Noob with a few questions

[CDWells]

Ok so I have an X40 and my usb ports aren't working I have tried everything short of replacing them and I also want to install Ubuntu 11.04 I have it dualbooted through wubi at the moment and it seems to work great but I'm not sure of the size of my HDD i know it is 40GB but im not sure if it is 1.8" or 2.5" but I think it is 2.5" SATA can somebody help me

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
Your hard disk is a 1.8" model.
For a replacement drive, see: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83139
and also: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=41568

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Taking the last question first... The X40 uses a fairly rare 1.8" PATA (IDE) hard drive. The USB problems are probably due to a failed Southbridge. My understanding is that the early X40 systems had this problem and that later motherboard revisions were a little better. Use Google to find some information about it in these forums by adding "site:forum.thinkpads.com" to your search terms.

[CDWells]

thanks for the help and for the hard drive I was planning on removing it and using a SATA to USB, I now know it would be IDE or PATA to USB, to connect it to my desktop and put Ubuntu 11.04 on it since I can't use the USB ports thus I can't use my CD drive

EDIT: I have heard of putting a SSD that is 2.5" and it just sticks out about an inch is this true?

[Tasurinchi]

EDIT: I have heard of putting a SSD that is 2.5" and it just sticks out about an inch is this true?

The second link of RBS's post above has more details about SSDs, I'm not sure if 2.5" PATA models are more or less rare than the 1.8" ones. There are three brands (at least three that I'm aware of) that come with the IDE adapter of the X4x series that fit directly in the HDD bay, google for Kingspec, Lenovo and Match Xtreme to see more details.

There are also other brands like Sandisk and Runcore having 1.8 models with ZIF connector. But you will need:

1- An adatper like this
2- Disassemble keyboard and bezel to install it

Good luck!

[Harryc]

I can't use the USB ports thus I can't use my CD drive

http://cgi.ebay.com/2x-PCMCIA-USB-NEC-C ... 588e8fb00d

[CDWells]

http://cgi.ebay.com/2x-PCMCIA-USB-NEC-C ... 588e8fb00d

does that plug into the port on the right side?

[Harryc]

does that plug into the port on the right side?

Yes it plugs into the PCCard slot (PCMCIA). IIRC that is on the right side on an X40.

[CDWells]

ok thanks for all the help

EDIT: if I bought this would it work for my hard drive? http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0264555
it says it is for an IDE ultra ATA interface and a 2.5" hard drive