Existing T30 HDD/XP-install into "new"/used T30?

[rkawakami]

Ann,

I don't believe that the various models of T30 made over the years changed either the Intel chipset or the video controller on the motherboard. Those two hardware subsystems are the main sources of problems when transferring a hard drive from one model type to another. What you may end up changing, and it should cause no software problems, is the display. Your -85U came with an XGA screen (1024x768 pixels). Some models of T30 came with an SXGA+ screen which has a pixel resolution of 1400x1050. In other words, with the SXGA+ screen you'll be able to display larger images without having to re-scaling them, or display more of a web page without having to scroll around. However, everything will appear to be a bit "smaller".

If you can get the model type of the T30 you are considering buying, go to the "MTM" link at the top of the page and plug it in there. You'll see what the original screen resolution was. Note that a previous owner may have changed the screen, so it doesn't hurt to ask the seller if (s)he knows what the resolution is. Good luck!

[RealBlackStuff]

If all else fails, look in the T30 Recovery CD Set Needed thread and contact forum member jronald.

[jronald]

I have the recovery set if you want it. Costs a donation to the Forum.

With that said I think it will swap just fine. Its not going to hurt the HDD to try the swap, it will just BSOD, and you will need the Discs.


Ron

[RealBlackStuff]

ANY working T30 hard drive will run in ANY other T30, regardless of specs (assuming that receiving T30 also works...).
If needed you can buy an external USB CDRW/DVDRW-drive.

[jronald]

Its been years since I have fiddled with the T30's but Im positive I swapped HDDs between them, I had several and at the time HDDs were expensive.

Ron

[jronald]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-ThinkPad-T ... Swn9VaiNNx

Ron

[RealBlackStuff]

In older Thinkpads (before UEFI) ANY drive will run in ANY twin sister/brother from the same series.
Worst thing that can happen is, that you may have to (re-)install a graphics or wifi driver.
Some will also run in slightly older/newer models without modifications.
Try T30 drive in a T40/T41/T42 or R50/R51 (not T43/R52 or newer).
The Recovery disks would only be needed if you want to reinstall everything from scratch.

[Thinkpad4by3]

DO A BACKUP FIRST!! That's how I blew out 5 installs of Windows 7 in 20 minutes. It wasn't about builds I cared about, but if you care about the XP build, back it up. Some machines will brick the build. Ive had it happen, my X61s really loves to destroy builds on every OS, resulting in a boot up BSOD. My T41 has done it too, along with my T520, on countless drive types and sizes.

So RBS> Yes, there is alot worse than reinstalling a graphics driver when swapping drives from different machine eras.

[RealBlackStuff]

Should work.