Max Size Hard Drive for ThinkPad T43

[WT]

I have a ThinkPad T3 (2687). I want to put a 120 or 160 GB hard drive in it like this one.

I used the compatibility tool on lenovo.com and it says they only have a 80GB HD that is compatible with my T43/2687. I called them and the guy on the phone said the same thing.

Am I stuck with an 80 gb drive as my largest option? I don't want to buy a new computer, but 80gb isn't enough storage.

Currently I have:
* 60 gb internal drive -- Ubuntu Hardy
* 40 gb internal drive in Ultrabay -- Windows XP
* 120 gb external

I need to upgrade to 120 or 160gb internal...

Thanks

[sparta.rising]

See the stickied post at the top of this forum:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11059

The maximum capacity is that of any IDE drive, which is currently 250GB. However, those drives will give a 2010 error, which you can live with. If you don't want that error, you can update the firmware of a 160GB Hitachi drive, but the firmware will reduce the capacity to 137GB.

[sarbin]

welcome to the forum.

i believe that the largest drive you can install in the main bay, without getting the 2010 error, is a 120gb fujitsu. i don't have the model number handy, but it should be in the big t43-hd thread. if you're not worried about the 2010 error message, which can be hidden with a setting in the current bios, you can go with the 160gb hitachi travelstar or the 250gb western digital scorpio. both are 5400rpm drives and both are under $100 at places like newegg or zipzoomfly.

hth.

[WT]

Thanks for the info.

Do you mean this Western Digital HD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136123

Does the error message mean there is a problem, or it' sjust a cosmetic issue? Easy to hide with BIOS setting?

[sjthinkpader]

welcome to the forum.

i believe that the largest drive you can install in the main bay, without getting the 2010 error, is a 120gb fujitsu. i don't have the model number handy, b...

MHV2120AH (5400RPM)
MHV2120AT (4200RPM)

[SteveS]

WT wrote:

Does the error message mean there is a problem, or it' sjust a cosmetic issue? Easy to hide with BIOS setting?

As stated elsewhere in the threads, the error message indicates that the drive lacks extended SATA commands that would offer some incremental protection from physical damage in some circumstances. Specifically, the Active Protection System relies on the “Unload Immediately” command present in SATA drives to park the head when the accelerometer detects a g force that might damage the drive. Parking the head requires some time, so depending on the steepness of the acceleration profile, it may or may not save the drive – for example, there is a good chance it would survive being dropped from your lap to a carpeted floor, but possibly not if dropped to a hard concrete one. Without these commands, the drive will be only somewhat more protected then one in a standard laptop.

“Easy to hide in with the BIOS” is not 100% correct. A setting in the BIOS allows the boot to continue after displaying the error message and a pause of a few seconds, without the need to manually hit the ESC key. You still get the error message, and need to wait a couple seconds before the boot continues.

[sarbin]

Do you mean this Western Digital HD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136123

nope. that's an sata drive. won't work in the main bay, which only accepts pata/ide.
have a look at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136159
same one at zzf: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=10007592

you *can* use sata drives in the ultrabay with the appropriate 2nd hdd ultrabay adapter.