Thinkpad R51 Hard Drive over & Caddy Screws, troubles; HOWTO

[jerry12]

I have an IBM Thinkpad R51 1831Au2...

I recently replaced the hard disk drive with a new Western Digital PATA drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136130

The drive above is the one I used to upgrade the Thinkpad R51.

I had taken it to a repair shop previously to get a diagnostic on the hardware because I was afraid I had a failing hard drive, the one one that was installed previously. I found out that I had a screw missing when they gave me back the computer, though, I found out too late to make a claim at the shop for it.

When I installed the new hard disk drive, I followed the instructions as in the Access IBM help feature in Windows XP, under 'hard disk drive, upgrading'.

The hard disk drive cover that holds the hard disk in the place and secures it to the chasis with a single screw, has two large slots to hold the screws in place. I made some cardboard washers to tightly secure the screws to the hard drive cover and the hard drive caddy.


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This image below shows the hard drive caddy with the hard disk drive cover. NOTE, that the metal slots hold the hard drive to caddy and the hard disk drive cover,... though the screw heads are to small to grip the hard disk drive cover and tighten them in place to the caddy and hard disk drive.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-THINKPAD-R51-LA ... 0e&afsrc=1

So my question is, since the screws fall through the slots for the hard disk drive cover, and since they do not secure the hard drive to the caddy properly, how can I find washers to fasten the screws properly to the cover and the caddy? How was it intended in the first place when the laptop was shipped from the factory, as I have my laptop second hand?

Any help is appreciated

sincerely, jerry

[ajkula66]

PM me your address and I'll send you a complete set: proper caddy, cover and all screws involved.

Bear in mind that the drive has to go face down in the caddy...

[RealBlackStuff]

Bear in mind that the drive has to go face down in the caddy...

Correction: the caddy goes on the bottom of the HD, and the whole HD+caddy goes in upside down (HD-label towards bottom of laptop).

[nctrini]

Hi,
I need some expert Thinkpad help. I am new to Thinkpads, and I recently bought 2 R51's ( model 2888- Y1A) off ebay with an intention to fix. They did not have hard drives or Caddys or NIC's. I have tried 3 different PATA drives ( 40GB and 60 GB) and each time the R51 does not recognize the Hard Drives. Is there a specific IBM certified drive for this model. I have searched the BIOS and I don't even see the drive reported in the Config / device list.

Thanks for any help offered.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
Please check your Type again, 2888-Y1A does not exist, neither does 2883-Y1A, where 2883 is probably the correct part.
All hard disks in any Thinkpad need the proper caddy and screws before you put them in, otherwise proper lining-up in the HD-slot is not guaranteed.
You can use ANY PATA/IDE/ATA 2.5" drive, but not SATA.
In the R5x (and several other) models the caddy-HD combo goes in upside down (HD-label towards the bottom of the laptop).
You check for HD presence in the BIOS Startup section, or press F12 right after switching on to select which device to boot from.

[qao]

Hi all and sorry for the bump. I finally got a laptop; an old R51 (TYPE 1829-DRG) that I've been fixing up for school to take notes with on next semester and now the only parts that I haven't been able to track down close by are the hard drive cover along with the proper screws and 3x of size 3/4 screws for the underside.

The only place I can seem to find the caddy is on eBay so my question for those with experience is that do you think all those items are reliable first party products? I'd much rather get these both from someone here with a reputation than from Hong Kong with missing parts or non standard screws.

If anyone can offer advice or help on this matter it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Thinkpad Lover]

I've never had a problem with hard drive caddies from Hong Kong or anywhere else. Unless they're so cheap they're made out of cardboard, I wouldn't worry. Some American sellers (or in your case, your local suppliers) want too much for simple little parts like caddies and hard drive covers, so when waiting time is not an issue, I've purchased and used those parts from HK without issue. As a matter of fact, many times it's the same exact part offered by an American seller- not made in the U.S.A., simply bought from HK in bulk and resold from the U.S.A. at twice the price.

BTW, since you have a 15" R51 you will want to get the proper hard drive cover since the 15" cover extends further into the drive cavity and holds the drive at the proper distance. I found that out the hard way after trying to use a 14" R51 drive cover on a 15" model

I don't have any of these parts available to sell, just sharing some advice.

Daniel

[RealBlackStuff]

No need to get those parts from China or Hong Kong.
I buy them almost as cheap, but way faster, in New York all the time from eBay seller nycom-tech.
e.g. R51 HD cover/caddy/screws http://cgi.ebay.com/HDD-Hard-Drive-Cadd ... 0786272180

[qao]

Thanks for the info guys!

I didn't know the 15" needed a different caddy.. I'll get it from nycom-tech for sure then as per your recommendation.