Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

Want to know HOW TO..? Have a FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION..?
If you can't find it here, tell us and we'll publish whatever you need
Post Reply
Message
Author
ramgopal
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:04 am
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka India

use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#1 Post by ramgopal » Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:56 am

i have a T20, which is no doubt old by any standards, but i like it very much.The internal hard disk(4 GB) is out of order.I removed the internal HD & tried using a USB extarnal hard disk ( 160GB of WD make).
The following are the steps followed by me, But it din't work:
1.remove internal hard disk
2.Start the lap top ,with windows XP OS in the CD drive.
3.go to bios setting
4.make the bootable device as CD drive.
5.Connect the USB hard disk
6.Follow the steps to load the OS in the external hard disk.

At one point the screen message says" you need specific software to install the OS in the USB drive'

Can some one help me.
From
Ramgopal.

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23809
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:57 am

If the external hard disk is 2.5" and PATA (but not SATA), take it out of its enclosure and mount it inside the T20, using the caddy and screws from the old 4GB.
You cannot load an OS via an internal CD onto an external HD.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

ramgopal
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:04 am
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka India

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#3 Post by ramgopal » Thu Oct 28, 2010 5:57 am

I have heard about bootable USB .
So thats what i tried.
Is there any way ,i can still try.

Harryc
Moderator Emeritus
Moderator Emeritus
Posts: 13228
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:23 am
Location: Upstate New York

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#4 Post by Harryc » Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:01 am

http://www.ngine.de/article/id/8

It can be done on a laptop that is capable of booting from USB. I have no idea if a T20 is capable of that.

ramgopal
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:04 am
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka India

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#5 Post by ramgopal » Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:37 am

Thanks for the reply.
Can any one tell me ,what needs to be done ,to make T20 suitable for booting from USB.

My next option is to buy a compatible hard disk to replace the existing one ( IBM travel star).Can you suggest any brand ,model( SATA or PATA),memory size etc.

Harryc
Moderator Emeritus
Moderator Emeritus
Posts: 13228
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:23 am
Location: Upstate New York

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#6 Post by Harryc » Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:44 am

Google is your friend. It says at the follow link that USB hard drive booting is not supported on a T20.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Supported_Boot_Devices

You need a 9.5mm high, 2.5" wide laptop IDE (also known as ATA-6) drive. There is no limit on size except for the fact that 320GB is the largest currently available.

ramgopal
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:04 am
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka India

Re: use external hard disk inplace of internal HD

#7 Post by ramgopal » Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:58 am

Thanks for quick reply.
I shall now look for suitable HD

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “** HOW TOs & FAQs **”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests