x41t: How to install CF-ide adapter

[superlyduper]

I have this cf to ide-44 adapter I bought from dealextreme

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10310

and a ridata 8gb 233x compact flash card

Which way do I put the adapter into the ide slot? Is the CF card on top, or on bottom? Also, how do I physically go about putting the whole thing inside? It's such a tight space, I can't quite use my fingers.

Also, I plan on installing Windows 7. Are there things I can do to reduce the footprint? If I need more storage, can I put a cheap SD card into the slot, or use the PCMCIA card slot to install more storage (cheaply?)

[tim S]

Your adapter goes in flat side up/CF card down. I folded a piece of duct tape on my
adapter leaving about a 2" overhang which gives me something to hold onto, and folds
underneath when I don't need it. It's still tricky but a flahlight really helps.
By the way, your Riata card will be slow. You need to get the fastest possible card
for any speed advantage over the original drive.
Tim S

[superlyduper]

Your adapter goes in flat side up/CF card down. I folded a piece of duct tape on my
adapter leaving about a 2" overhang which gives me something to hold onto, and folds
underneath when I don't need it. It's still tricky but a flahlight really helps.
By the way, your Riata card will be slow. You need to get the fastest possible card
for any speed advantage over the original drive.
Tim S

Thanks for teh tip about the duct tape Tim.

Is Ridata the brand thats slow, or the 233x speed thats slow?

[sjthinkpader]

I think the RiDATA 233x CF is the best performing cheap flash card. Any slower card will be too slow and any faster card will be expensive.

I normally remove the palm rest to install the adapter just to be sure. Once the computer is buttoned up, insert a piece of foam to hold the card in place.

[tim S]

Since you presumably have the card up and running now but if you find that
programs aren't running as they should, then the card is to blame.
I was fortunate in that I have San Disk Extreme 111 card which is fairly expensive,
but fast, for my digital camera. It works like a champ in my X41.
Tim S

[superlyduper]

I put in the card the correct way, but when I enter windows 7 setup, it does not detect it. It is a brand new card fresh from ebay. What can I do?

[sjthinkpader]

Use fdisk to create a partition first, format it as NTFS.

Also, take a look at the 2rd post in this thread about removing the "key" pin:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=79408

[superlyduper]

Do I use fdisk and format to ntfs while the card is in the ide adapter, or should I try to use a usb CF-reader and use fdisk and format to ntfs?

Also, in the other thread, it was posted that the "key pin", the pin that is not present on HDD, is removed. Which pin is that?

[sjthinkpader]

Most HDD has that key pin missing. Just compare it to a HDD to find that pin. But before you do the hardware mod, try and see if it works with a format first.

You should be able to format your CF card to NTFS in a USB or PCMCIA adapter.