Using an 2.5" HD in X40

Message

rsramirez · #1 Post by **rsramirez** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 6:02 am

Question in a nutshell: Has anyone got a 2.5" HD to work in their X40 (albeit w/ the 2.5" sticking out, that's fine)? When I try to stick the HD in the slot, it's not recognized, nor does it even spin up. I've verified that drive works in a USB enclosure, and it has the same voltage / current requirements of the stock 1.8".

I did a search for this as well as scrolled through over 10 pages of posts looking for answers, couldn't find anything substantial.

More background: While having a 2.5" HD stick out probably isn't the safest idea for the drive, my purpose is more for using the second drive for a different OS that I'd only be using 30-40% of the time. I'm a bit too cramped for space for a dual boot or WinXP + apps+ VMWare + VMWare virtual disk.

I've tried booting from external USB with Linux; it was a pain lugging around an "appendage," especially when you forget, pick up the X40, and the external drive drops to the floor - I've done that already twice!

Yeah, the X40 probably isn't the best solution for my needs; switched jobs so I no longer have my company's T41, so this is what I'm working w/ now =l

Thanks in advance.

ThinkPadX40 · #2 Post by **ThinkPadX40** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:22 am

ramirez !!!

Tell us clearly about HDD topics here I understand

I have X40 probably -I do not know exactly- it has 40 GB 1.8 HDD

and it is working noisy if it is possible near I will upgrade better HDD more speedy less noisy (capasity not important)

now tell us please where (Which platform) you tried 2.5 HDD ?

and

Yeah, the X40 probably isn't the best solution for your needs?

rsramirez · #3 Post by **rsramirez** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:41 pm

Just wanting to see if anyone tried to use a 2.5" HDD in an X40 w/ it sticking out, that's all.

I pulled out the HDD tray in the X40 that holds the 1.8" HDD in place. I replaced the tray w/ a 2.5" HDD (tried 2 different ones, in fact). Tried to boot, no good.

I forgot to mention that I used Drive Image and copied the active XP partition into the spare 2.5" HDD. I've done that before w/ my T41, and it booted fine.

In addition, I tried booting off my USB CD w/ both a Windows install and Linux install, and neither saw the 2.5" HDD. It's as if the tray of the 1.8" HDD pushing some tiny pin that tells the PC that an HDD is present.

Ideas anyone?

em500 · #4 Post by **em500** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:15 pm

For the people who are confused by the original poster: the Hitachi C4K40 1.8" HDD in the X40 has the same connector as standard 2.5" notebook HDDs. Since they're all standard IDE drives, 2.5" HDDs should also work in the X40 in theory. It would just stick out of the case a bit. In practice it doesn't seem to work, as the original poster reported. I've also tried to use an old 2.5" Fujitsu drive in the X40, but it wouldn't spin up.

To the original poster: I don't think it's a good idea to dual boot in this way. IBM explicitly warned about not swapping the internal HDD on a regular basis on their website. If you're dual booting Linux, I think you're best bet is a small distribution on a bootable USB flash drive. If you include the ntfs-captive drivers, you can also mount and use the XP partition on the internal HDD.

jolou · #5 Post by **jolou** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:33 pm

You dislike the external HDD "appendage". I come around this with black self-adhesive Velcro. I have some straps (the soft side of Velcro) attached on the back of my notebook lid. And the "beard" side of Velcro attached to external devices. Can be anything e.g. my 80Gb external USB HDD in an ultrathin casing. Or the reel of my retractable Targus mini-mouse. No more "appendages" hanging around or dropping to the floor!

I suppose this might be suitable as well to affix the X40's external CD-rom (haven't been able to try this yet. My X40 is due for delivery this week. Until then I have to live with my old Dell). VERY IMPORTANT: if you want the straps to hold, it is imperative not to use them during the first 24 hours after you attached them.

It may not be the most elegant solution, but it's cheap and it does the job. My notebook is a work horse & it's the screen side that bothers, not the backside.

rlc5 · #6 Post by **rlc5** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:26 am

Is it possible for someone to post a photo of what their X40 with a 2.5" drive looks like?

alextian · #7 Post by **alextian** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:04 am

X40 can use 2.5" HDD?
Tommyrot!

phr · #8 Post by **phr** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:11 am

You could use the X4 Ultrabase with an ultrabay slim 2nd hdd adapter.

Using an 2.5" HD in X40

Using an 2.5" HD in X40

How ugly is it?

Who is online