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    What parts needed to put SATA 2.5" drive into T500 ultrabay?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Ramen Lunei, Oct 13, 2009.

  1. Ramen Lunei

    Ramen Lunei Notebook Enthusiast

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    I want to put a 2.5" SATA drive into my ultrabay slot. I know I need an adapter, but do I just need the adapter or do I need something else in addition to the adapter?

    I read that I need some rails or something? Not sure what I need to buy.

    Also, I can't find the ultrabay adapter II for the T500 on the www.lenovo.com/cpp website...
     
    Ramen Lunei, Oct 13, 2009
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  2. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

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    It's strange that you can't find it. When I go to Accessories->Storage->StorageAdapters there are four items and the fourth one is the "ThinkPad Serial Hard Drive Bay Adapter III"

    If it's like the predecessor (Adapter II) then you can use a bare 2.5" hard drive but it'll fit a little more securely with a hard drive caddy from one of the ebay vendors. I think I paid $10 shipped?
     
    Lew, Oct 13, 2009
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  3. Ramen Lunei

    Ramen Lunei Notebook Enthusiast

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    I saw that one; I didn't know it was for the T500.
    The adapter II and the adapter III are the same? Both will fit the T500?
    Is this the same case for the ultrabay battery II and III too?
     
    Ramen Lunei, Oct 13, 2009
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  4. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

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    All I know is what lenovo.com says:
    The ThinkPad Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter III is supported on the following ThinkPad systems:
    • T400s, T400, T500, R400, R500, W500, and W700.
    • In the Ultrabay of the optional ThinkPad X200 UltraBase.
    • Both ThinkPad Serial ATA hard drives and the ThinkPad 128GB and 256GB FDE Solid State Drive options are supported in the ThinkPad Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter III.
    ​
    Seems pretty clear to me that the T500 is supported.

    My guess is that there is some change from the Adapter II to Adapter III to accommodate the T400s and/or the listed solid state drive options.

    I've not looked up the ultrabay batteries, but it shouldn't be difficult to read the description and see if it lists the T500 as a supported system.
     
    Lew, Oct 13, 2009
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  5. NecessaryEvil

    NecessaryEvil Notebook Evangelist

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    The adapter 2 uses a PATA interface to connect to the laptop.

    The adapter 3 uses a SATA interface to connect to the laptop.

    Both have SATA on the drive side, and work fine with solid state drives.


    Adapter 2 works on the docking station of the T500, where the 3 does not.
     
    NecessaryEvil, Oct 13, 2009
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  6. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

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    Are you sure of this? I thought it was the Adapter I that had the PATA interface to the laptop and that's why it worked on the T6x series but not the T400/T500 series.

    My Adapter II (43R1980) has a SATA interface to the laptop and works fine in my T400.
     
    Lew, Oct 14, 2009
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