[TP600X] Primary HDD controller not working

Message

exovii · #1 Post by **exovii** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:37 pm

Hi people !

First I'm sorry for my poor english but I'm french. I post here because I didn't find an answer to my problems in other places.

I have a Thinkpad 600X (PIII 650MHz 128MB) and I ran a BIG problem yesterday. Before, this computer used to run well but since yesterday it doesn't recognize my hard disk (6GB). I tried with another drive (30GB) and no more luck...
The 6GB hard disk is password protected so I can't read it on my desktop (through adaptor), but I can use the 30GB hard disk well. So it's not a hard disk problem.

When I start the computer, it doesn't want to run any of my hard disks. I ran IBM PC Doctor utility and it recognize only my DVD drive (secondary master).

Do you have experience with that problem. I'm afraid I have to put my Thinkpad to the garbage !....

Thank you all !!

SeanM · #2 Post by **SeanM** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:33 pm

Try booting into the bios and going to config, initialize. Then reboot.

exovii · #3 Post by **exovii** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:04 am

Already tried this...
Any other trick ?

Thanks

SeanM · #4 Post by **SeanM** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:55 pm

Hmm, you could try removing the DVD drive. Sometimes a failing device on the IDE chain will cause problems like this.

Sadie · #5 Post by **Sadie** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:54 pm

Me too!!

You posted a reply to my posting with this issue.
Does your laptop give you an error code I9990305 ?

Guest · #6 Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:44 am

Yes, if I don't have a bootable cd into the cdrom drive.
The other strage thing is that in the BIOS setup, I can't set a password on the first hard drive whereas I could before the controller crashed...

I always can run my TP600X, but with a Linux live CD... So sad...

exovii · #7 Post by **exovii** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:46 am

I'm sorry I didn't enter my name in the post above...

Rick Aguinaldo · #8 Post by **Rick Aguinaldo** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:47 am

exovii,
Maybe it is time for a replacement motherboard. I had two 600e's which had died on me. The first unit had the hdd unrecognized while the cdrom was, but later on the cdrom followed suit. I suspected a broken device id line similar to a faulty ide ribbon connector for desktop motherboards.

The second unit was a bit more haunted. The hdd was recognized, but intermittently the filenames came garbled (hence "file not found" errors). Initially, i suspected drive seating problems but after numerous successful/failed attemps to correct the problem, i concluded that it is an intermittent break in the ide I/O lines.

A $50 each replacement board from eBay corrected both problems.

Hope this helps.
Rick

exovii · #9 Post by **exovii** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:15 am

Rick,

I agree I should replace the mother board. But the problem is I'm from France and I did not find any TP600X motherboard to sell. I found some pieces on eBay USA but the sellers do not want to ship their motherboards to France....
So I took a look at the IBM website. No more luck, the new part costs 800 euros !!!

Regards

sktn77a · #10 Post by **sktn77a** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:11 pm

try e-bay for a mobo or a 600X "bottom".

Rick Aguinaldo · #11 Post by **Rick Aguinaldo** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:12 am

exovii,
Yes, most sellers at eBay ships to the U.S.A. only, but I am in the Middle East and I get all my Thinkpad parts from the U.S.A. You may have to wait sometimes for hard-to-find parts like the TP600x motherboard or lower half. As of today there is only one available that will ship to Europe at $179 thru Buy ItlNow option - not cheap. You may also try sellers like Thinkpadsales who advertize for service. They may not list the parts in their eBay store (even though they have the spares) but may be available upon request

To narrow your search in eBay, go to advanced search and choose your location from the dropdown menu for "Items available to" prompt.

Cheers,
Rick

Guest · #12 Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 5:46 pm

Thanks for your time, Rick. I stay tuned on eBay, and requested motherboards to some sellers.

Regards

exovii · #13 Post by **exovii** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:15 pm

Hi people !

I finally solved the problem I had with this f...ing thinkpad.
I opened it, and I saw that some pins of the HD connector were out of their places. So I took a switch and replaced them. I connected the hard drive, verifying that the pins were correctly placed.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, my thinkpad works again !!!

So if some people have the same problem, take a look inside your computer...