Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I've been slowly upgrading my old '00 Thinkpad 390X 2626 with newer and faster parts, the machine is bomb proof but a little lacking when it comes to XP...

SO I've changed the Memory to 512mb onboard, added a 4 Port USB PCMCIA card, and it runs like a dream, but the hard drive has a few issues, so I have bought a new 160gb Samsung to run in it.

However it only reckonises 65gb of the drive.

Does anyone have any clues or tips on what I should do?

Its a PIII 500, System No. 2626MOG55117W4, Board No. JI561sd0peu.

BIOS is 15B042WW, date 11/24/1999. Does this need updating?

Thanks

EDIT: I tried updating the BIOS and as I have no battery (I never really used one and its dead now) it won't any clues?

Welcome to the forum.

Have you tried partitioning that HD?
Use e.g. a partition of 60GB (more than adequate) just for Windows. Then create (an)other partition(s) to use the rest of the HD. Check if there is a limiter-jumper on the rear of that HD. Could it be a FAT32/NTFS conflict?

Here someone updated BIOS without battery. You can probably do the same with yours with a small modification:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=64651

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, I basically tried what you suggested, partioned it using G-Parted from CD, made a 20gb for windows... (never need more than that!) as FAT 32, booted it from dos (with smaerdrv running) and installed XP.

Works great and I can barely hear it running at all...!
Now accepts the other 140gb as D-Drive!

When I removed the old drive it rattles! I think the Travelstar has done its travelling...

Oh, and Eboost helps with the lack of memory!!

Thanks again for the help, I now have a bombproof Laptop that runs pretty sweet.