T43 and Western digital WD Scorpio 120Mb HDD

[azrin_aris]

Hi,

I just bought a new WD 120Mb hdd (WD Scorpio - WD1200VE) and I want to upgrade my T43 to use it. my T43 show a error message that the hdd is not supported.

I've downloaded the hdd firware update from thinkpad support side. But when I ran the update porgram, it reports no new firmware found.

Any help is very much appreciated.

cheers

[Ken Fox]

Hi,

I just bought a new WD 120Mb hdd (WD Scorpio - WD1200VE) and I want to upgrade my T43 to use it. my T43 show a error message that the hdd is not supported.

I've downloaded the hdd firware update from thinkpad support side. But when I ran the update porgram, it reports no new firmware found.

Any help is very much appreciated.

cheers

The hdd firmware program will not automatically do what you want it to do, and unless you know how to "fool it" into doing what you want it to do, it may not work at all.

The T43 has a SATA-PATA bridge in it. To my knowledge this is the only thinkpad that has had this, before or since. So the problem is unique to the T43 model.

People who have successfully "hacked" the firmware on retail hard drives used in T43 Thinkpads have, in essence, fooled the IBM firmware program to change the retail firmware to look as if it is an "options by IBM" (sold by IBM/Lenovo) hard drive. There are several drive models on which this has been successfully accomplished, but I do not think that the drive you purchased is one of them. The 7K100 Hitachi in both 80gb and 100gb sizes are the ones that I remember having been successfully "hacked." My T43 has a hacked 7K100 100gb drive in it, and I hacked it using instructions I found on the sticky thread near the top of this forum page having to do with "Non Options Drives."

You have several options. These include:

(1) Using the search function for these forums, input the model number of your drive and other related terms like "2010 error" and see if you can pull up a post where someone else has found a way to resolve this problem with the firmware program or other approach.

(2) Update your bios and tell it to continue with the boot process after displaying the 2010 error; the latest bios version offers this option and there are posts about this on the forum.

(3) Return the hard drive and buy one that there is a body of experience with on hacking, such as a 7K100.

(4) Use the drive you bought in some other way (ultrabay adapter, USB2 box) and buy another drive such as the 7K100 for the upgrade.

(5) Jump up and down and scream. It won't solve the problem but you might feel better

[dyoes]

(3) Return the hard drive and buy one that there is a body of experience with on hacking, such as a 7K100.

What about an E7K100? Any hope?

Dan

[sugo]

According to lenovo's T4x parts web pages, they only use Hitachi, Fujitsu and Toshiba PATA drives. It's unlikely that they will include a firmware update for Western Digital drives.

[Ken Fox]

(3) Return the hard drive and buy one that there is a body of experience with on hacking, such as a 7K100.

What about an E7K100? Any hope?

Dan

No. The E7K100 is meant to run in blade servers, not laptops. Do not buy one of these for use in a laptop as it is not designed for it.

[dyoes]

What about an E7K100? Any hope?

Dan

No. The E7K100 is meant to run in blade servers, not laptops. Do not buy one of these for use in a laptop as it is not designed for it.

whooops, Im using it now. Runs fine. Havent noticed any diffence at all from the 7K60 I was using.

I'll let yall know if I delvelop problems.

Dan

[cmarti]

whooops, Im using it now. Runs fine. Havent noticed any diffence at all from the E7K60 I was using.

Dan

The E7K60 is also designed for blade servers.

[dyoes]

whooops, Im using it now. Runs fine. Havent noticed any diffence at all from the E7K60 I was using.

Dan

The E7K60 is also designed for blade servers.

Sorry meant 7K60

[azrin_aris]

(5) Jump up and down and scream. It won't solve the problem but you might feel better

Thanks Ken,

Made me feel better already