Thinkpad 9545: caddy to plug Thinkpad HDD into USB on comput

[els76uk]

Hello... I have a Thinkpad 9545, which has been out of use for so long that it won't even charge or turn on. I've had it plugged in for several hours now, and it's dead as a really dead thing.

I took out the HDD and was looking at the connector, to see if there's any way of connecting it to a USB, so I can plug it into my current computer to see what's on it. Trouble is, I don't know what connector I need.

The connectors can be seen at http://yfrog.com/73lshtj, and it's a Thinkpad 84G4319 caddy.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

[Unknown_K]

Inside that caddy is a normal IDE laptop drive. Remove the 2 screws holding the end on and peal back the label on the sides of the caddy and it will open up revealing the HD.

[els76uk]

Inside that caddy is a normal IDE laptop drive

okay, thanks. can you point me to the sort of connector i need to buy on ebay or somewhere like that? apologies for being dumb, but i really don't know what i'm doing, and you sound like you do

[Unknown_K]

Something like this I guess:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laptop-Desktop-IDE- ... 415384f092

[ozzymud]

Any 2.5" PATA/IDE adapter will work, but most external enclosures are for thinner drives, 9mm or so, depending on which you have (my 760's use 17mm), you can use the adapter to get data from it, it just wont fit in the case... I have a cheapo 9.99 aluminum case that i just use the connector from...

The one i have doesn't look like it's stocked anymore (this one is open box), but any like it should work...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 817816002R

Here is what mine looks like, notice the drive is too high to fit in the case, but it works none the less

Click for larger image:

[els76uk]

Thanks for your help, ozzymud and Unknown_K. I found a cheap IDE>USB connnector on eBay for £1.99, which should do the trick. I doubt there's anything of much interest on there, but nevertheless would be a shame to never find out. In the meantime, the laptop is going to the local recycling centre - unless you guys think it has any value?

[ozzymud]

You can prolly sell it on here... there is a pretty decent following for old thinkpads, If your giving it away to the recyclers, I'd gladly pay shipping to send it to me instead of them

[els76uk]

You can prolly sell it on here... there is a pretty decent following for old thinkpads, If your giving it away to the recyclers, I'd gladly pay shipping to send it to me instead of them

I've sent you a PM

[ozzymud]

Yea, thanks,,, but my bad... Location: London, UK

You are correct, cost to ship makes it not really worth it I'm sure someone from this forum on the other side of the pond might be interested though If you care to, post it in the market, better then seeing it scrapped