Toughbook cf-30 second hard drive

Hi All,

I just bought a Toughbook cf-30 MK2 off ebay, which is my first Toughbook. Since It comes with a 80 gb HDD,
I'm considering adding a 128 gb SSD for a bit more space and performance. The best option for me seems to be
using one of these optical drive to hard drive adapters. Since I'm an absolute newbie to Toughbooks, I'd like to know
If there are any specific considerations on choosing an adapter or any suggestions for a particular type/brand?

Thanks,

 

You will need to use a pata/ide drive. The bios will freeze when you try to boot with a sata drive in an optical adapter in the media bay.
I have tried several of the optical to sata adapters and had boot issues with all of them. In the older machines the sata in the optical drive worked.
In my cf52, I ended up getting a wd 320gb pata platter drive. No boot or access issues.

I have had a new idea in the past couple of weeks. I have not tried it yet, because I would have to reformat c:. Change the bios from achi to ide for the drives.
No idea if it would work or not.

 

OK, I see. Thanks for the heads up. In that case I need to think it through again. It might be just easier/cheaper/safer to
use a single high capacity platter drive instead.
Thanks again,

 

In my CF-30MK2 I went with a 160GB SSD and just used a external HDD for all my other stuff. The SSD made a BIG difference in how my 30 ran...so much fast. You will not regret it.

 

Another alternative is a ssd main drive and fill the rear usb ports and sd slot/ express card slot with drives.

A staples "relay"usb or a sandisk "fit" will fit in the rear usb ports and you can close the door. Minor sanding is required for the one drive. Sandisk offers them at 64gb. Another 64 or 128gb in the express card slot and away you go. I have every possible port/ slot except for the side usb filled in my cf30. I have a second battery in the media / optical bay.

 

I second this. Main SSD then use media for just storage. Class 10 cards are cheap now.

 

I have a Toshiba MK6461GSYA ATA (160G) drive turning 7200. I guess its better that stock drive.
But the power consumption is like 5.5w start up and 2.3w seek and read write.

And if I am reading it right the drive toughtasnails is talking about "160GB SSD" uses 2.5w fully active write, and .06w DIPM.

Now this has to be a battery saver? can anyone using this drive see any better operating time with this type of drive?

I find the corner of the computer where the hard drive is very warm after long usage.

 

Yes battery run time is increased with SSD.

 

I have a Toshiba MK6461GSYA ATA (160G) drive turning 7200. I guess its better that stock drive.
But the power consumption is like 5.5w start up and 2.3w seek and read write.

And if I am reading it right the drive toughtasnails is talking about "160GB SSD" uses 2.5w fully active write, and .06w DIPM.

Now this has to be a battery saver? can anyone using this drive see any better operating time with this type of drive?

I find the corner of the computer where the hard drive is very warm after long usage.

 

On my CF-30 Mk2 with older used battery I seen a gain but not that much, on the CF-19 Mk3 with a new battery I seen a large gain.

 

Thanks everyone for great information. I think I' going to fill usb port/ sd slot with drives first, and then keep an eye
on finding a good deal on ssd drives to replace with main drive.

 

Thanks everyone for great information. I think I' going to fill usb port/ sd slot with drives first, and then keep an eye
on finding a good deal on ssd drives to replace with main drive.

 

If you watch newegg in their news letters 240 gb drives have dropped to around 140 when on sale. I still from time to time get used intel X25 models but the way the prices are dropping on them even getting a sata 2 ssd 160gb at 90 bucks it's starting not to be the best deal compared to the new drives prices.

 

Spot on... The SSD prices are coming down so low... They are under some of the regular drive prices when on sale! I bought several on Black Friday at Newegg.

 

They have some on newegg now 240GB for $120-$130 after rebate...that is a deal.

 

Thanks again, I checked out newegg and they have 180GB intel 350 series for 120$. I think I can justify spending
120$ on a hard drive.

 

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone has succeeded in getting an SSD work in media bay in the end. I've already got one SSD as the main drive but still need more space. Expresscard SSD's are so expensive and according to specs I can only go for up to 8GB SD cards. There is the option of tiny usb 2.0 flash drives but they are not as fast.

 

Well in my experience with a CF52. The similarity being they both use a IDE (PATA) DVD drive interface.
You will need a IDE(PATA) SSD or HDD in the media bay.
I currently have a WD 320gb IDE in my CF52G in the media bay.
Any SATA locks up the laptop when booting. I tried lots of different drives and adapters.
Native IDE was the only thing that would work...
In a couple weeks I should be ready to sell that WD 320gb IDE that I am using..

 

My Mk3 accepts a 32GB SSD card -- give it a try!

 

Thanks for the valuable information everyone. Shawn, I will need an adapter for the media bay, right? The ones I've seen online seem to be SATA to IDE. Do you know where I can get the right adapter?

 

Here is one I have used....In the photo the sticker says sata but it is IDE to IDE.....

 

now where did I put that photo ....

 

crap on a cracker...

link.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PATA-ID...843?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4604a1a7d3

 

Thanks a lot, Just ordered one.

 

I got the HDD caddy but it looks like it's not matching the connector on CF-30. Do I need part of
a DVD drive bracket to fit the caddy in? If so where can I find one if I don't want to pay for a working DVD drive?

 

You may as well buy a complete DVD because it will cost just as much...sorry

 

Check this one out http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...689?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e80cffb1

 

I see, Thanks a lot. I just ordered one.

 

This is the best way to go. If I were to order the parts for the caddy alone would cost you $60.00 and that was a couple years ago. It was cheaper back then to do it because to buy a DVD it was $120.00+

 

So, yesterday I received the DVD drive and unscrewed all the screws I could find, but still
I cannot quite figure out how to take the drive out of the bezel and install the HDD caddy.
I'm afraid I might break something if use too much force, Is there some resources on how to
do this?

 

Usually they are held on the sides by very sticky tape...
Did you find one screw on each side and two in the back? Four total?

 

I did mine like this. I used a sharp knife and pry slowly.

 

Thanks a lot. I unscrewed the two screws on sides, two on the back and two holding the clicky
mechanism. I'm gonna try prying as you suggested.

 

Thanks everyone. I successfully installed the HDD caddy, tested it with an old IDE HDD and it worked!

 

Good