USB HDD versus internal HDD

[on3lonestar]

I have a IBM T42 thinkpad. This is the 2nd time I have purchased an
internal notebook HDD and it hasn't been detected by my *bios*.

I have a toshiba 4026GAX 40GB one that came with the laptop. It works
just fine. I need to upgrade to a larger one. I just tried a *toshiba*
1032GAX 100GB one (same manufacturer, everything.. except a larger
capacity) and that doesnt get detected at all. Any idea what I could be
doing wrong? (I am not using any jumpers or anything.. just taking the
drive and inserting it in the slot - master config. The original one
that works also doesnt have any jumpers. The latter however does have
this metal+plastic attachment that helps to keep in place in the laptop
- I dont think that has got anything to do with the detection right?)

My other option is a USB HDD. I have some concerns though:

- Do the access and transfer speeds of USB HDD really compare well with
the internal HDDs? I have a 1.7Ghz Pentium with 512MB RAM. I plan to
install a WinXP Pro on the USB drive and do some driver development on
it. Will that be significantly slower than with my internal HDD?
- So I can use the bios to choose the drive to boot from (internal
versus USB) and then the MBR to choose which partition on the HDD to
boot from right?

Any caveats about the USB drives in general? If the speeds are good, it
sounds like a good way to use my internal HDD and the USB one in
parallel!

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Mistoffolees]

I have a IBM T42 thinkpad. This is the 2nd time I have purchased an
internal notebook HDD and it hasn't been detected by my *bios*.

I have a toshiba 4026GAX 40GB one that came with the laptop. It works
just fine. I need to upgrade to a larger one. I just tried a *toshiba*
1032GAX 100GB one (same manufacturer, everything.. except a larger
capacity) and that doesnt get detected at all. Any idea what I could be
doing wrong? (I am not using any jumpers or anything.. just taking the
drive and inserting it in the slot - master config. The original one
that works also doesnt have any jumpers. The latter however does have
this metal+plastic attachment that helps to keep in place in the laptop
- I dont think that has got anything to do with the detection right?)

My other option is a USB HDD. I have some concerns though:

- Do the access and transfer speeds of USB HDD really compare well with
the internal HDDs? I have a 1.7Ghz Pentium with 512MB RAM. I plan to
install a WinXP Pro on the USB drive and do some driver development on
it. Will that be significantly slower than with my internal HDD?
- So I can use the bios to choose the drive to boot from (internal
versus USB) and then the MBR to choose which partition on the HDD to
boot from right?

Any caveats about the USB drives in general? If the speeds are good, it
sounds like a good way to use my internal HDD and the USB one in
parallel!

Thanks a lot in advance!

First and foremost, Windows XP does not boot from an external
USB drive. There have been some anecdotal stories that say that
it can but none have been confirmed. But search the Internet.
OTOH, USB 2.0 HD's work OK just as external drives. Buy your
own or make your own.

One problem with trying to install just another HD in a highly
branded computer (Thinkpad = IBM/Lenovo) is that the system is
so proprietary. It would not be surprising that the bios tables
do not allow for ad hoc modifications. Again, search the Internet
and discover what replacement HD's might work in the Thinkpad.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Laptops use varying methods to set the master/slave relationship. Hard
drives are usually set as either master or cable select in firmware. You
have to know which your laptop needs and buy the right one. Some drives can
be changed with a firmware flash. XP won't boot from a USB drive so you'll
have to figure out what the laptop wants and flash the drive or get a
different drive.

 

[JustMe]

Most laptop hard drives, including the Toshiba the Op has, are set as Master
by default. The jumpers on the 4 pins next to pin 1 of the 44 pin connector
are used to select the Master/Slave setting. No jumpers, as the Op
indicated, result in the drive set as Master.

 

[Kerry Brown]

You're right. I was thinking of optical drives

 

[on3lonestar]

Thanks for your replies!

It seems the IBM Thinkpads are not compatible with all HDD
manufacturers/configurations. They ship a Toshiba for the 40GB HDD,
while a Travelstar one for 80GB. I have ordered a Travelstar 80GB one
from their site which they claim works with the Txx series. I will be
returning my Toshiba 100GB now.

The reason why a USB HDD wont do for me is that I need to install WinXP
etc on it and run it from there. Many people have reported that this
doesn't work well as of now. Also, I don't want to risk a slower
performing OS.