Replacing HDD of IBM ThinkPad R31

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

arifi <sfarifi@mind2biz.com> wrote in message
news:1124283677.394072.131180@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

> I have an IBM ThinkPad R31 (Celeron 1.06GHz version), and
> recently its harddisk died. I will replace it, but need some advice:

> The original disk of the laptop is an IBM TravelStar 20GB / 4200RPM. I
> will probably replace it with a 40GB Seagate, which is easier to find here.
> There are two options:
> 1. ST-94019A, 40GB, 4200 RPM, 2.5"
> 2. ST-94011A, 40GB, 5400 RPM, 2.5"

> The higher RPM suggests that I should prefer the 94011A, but would the
> laptop have problems powering / accessing a disk with faster RPM than
> its original disk ?

Shouldnt do.

> Also, are there any limitations in the BIOS etc that will cause
> problems with the 40GB size, which is double the size of the original ?

Dunno, but thats not that likely with that vintage of ThinkPad.

> And lastly, should I expect any form-factor or
> IDE connector problems in fitting the Seagate drive ?

Just check the thickness of the drives and compare that with the old one.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Previously arifi <sfarifi@mind2biz.com> wrote:
> Hello everyone,

> I have an IBM ThinkPad R31 (Celeron 1.06GHz version), and recently its
> harddisk died. I will replace it, but need some advice:

> The original disk of the laptop is an IBM TravelStar 20GB / 4200RPM. I
> will probably replace it with a 40GB Seagate, which is easier to find
> here.
> There are two options:
> 1. ST-94019A, 40GB, 4200 RPM, 2.5"
> 2. ST-94011A, 40GB, 5400 RPM, 2.5"

> The higher RPM suggests that I should prefer the 94011A, but would the
> laptop have problems powering / accessing a disk with faster RPM than
> its original disk ?

Powering should be unproblematic. Heat could be an issue. Have a look
into the manual of the original disk what its power ratings are. Then
have a look into the manual for your prospective replacement and compare.
(I found that Fujitsu's Laptop disks need less power than Seagate).
If more than 30% or so increase you may have problems. It is really not
easy to tell. However IBM laptops are fairly well designed and I would
not expect heat problems.

> Also, are there any limitations in the BIOS etc that will cause
> problems with the 40GB size, which is double the size of the original ?

Could be. Was the laptop ever available with a 40GB disk? There
should be no limits besides the BIOS.

> And lastly, should I expect any form-factor or IDE connector problems
> in fitting the Seagate drive ?

If this thing has the same drive bay as the X31, no. Unless you
try to replace a 9.5mm high disk with a 12.5mm high one. These are
the two heights for 2.5" disks. You can remove the drive bay
(usually just one screw, the manual should explain it) and have
a look. You find the external measures of the seagate disk again in
the disk manual.

Disk manuals are available from the vendor websites. For IBM
it is now Hitachi.

I replaced the IBM disk in my X31 with a Fujitzu 5400 one, no problems
at all.

Arno

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3mhgbsF16vd4eU1@individual.net...
>
> arifi <sfarifi@mind2biz.com> wrote in message
> news:1124283677.394072.131180@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>
>> I have an IBM ThinkPad R31 (Celeron 1.06GHz version), and
>> recently its harddisk died. I will replace it, but need some advice:
>
>> The original disk of the laptop is an IBM TravelStar 20GB / 4200RPM. I
>> will probably replace it with a 40GB Seagate, which is easier to find
>> here.
>> There are two options:
>> 1. ST-94019A, 40GB, 4200 RPM, 2.5"
>> 2. ST-94011A, 40GB, 5400 RPM, 2.5"
>
>> The higher RPM suggests that I should prefer the 94011A, but would the
>> laptop have problems powering / accessing a disk with faster RPM than
>> its original disk ?
>
> Shouldnt do.
>
>> Also, are there any limitations in the BIOS etc that will cause
>> problems with the 40GB size, which is double the size of the original ?
As long as it's a 9.5mm height drive, no problem. We use only IBM thinkpads
at work, have some familiarity with them.
I'm running a 7200rpm 40GB HGST drive in place of the 20GB that came with my
T23 [which is older than the T31].
>
> Dunno, but thats not that likely with that vintage of ThinkPad.
>
>> And lastly, should I expect any form-factor or
>> IDE connector problems in fitting the Seagate drive ?
>
> Just check the thickness of the drives and compare that with the old one.
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

arifi <sfarifi@mind2biz.com> wrote

> Thanks for the info, everyone! I am ordering the 5400 RPM Seagate
> since its power requirements are the same with the 4200 RPM version.
> However Seagate's power requirements are quite higher than the
> Hitachi ones - is this a measuring difference

Nope.

> or does Hitachi have the lead in technology here ?

Yep, Seagate has a real tendency to ignore the power
requirements compared with some other manufacturers.