Ultrabay Slim HDD Adapter Question

[invictus]

I've come across a PATA Ultrabay Slim HDD adapter (FRU P/N 62P4553) and I was wondering if it'll work in my Z60m (2529-EAU). I've got a SATA Ultrabay Slim HDD adapter (26R9246) and both look the same, well except for the interface with the hard drive obviously.

It would be nice to have my 100GB PATA attached to my laptop and not have to use an external enclosure, and I'm not quite ready to risk blowing something on my laptop or the hard drive.

Any thoughts anyone?

- Jon

[jkahng]

the z series(with the exception of z60t, z61t) use ultrabay enhanced drives/adapters. these are about 3mm thicker than the ultrabay slim devices. the slim devices will fit / work in the ultrabay enhanced bay, but b/c of the gap, it won't be a tight fit.

i don't have 1st hand experience, but i think this gap would be a problem if the thinkpad is carried/handled.

just my 2 cents,
john

[invictus]

the z series(with the exception of z60t, z61t) use ultrabay enhanced drives/adapters. these are about 3mm thicker than the ultrabay slim devices. the slim devices will fit / work in the ultrabay enhanced bay, but b/c of the gap, it won't be a tight fit.

i don't have 1st hand experience, but i think this gap would be a problem if the thinkpad is carried/handled.

Well snap. I didn't noticed this before but the drive adapters are slimmer than my optical drive. I haven't had any issues with the SATA adapter when transporting my laptop, but then again I'm quite careful about transporting it.

I'm wondering if I should get the SATA ultrabay enhanced adapter now... drat.

- Jon

[FRiC]

The gap is not a problem since the bay has a little rubber flap that closes the gap. It's not perfect, but it's not a gaping hole.

A bigger problem is the possible need to use a drive bracket (the same one when you install a drive into the ThinkPad) when installing the drive into the Ultrabay adapter. I had to use one, but many people here insist that you don't need one.

[jkahng]

I'm wondering if I should get the SATA ultrabay enhanced adapter now... drat.

- Jon

do they make a sata adapter for ultrabay enhanced? i think they only have it for the ultrabay slim. (so same story for pata and sata)

[jkahng]

The gap is not a problem since the bay has a little rubber flap that closes the gap. It's not perfect, but it's not a gaping hole.

A bigger problem is the possible need to use a drive bracket (the same one when you install a drive into the ThinkPad) when installing the drive into the Ultrabay adapter. I had to use one, but many people here insist that you don't need one.

you mention that the 3mm gap is not a problem b/c there is a rubber flap. => would this rubber flap keep the drive tray from moving up and down vertically? if you can get it to move with relatively small amount of force, i think it would be a risk to the drive tray connector and the internal ultrabay connector.
can you give us some insight on this as i mentioned, i don't have one in front of me. pictures would help too...

also, is the "bigger problem" you mention, is this refering to the bezel? as the z series uses a curved bezel and the adapters do not.

Thanks.
John

[invictus]

The gap is not a problem since the bay has a little rubber flap that closes the gap. It's not perfect, but it's not a gaping hole.

A bigger problem is the possible need to use a drive bracket (the same one when you install a drive into the ThinkPad) when installing the drive into the Ultrabay adapter. I had to use one, but many people here insist that you don't need one.

you mention that the 3mm gap is not a problem b/c there is a rubber flap. => would this rubber flap keep the drive tray from moving up and down vertically? if you can get it to move with relatively small amount of force, i think it would be a risk to the drive tray connector and the internal ultrabay connector.
can you give us some insight on this as i mentioned, i don't have one in front of me. pictures would help too...

also, is the "bigger problem" you mention, is this refering to the bezel? as the z series uses a curved bezel and the adapters do not.

Thanks.
John

The rubber flap I think is to help assist with keeping dust out - it's not sturdy enough to help keeping the adapters from moving up or down.

The SATA drive I have in its adapter does not have the drive bracket and the drive fits fine. I've installed a test PATA drive in the other adapter and it does have the drive bracket and it fits fine too.

Strange though, the SATA adapter I bought does not have a curved bezel - it's just flat. The PATA adapter that I've come across has a beveled bezel, and while not curved, it looks more at home with the Z60m laptop than the SATA adapter does.

I'll see about getting some snapshots - my camera is at home and I'm at work at the moment.

I'm starting to wonder if I do have the wrong adapter(s) for my Z60m...

Also, does anyone know if the PATA adapter would work in the Z60m electrically without damaging either the laptop and/or the drive? I've removed the cover of both the PATA adapter and the SATA adapter and looked inside, the PATA adapter has a flat ribbon like cable between the connectors (drive to laptop), while the SATA adapter has a bit of circuitry (small board with a chip or two) in it.

- Jon

[invictus]

Ok, below are some links to the photos I've taken that I had mentioned earlier. I apologize in advance for the crappy outcome on the pics - I don't have a good camera

Here's a picture of the SATA adapter alongside the optical drive. You can see the difference (hopefully).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8830735@N04/541194964/

Here's a picture of the PATA adapter alongside the SATA adapter. I tried to show the difference in the front bezel but I don't think it came out all that clear.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8830735@N04/541194978/

Here's a picture of the optical drive in my Z60m's Ultrabay.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8830735@N04/541194994/

Here's a picture of the SATA adapter in the Ultrabay.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8830735@N04/541195002/

And here's a picture of the PATA adapter in the Ultrabay. I tried to show how the PATA adapter looked better than the SATA adapter does in the Ultrabay slot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8830735@N04/541195068/


I'll try and see if I can get some better photos taken from a friend's (better?) camera and post them up.

- Jon

[FRiC]

you mention that the 3mm gap is not a problem b/c there is a rubber flap. => would this rubber flap keep the drive tray from moving up and down vertically? if you can get it to move with relatively small amount of force, i think it would be a risk to the drive tray connector and the internal ultrabay connector.
can you give us some insight on this as i mentioned, i don't have one in front of me. pictures would help too...

also, is the "bigger problem" you mention, is this refering to the bezel? as the z series uses a curved bezel and the adapters do not.

The Ultrabay adapter itself does not move, since it's on rails and locked. It's secure once slided in.

However, I find that if I don't use a drive bracket, the drive is only held in place by the IDE/SATA connector, and it moves up and down. The little piece of plastic that folds down prevents the drive from sliding out horizontally from the connector, but it does not prevent the drive from moving vertically. But like I said, some people don't seem to have any problems.

The curved or flat bezel are for different body types. I got a T60 recently and my curved PATA adapter curves into the body leaving a gap, so I bought a SATA adapter just so it could fit nicely.

[jkahng]

so, besides the 3mm gap and difference in bezel, everything should be nice and secure, if i use the proper drive guides. this is good to know.
thanks for the info and pics. it was very useful.