T43 SATA mod issue/query

[harryUK]

Hi all, I'm new to the gang..

OK. I have a T43 which I want to do a HDD/SATA mod to, as I tried to install a samsung PATA HDD into the laptop and it didn't accept it, besides I rather mod it to what its meant to be able to use.

My problem: It's my father laptop (a heavy handed user, hence a T43), and a about a year ago, he had to give to an independent company to have it PAT tested (electrical safety test) to use at a school.
In my stupidity, I set a system lock so that no one could access the HDD, (I should of just removed the drive, never came to me!!!!).
Anyway, as you can tell I cannot now remember that password, so cannot alter anything in BIOS or probably used the modded bios for 2010 beep. (And before you think its stolen, no it is not).

I'm not tasking about password hacks **rules**, besides I know about that stuff and its too expensive.

My question is, could I still do the SATA mod, without being able to access the bios, would it throw up anything that would need BIOS. I don't want to unsolder/hack the laptop in case I cannot revert it back, before I know the answers to my question?

Thanks ever so much.

[RealBlackStuff]

Did you set that password only for the hard disk, or for the laptop itself, i.e. a Supervisor password?
If only for the hard disk, remove that passworded HD and you should be fine, since you can't use anyway it after the SATA-mod.
You can try this out by putting another PATA hard disk in.

[harryUK]

Hi, thanks for looking at my post.
Had to go down to my fathers to find out.

Unfortunately its a Supervisor password. Minimum 8 characters and no passphrase.

Not sure what to do. I don't really want to dump the laptop because they are still very useful as everyday machines.

Any ideas to my first post, or anything else.

Thanks again.

[RealBlackStuff]

AFAIK you could still do the SATA mod, but you will get error 2010 for non-approved HD, and if you boot without HD you will get error 0200.
Check out the services on my website (see my signature).
If you want local/UK help, contact Nick at www.reflowrepairs.co.uk

[harryUK]

Thanks RealBlackStuff for the info.

Not too fussed on the 2010. When I upgraded my sisters t43 hdd to a sammy (which worked!?!),
I just set the by pass option in bios, for a few more seconds of delay not a problem.

But my fathers laptop has got me stumped. I may try to see, If i can get a wd 320gb sata hdd recognised by the laptop. My question here is, by removing the pata hdd can I crudely connect up the sata drive, without disconnecting the the marvel chip?

Thanks for that UK contact.
I am trying to do this as cheap as possible, else its best to upgrade to a T60 or something similar.

[RealBlackStuff]

I have always removed the SATA chip, which takes only a few minutes, if you do it properly.
You can try it leaving the chip in, and in theory it probably should work, but I have my doubts...
It's all described here (long thread): http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=94308
BTW, Nick (a.ka. forum member poshgeordie) could also do the SATA mod for you.