Firewire on A31P

[alsodon]

Hello,
My A22P's screen is on it's way out and I'm looking at replacing it with an A31P. I have a DV camera and would like to make sure I get an IEEE-1394 port on the machine but I'm a little confused. Looking at Lenovo's website and the tawbook.pdf file seems to imply that all A31P's come with a 1394 port. I've found other references on the web that state that it only came on some models though. I have emailed three sellers of A31P's on ebay and got one "I don't know", one "no" and one no response back. As these sellers seem to think the S-video ports are PS-2, I don't give think I can trust their answers anyway. What is the real deal? I know I can get it on a pccard but I'd like to find one with it built in if possible. Thanks in advance for the help.

[ramcelroy]

According to the tawbook and the A30, A30p, A31, A31p Hardware Maintenance Manual, firewire comes on all A30p and A31p.

[charlienyc]

According to the tawbook and the A30, A30p, A31, A31p Hardware Maintenance Manual, firewire comes on all A30p and A31p.

my A31p sure doesn't, not even with the port replicator. the port's there (on the replicator) but nothing happens when plugging into it.

[vkim]

to charlienyc:

Are you sure?
The 4-pin Firewire400 port is on the right side from the PCMCIA sockets.

Thanks,
Val

[charlienyc]

yeah! believe me, i spent hours searching for it when i got my first iPod. i looked all over the machine, in manuals, in the Access ThinkPad app. etc. to no avail.

Val, there's nothing that would make me happier than proving me wrong, though. i'd feel like an idiot (no change from usual ) for a while and then use that sucker daily! ah freedom from PCMCIA... (i'll stop dreaming now)

my particular machine is an A31p is a 2653-Q5U, and this is one of very few qualms with it. to satisfy any curiosity out there, weight, lack of USB 2.0 & Windows key are the other qualms. otherwise it's a fantastic workhorse of a machine.

oh yeah, no DVI from the port rep. either
cheers,
-c

to charlienyc:

Are you sure?
The 4-pin Firewire400 port is on the right side from the PCMCIA sockets.

Thanks,
Val

[vkim]

Wow.
That is interesting. I was so sure that all A31p have Firewire.
Sorry about my doubts in you

Mine is 2653-H6A and it does have Firewire. No USB2 though wich is indeed very inconvenient. I had to put a PCI USB 2 card in my dock as a solution.

As per Windows key, I don't like them anyway. Neither do I like a touchpad. Together with a fact that I don't carry it a lot, mine A31p makes a perfect fit for me.

And I did not know that the dock DVI port is not supported. Good to know!
Thanks,
Val

[charlienyc]

Wow.
That is interesting. I was so sure that all A31p have Firewire.
Sorry about my doubts in you

no worries at all!

And I did not know that the dock DVI port is not supported. Good to know!

at least that was the case last i tried it (~3 years ago). i don't know if that follows with all A31 models or not, or if there's been some kind of software upgrade or driver that changed the functionality. maybe someone could chime in on that?

cheers!
-c

[schen]

I think the situation is that on units that have 1394, then the connector on the port replicator works, if the machine doesn't have 1394, then it doesn't. Port Replicators are just that (Port Replicators); replicates what the machine already has without adding anything. That's why, unless you have device connected that need to be stopped, you can just hot eject the machine. If you have devices attached, then you have to warm eject.

[ElbertR]

For those of you missing the Windows key on the A31/A31P: there is a small utility out there called 'thinkpadbutton' that will allow you to assign various functions to the thinkpad button next to the sound volume buttons.

One of these functions is the windows key.

The function of the windows key can also be emulated by pressing <Ctrl> + <Esc>.

If you have a A31P without firewire, you might be able to add it by replacing the part that holds the PCMCIA cards to which the port is attached. Check the Maint. Manual for that. You will also have to cut out the small hole for the port in the bezel.

[fongj]

For those of you missing the Windows key on the A31/A31P: there is a small utility out there called 'thinkpadbutton' that will allow you to assign various functions to the thinkpad button next to the sound volume buttons.

One of these functions is the windows key.

The function of the windows key can also be emulated by pressing <Ctrl> + <Esc>.

If you have a A31P without firewire, you might be able to add it by replacing the part that holds the PCMCIA cards to which the port is attached. Check the Maint. Manual for that. You will also have to cut out the small hole for the port in the bezel.

There is also a Thinkvantage utility for hotkeys that can assign the Windows key to some other button. I have the ALT key on the right side as my Windows key, since all the things I need my ALT key for are on the left hand side anyway.

The Thinkvantage utility does other nifty stuff too; I have Shift + Forward (the Internet button near the arrows) set to pop open the optical tray.

Another (pretty easy) way to get Firewire is to just get a PCMCIA card for it. Even though I have the 4-pin firewire port on my A31p, I got a cheap Compaq (i.e. rebranded) Firewire PCMCIA card (with two unpowered 6-pin ports) from a CompUSA inventory clearance sale. I like the 6-pin ports because I think the 4-pin port is a bit loose, and sometimes my firewire audio interface (M-Audio Firewire 1814) would stop responding.... which is a very bad thing with live recordings that I only have one chance to capture.

[charlienyc]

ok check this out. vkim was right (sorry, vkim) in that A31p's do all have firewire built-in. thanks to a helpful member (Chuck), it was pointed out to me my machine is NOT in fact an A31p as i always believed it to be. so there, Firewire for all A31p machines, ya know, if ya have one!

that's probably the same reason my DVI port didn't work... oh well.
cheers,
-c