IBM ThinkPad HDD

Willbo · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:32

Just wondered is it just a straight swap in swapping over HDDs on IBM Thinkpads? I've got a T61 and just thinking about putting in a bigger hard drive.

I've heard stories about being a dodgy thing to do on Thinkpads

Cybermyk · 3 Mar 2009 at 23:38

Assuming you don't have the discs to re install the OS, you'll need to use the thinkvantage software to create recovery media. I'd use a USB HDD to write it to then swap the drives and rebuild the OS.

Willbo · 4 Mar 2009 at 00:07

Well I got the laptop 2nd hand and the laptop didnt come with the laptop recovery software installed, the HDD was completely wiped and I do have a Vista DVD to use.

I'd just heard that Thinkpads dont like when an unrecognised drive is installed

Spyhop · 4 Mar 2009 at 00:19

I know my X41 shows a warning during POST when using an aftermarket HDD. But apart from that it works 100%. The drive was completely wiped so I don't know about any magic partition business.

Cybermyk · 4 Mar 2009 at 01:20

It should be fine, the problem most people have is where the backup software misses the system partition and the OS fails to boot. If you have a scratch build already then you aren't going to have that problem.