Hard Drive Status

[BMBTP]

I would imagine this question has been asked more than once. I apologize in advance. I've had a look around and nothing comes up initially. I appreciate your forbearance.

I got my T42 wet. Not drenched. But plain water on the keyboard. I immediately turned it upside down, dried all visible parts and went through the recommended steps (i.e. power down, remove drive, etc.) Within 24 hours, I was able to power up with a NEW hard drive that had come with the T43. However, I had purchased the refurbished T43 to house and run my OLD hard drive, which contains vital data since its predecessor was worn out (i.e. monitor and keyboard shot, etc.)

Despite being able to power up with the NEW drive, I'm unable to power up with the old one, which has sat drying for several days. It sits on the initial TP splash screen and won't even let me run BIOS set-up (blue Access IBM button). I know that sometimes when a drive is bad, it will try to spend up for an extended time prior to giving you a response, but I've left it and come back after quite some time. NOTHING.

Any thoughts on the status of the old drive or remedies. In a perfect world, I could just put it back in and resume using. In the absence of that, I'd like to consider using it as a secondary external. Whatever the case, there is vital data I need to retrieve.

Regarding back-ups, don't ask and please don't lecture. Docs don't always take their own meds. I am duly chastised and appropriately regretful.

Thanks,

Brenda

[Brad]

Sorry to hear of your trouble. I don't think you have lost anything.

A T43 drive probably will not run in a T42 and a T42 drive will probably not run in a T43. Both ThinkPads are different enough.

I would simply place your T42 drive in a USB enclosure that you can find at Staples or any computer store and copy the data where you need it.

Brad

[BMBTP]

I'm such a bonehead. I don't know why I kept saying T43. I only have the one operational now. The T42, which replaced a previous T42. I hope that makes more sense.

[craigmontHunter]

Try to see if you can get into the bios, not access IBM predesktop and see if the bios recognizes the drive. if it does then there is probably something you can do. otherwise let it dry for several more days, the toshiba in my sig got puked on and I took it apart, washed it under a tap, used a hairdryer to dry it off and then put it back together, it was 2 weeks before it would recognize the drive (I did not wash that), so you may just want to leave it a little longer and see what happens.

[sktn77a]

It should work in the T42 but apparently it doesn't. Try the external USB enclosure.

[BMBTP]

Guys -

I appreciate your suggestions and patience. I may have made the incorrect assumption that pressing the blue Access IBM button was the means to BIOS access for the T42. Am I correct with that? I'm thinking F1 may be an alternate route to the same destination?

It works when I put the new drive in (both accessing BIOS via the blue button and booting the OS), but not the old (the one that was in it when it got wet). When I put the old drive in, get the initial screen and press Access IBM, it just sits and thinks endlessly. No beeps. No error codes. Nothing but that initial screen.

I will try both of the suggestions offered. And again, thanks. I'll let it dry a few more days and also buy an external enclosure to see if that helps as I am strapped for cash ATM. Wow, Craig. Two weeks? Were there any fluctuations in temperature or condition during that time that may have caused a shift in the circuits or connections?