R32 - having trouble identifying a part

[timjwild]

Hi,

I've recently acquired an R32 which seems to have a problem with it's ultrabay. The main problem I've got is that, even though I've read through the maintenance manual, I'm having difficulty identifying the correct name for the part I'm talking about.

Basically, I have bought a DVD writer and a floppy drive for the laptop. The DVD writer is only recognised in 'My computer' intermittently and the floppy drive does not seem to be recognised at all. I suspect that it is the connectors that the 2 drives plug into (in what I think is called the ultrabay) which are at fault.

Can you help me with the terminology please?

is it called an ultrabay?
what is the part with the connectors called/it's part number?
is it replaceable?
what does FRU stand for

Many thanks in advance.

T

[tfflivemb2]

Welcome to the Forum!!

Yes, they are called ultrabay connectors. I believe that they are part of the system board, so replacing them would mean replacing the systemboard.

Do the drives get power when they are inserted into the Ultrabay? In other words, when you push the button on the optical drive does the light turn on and the drive open?

If not, does the metal release lever seat all the way in after you press it back in when reinserting a drive?

FRU = Field Replaceable Unit

[MobileGuru]

I hate to say it but I hope that the optical drive is the root problem here. If the drive is intermittantly recognized, it sounds more like the controller chip on the bottom of the systemboard itself. If you can, try the drive on another machine to see if you get the same results.

Regards.

MG.

[timjwild]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

Assuming a worst case scenario, is it possible to locate and buy a new system board online?

I'm in the UK so it would have to be based or available to here.

Thanks again

(I do realise it will be expensive)

[storage_man]

Tim

To get the diskette drive to be recognized, you need to go into the BIOS setup and turn on LEGACY DISKETTE Drives.

Before you go replacing the Mother Board, you need to verify that the DVD drive is operation itself correctly. See if you can't find somebody that has a R32 and try the drive in it. If it works, then you may have a MB problem, but if it does the same think on this new system, then I would suspect the DVD Drive itself.

Storage_man

[tfflivemb2]

FYI: You can test the drive in quite a few different systems, besides the R32. It will work in a T2x, T30, R3x and an R40.

[timjwild]

Thanks again,

I have tried the BIOS setting as recommended by storage_guy withgreat success (and no small amount of relief!).

Unfortunately I don't know anybody else with a thinkpad.

If the floppy drive works consistently though this points to the DVD being at fault rather then the mobo. The fact that it works at all points me towards the DVD drive being faulty.

I would still be interested in hearing about a uk/international thankpad parts retailer though.

EDIT: I could have found at least part of my answer here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=23996
Thanks for your patience and replies