Thinkpads Forum

Thanks to all that have helped in my other thread about the bootable Win98se cd-rom. I now would like to ask a couple questions about my laptop, which was the origonal reason why I came to this forum in the beginning!

I was given my I1300 to me from a friend who upgraded it by buying a newer one. For my use, it will do for what I want. I do have a couple questions that maybe someone here knows. I have been to the new IBM site (forget who owns it now) and asked a few questions that were not answered clearly. I also scaned this site and did searches but did not find the information for my unit that I was looking for.

First, my laptop has a standard CD-Rom drive. Can this drive be upgraded to a CD/DVD rom player? How about a CD-R/W drive? For the job I am going to be doing with it this spring, I'd prefer the CD-R/W if available.

Second, what is the maximum memory size for the HD that can be installed? I currently have a 10g HD and occasionally run across >50g HD's. I fully understand the physical size limitations, just curious to see if there were 'logical' limitations.

Third, I am going to be upgrading my CMOS memory and am installing a 128mb memory card as soon as I can, but will a 256mb version work? Is there a limitation here also?

Lastly, can the keyboard keycaps be purchased seperately? I have a friend who owns a Alienware Area-51 laptop with a few keycaps missing, and my I1300 seems to have the exact same ones as his that are missing. The membrane switches and and cap holder asm's all seem to be in good shape, so I am hoping I can buy the individual caps, or a complete set of caps.

Thanks, in advance, for any information on these subjects that can be supplied.

OGPIM

OK, here are some of the answers to your questions:

1. There was an i1300 that came with a CD-RW standard, so yes you should be able to upgrade it. (I had to look at the Hardware Maintenance Manual to make sure since the tiwbook.pdf says "not removeable") (Part number 08K9610) There is also a DVD drive that is listed as well (part number 08k9580)

2. The largest hard drive that this series came with was a 20GB, but I am sure that it can take up to an 80GB with the latest BIOS, as with other machines made at this time.

3. There is a 256MB ram chip that you can use (part number 26p7988), which would bring you up to 320MB.

4. As for the keys, you might be able to pick up the keys off of eBay, or even an entire replacement keyboard.

As for the information that I have given you, it has come almost exclusively from the Hardware Maintenance Manual:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 3p0894.pdf