Use hard drive from an R31 on a T4x

[thinktwice]

Hello,

Does someone know how to use the 40 Gb hard drive of a R31 on a T4x, without compromising the ability to later use the R31 with another hard drive ?

Should the BIOS be upgraded wenn used on a T4x, or can I simply keep the BIOS of the R31?
(which seems working before installation of the OS)

Sould I use the "BIOS Settings Capture/Playback Utility" ?
Does this run inside Windows or from a live CD ?

Lastly, are there legal issues when upgrading/changing the BIOS on an IBM Deskstar hard drive that was originally installed in another IBM Thinkpad?

Thank you.

[Neil]

The BIOS is stored in a eprom on the motherboard, not on the HDD.

You will be able to use any 2.5" IDE PATA hard drive in either the T4x or the R31. Of course, it will be best to zero fill a hard drive from one computer, to completely get rid of anything on it, before installing the new operating system.

Oh, and the 3.5" Deskstar drives will not fit in any ThinkPad, so no legal issues there.

[Otto]

Oh, and the 3.5" Deskstar drives will not fit in any ThinkPad, so no legal issues there.

Probably here's a little misunderstanding... Because 2.5" Deskstars also exist. Hitatchi or IBM branded drives and very common in Thinkpads. Also it's definitely a 2.5" drive in case it was taken from another Thinkpad.

However there are no legal issues with swapping a hard drive from a laptop to another, as long as you don't transfer the installed operating system with the drive.

[Neil]

@Otto....those 2.5" IBM branded Hitatchi drives common in ThinkPads are Travelstar drives, not Deskstar. Still, you are probably right, the OP just got the names wrong.

[RealBlackStuff]

FWIW: those Deskstar drives have been renamed Deathstar for a very good reason...