I need help with an A21m

[kansukee]

Hi everyone, I recently got a very cheap A21m that was missing the hard drive and caddy. I bought them and received them today, only to find out that there is also missing what seems to be like a hdd to board adapter or power connector and I can't find this small part anywhere. I searched on ebay and there are lots of them for other brands but nothing for IBMs. Does anyone have a spare one they want to sell or maybe point me in the right direction? I have spent over an hour searching for this part online without luck...thanks!

[billp117]

What kind of hard drive did you buy? The A21M requires a PATA hard drive (IDE). Did you by any chance purchase a SATA hard drive? (which will not work).

Let us know...as I do not know of any adapter that is required. Your hard drive should look like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMSUNG-160GB-IDE-P ... dZViewItem

[kansukee]

Hi billp117, I bought a Fujitsu MHS2030AT which is an IDE hard drive.

[Neil]

Yep, that drive should work. No adapters needed. Unless the IDE socket/bay itself is just missing from the motherboard.

[billp117]

WOW...unless it is mounted wrong in the HD caddy...it should work. Perhaps I missed something and others will comment.

[kansukee]

That's what I think it is, the IDE socket! I found a picture of a non-working a21 on ebay and there is something there; I wish I could post the pic here. How do I get one of those sockets?

[billp117]

Unless someone on the forum has one in the junk drawer...perhaps ebay.

You may be missing more than just the connector. Perhaps you should open the A21m and check to see what you have.

Also, does it post to the bios screen? I see you have quite a few opportunities available on eBay.

[Neil]

I have a drive bay from a dead A22P. Not sure if it's the same as the A21M, but probably is. Send me a PM if interested.

[kansukee]

Unless someone on the forum has one in the junk drawer...perhaps ebay.

You may be missing more than just the connector. Perhaps you should open the A21m and check to see what you have.

Also, does it post to the bios screen? I see you have quite a few opportunities available on eBay.

That's all I'm missing and believe me I have looked on ebay to no avail...Also, the computer posts and even boots from several Windows and Linux cd's and dvd's.