What are my options for my T43p's Hard Drive?

[mystiky]

I currently have a 60GB hard drive in my T43p (model 2668). It's now over 3 years old and I am concerned that it may "croak" one day soon. I am running Windows XP SP3. With this in mind:

1) If I get another 60GB drive, how can I "clone" it using Acronis True Image 2010? Would I create an image file unto an external HD (via USB) and then restore that image file to the "back-up" drive?
2) What are my options in using a new HD as my main one? Which are compatible and will run in the T43p? I would like a minimum of 7200rpm drive / 120GB combo and would preffer to sty away from refurbished drives.

Any and all advise is highly appreicated.

[ajkula66]

There are NO 7200rpm PATA laptop drives in production anymore.

ALL current PATA drives will give you a "2010 error" on boot.

If you're lucky enough to find a sealed IBM/Hitachi 100GB/7200rpm or Fujitsu MHV2120AH (120GB/5400rpm) expect to pay $100...

[mystiky]

I am willing to get a 80GB but with 7200rpm. Does this list look correct?

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... hard_disks

I am thinking of the:

Seagate Momentus 7200.1 ST980825A (80GB 7200RPM) on T43 with BIOS 1.23

I have BIOS 1.29, so I assume it works?

[mpcook]

1. A - I would suggest you use Acronis to place an image on an external drive. Then you can install your new drive, boot with the Acronis boot CD that you created, and restore the image to the new drive. Then you have a backup on your external drive which you can use Acronis to do incremental backups to, so it's convenient. This of course requires that you have two drives plus the original.
B - The other option is to clone from the original to the new one. Again, boot from the Acronis CD, but first place the new drive in the machine, and the old drive in an external enclosure. I have done it the opposite way (old still installed, new in enclosure) successfully, but some people seem to have issues with doing it that way.

2. I would suggest given the meager market now for PATA drives, just get a highly rated fast, large drive, and set your BIOS to skip through the 2010 error. You will get a beep, then your machine will finish booting. If you try for a drive that is "compatible" with the T43, your options are extraordinarily limited. I was (recently) unable to find the Seagate Momentus 80GB mentioned in that article, but you may have better luck.

Mike

[mystiky]

<<I was (recently) unable to find the Seagate Momentus 80GB mentioned in that article, but you may have better luck. >>

Thanks for the reply and ideas.

There are those drive on eBuy, but all of them are used.

[krauser]

Consider to get brand HDDs, like Seagate or WDC. The WD1600BEVE it's another option. I upgraded my T42 with it, and I got very pleased. I paid $58 for it on Ebay.

Good Luck

[ajkula66]

Seagate (unless IBM-issued) will throw an error, the firmware update does NOT work. I do own a couple of them and they DO throw errors in a T43/p.