New T40p hard drives showing smaller size then expected

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billj32 · #1 Post by **billj32** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:21 pm

I just bought a couple of 5200 rpm PATA hard drives in caddies for my T40p. Both the 160GB and 250GB show a size of exactly 137442MB when I use the EZ Gig utility to clone a 100 GB drive to the larger drives. Why the discrepancy between the actual size and why the same number for the two different drives.

I have used the EZ Gig program to clone to 2nd drives in the Ultrabay for years from 40GB to 60GB to 80GB to 100GB and the size reflected has always been accurate in the past. The drives were purchased at Drive Solutions just like I always have.

I have a T61p with a 320GB 7200rpm but I keep going back to my old T40p's since I just like the way they feel and their LCD screens are a lot easier on my eyes.

Thanks.

basketb · #2 Post by **basketb** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:18 pm

My guess is you haven't updated to the latest BIOS yet. See here why.

billj32 · #3 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:57 am

My BIOS is the most recent. I think you are right that there is something that I need to update. The two drives are IDE PATA hard drives that I am attempting to use with an ultrabay adapter to clone the main "C" hard drive. They both show this same smaller number (137442MB) for the hard disk size for both the 160GB and 250GB. Also, it took almost 11 hours to backup the 100GB hard disk to the 160GB and it usually only takes 1 hour to back up to another 100GB hard disk. Hopefully, someone will know what it is I have to update on my T40p. Thanks.

basketb · #4 Post by **basketb** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:08 am

What OS are you using?

billj32 · #5 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:35 am

Windows XP Pro SP3 with the newest BIOS on the laptop. I am hoping that there is some work around to allow me to use the full size of the larger hard drives. It may end up that these newer bigger PATA IDE drives will be limited to 137GB on my T40p unless there is some firmware or software update from the IBM/Lenovo site that will save the day. Thanks.

Nameless · #6 Post by **Nameless** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:02 pm

This sounds like the 28-bit LBA limit. See this site for more info:

http://www.48bitlba.com/

It's odd because XP SP3 has 48-bit LBA support, and I thought for sure that modern TP bioses would have it as well.

billj32 · #7 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:15 pm

Thank you all for the information. It is not sounding good regarding using the larger hard drives. This is the first time I have not been able to upgrade any item or software on my trusty old T40p's. I like them much better then my loaded T61p mainly because of the better LCD screens (at least to my eyes). Hopefully, something will come up on this forum to enable the T40p to use the larger drives but it is looking like I will need to return them and stick with the 100GB drives. Thanks.

awolfe63 · #8 Post by **awolfe63** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:13 pm

I know for certain that 160GB and 250GB drives work on the T42. Is the T40 using a different BIOS version?

billj32 · #9 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:22 pm

Checking on the Lenovo support site, it looks like the same BIOS v3.23 for ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p which I have on the T40p. I wonder what it is I have to upgrade since you are able to use the larger drives. Thanks.

basketb · #10 Post by **basketb** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:29 pm

Besides the BIOS, there is usually also something called the embedded controller. Is that also up to date?

awolfe63 · #11 Post by **awolfe63** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:24 pm

That's the version I use.

billj32 · #12 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:05 pm

I have the newest version 3.04 of the embedded controller so it must be something additional as far as updates you have on your ThinkPad that enables larger PATA EIDE hard drives to access more then 137.44GB.

frankiepankie · #13 Post by **frankiepankie** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:11 pm

Are there any jumpers installed to the drives?

Some harddisk drivers have optional jumpers to activate the 137GB limit.

billj32 · #14 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:23 pm

There are no jumpers on my 160GB and 250GB drives. I ordered the drives from Drive Solutions in T4x HD caddies and they look the same as my 60 to 100GB PATA drives. Maybe that is the problem. Thanks.

awolfe63 · #15 Post by **awolfe63** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:36 pm

Also - I don't see any way to make the wrong choice in the BIOS.

basketb · #16 Post by **basketb** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:39 pm

Have you tried to use the disks in the ultrabay of your T61p? Do they show the correct capacity there?

billj32 · #17 Post by **billj32** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:25 pm

It turns out that the problem was with the EZ Gig backup utility software which is bundled with the IBM/Lenovo Ultrabay HD Adapter. I have always placed the HD to which I am going to clone the main drive in the Ultrabay and then used EZ Gig. It appears that is what is giving me the 137 GB limit. Two identical T40p Thinkpads do see the full hard disk size on the 160GB and 250GB both in the main drive bay and in the Ultrabay when I do not use the EZ Gig software to clone them.

Thanks to you all for the help in narrowing this down.

New T40p hard drives showing smaller size then expected

New T40p hard drives showing smaller size then expected

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