Can I recover PrivateDisk files from my (dead) R51?

[jjvr2000]

Hello. My first post in this forum so please be gentle with me.

I have a R51 that has failed with a dead system board. Having replaced it with a R60 and have put the HDD from the R51 into the expansion bay to try to get my old PrivateDisk files back. After looking for help on both the Utimaco and Lenovo sites I have only found out that neither party supports the bundled version of the software so I'd be grateful if anyone can point me towards the information I need or confirm that recovery is not possible?

J

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.

Find someone with a T40/T41/T42/R50/R51 Thinkpad.
Any one of these models will do, but another R51 would be the most ideal.
Put your R51 HD in that, and boot up in there. It may re-find the hardware but that is OK.
Copy the PrivateDisk files unencrypted to another part of the hard disk, or deactivate the PrivateDisk software if possible, to unencrypt your data. If there is no room for the extra files, get a separate HD in a USB enclosure.
If you need to buy an extra hard disk, get a SATA/USB HD and enclosure, otherwise get a PATA/USB enclosure to fit the old hard disk.
When done, connect the enclosure to any PC or laptop via USB.

[jjvr2000]

Thanks for the sensible and practical advice. I do not know anyone with a suitable model Thinkpad but this does sound like the simplest way to get my files back so I will start looking; maybe there is someone in the Greenwich area of London reading this forum with a suitable machine I could try.

J

[RealBlackStuff]

If all else fails, get another R51 motherboard on eBay and swap it out.

[jjvr2000]

I failed to find a R51 mobo but reading around it seemed that a T42 mobo would serve as well; someone want to tell me I got it wrong? I hope not because I have ordered one off Ebay so should be able to get my 'stuff' back in a few days.

[RealBlackStuff]

They would fit.
However (there's always a but!), there are different types of motherboard.
T42s don't have Firewire. There are different graphics processors, either Intel (little or no problems) or ATI 7500 (many problems) or ATI 9000 (not too many problems) or ATI FireGL from the T42p (little or no problems).
What is the TYPE from your R51, e.g. 1830-ADU, and what is the T42 mobo FRU or part number?