X32: consistently booting from USB 2.0 device when present?

[mackstevenson]

Dear all,

I would like to know if the X32 correctly remembers the boot order specified in the BIOS, even if

(1) you place an external USB HD at the top of the Startup list and

(2) subsequently boot the system *without* that external drive plugged in.

In the X30 and X31 systems I have tried, once configured to first look for an OS in an USB drive the thinkpad boots fine from that external drive - but only until the first time when it is booted _without_ the external drive attached. When that happens, the boot order is magically reset to the default order. From that point onwards, if I need to boot from the external drive I must manually reconfigure the BIOS.

I have been told that when the T40 initially came out it also suffered from this problem, but that a later BIOS revision fixed it. Is this also the case with the X32?

Anyone feeling kind and who combines access to a X32 with two spare minutes can test this by:

1) configuring the startup sequence in the BIOS so that USB HD is at the top

2) booting the system once without any USB HD attached

3) booting the system *a second time*, entering the BIOS setup and checking if the boot sequence still is the one specified in step (1)

Thanks in advance for any information on this topic,

Mack Stevenson