB drive as USB mass storage device

[northstar7]

I have a Thinkpad T23 and I want to access a 60GB travelstar 7200 rpm laptop harddrive through the USB port.

I bought several versions of the cables that connect a 2.5" through the USB. They can all talk to a 10GB laptop harddrive I have lying around.

But when I plug in the 60GB drive, it spins and the connector lights up for a second or two but the contents of the drive never become accessible.

The system seems to think it has a drive attached: It's available to stop with the unplug hardware facility and it shows up on the device list.

But unlike with the smaller drive, no icon appears under My Computer and I can't find the contents listed anywhere.

Anyone have a suggestion?

thanks very much,

Dhruva Hein

[wireless4laptop]

The cheap USB harddisk device normally can not satisfy with the power need of high speed 7200 harddisk. Why not put this 7200 in laptop? For T23 the usb is 1.1. The speed to too slow for USB device.

[ttan98]

I suppose you plug the 60G HD into the T23 USB port, this port is only V1.1, hence low speed.
You cannot get any device recognition because the T23 USB port cannot supply enough current to the HD. I experienced similar problem before.

One soln, buy a PCIMA card with USB 2.0(gives higher data transfer speed) and also able to accept an external 5.0V input plug pack. The plug pack will supply enough current to the HD. I am fairly confident this will work as I use this combination to operate with my 20G HD. I know it is a hassle, power supplies everywhere!!!!!

cheers...

[northstar7]

Hi. I did some poking around for PCMCIA USB cards with power input, but the ones I could find were panned in user reviews.

Any suggestions on a brand name for a PCMCIA card that will work on this?

BTW, my spare drive is configured with the drivers for a T21 and won't work in my T23. Plus, I want to transfer most of the data from the spare to the working drive.

thanks again to all for your help.

Dhruva

[ttan98]

My PCIMA card I bought is an AL CHEAPO model, nothing special. Any brand I believe will do, if you are worried buy a brand name model, if it doesn't work well enough return it, you can get your money back or replace with other goods.

If you use XP pro, T21 and T23 drivers I believe are the same, If the PCMIA can supply enough current it will read any kind of drive. Even some Desktop PC with USB 2.0 interface(power comes from the pC itself) cannot recognised the 2.5" HD if the USB cable is too long, I have to connect the HD close to the USB port, then it is OK. In fact I experience this today.

The reason, you can recognise the 10G HD is because the the HD requires less current than the 60G HD to operate properly. The current requirements vary from HD storage capacity and brand name as well.