Help!!! I force inserted a 9.5mm SSD into the harddrive slot of T430 and can't take it out. [ Edited ]

[sandiegosd]

Help!!!

Just got my new T430 and did some hardwar upgrade.

Bought an Intel 520 Series 180G SSD. Thougth it was 7mm. (But later found out 520 series come in two sizes 7 and 9.5mm)

I took out the original HDD (with rubber rails) and forced inserted the SSD into the empty harddrive slot.

Now it's really securely stuck in the slot  and I can't think of a way to get it out. 

Called customer service, they say it's not their original configuration so not under warranty. they suggest I go to a local computer shop. 

Can someone give me some suggestions about what I should do ??  

[richk · Accepted solution]

You can often get access to the drive by removing the palmrest, but T430 has a 1-piece palmrest-keyboard bezel and they are harder to get off. DON'T MAKE IT WORSE. If you are not sure what you are doing, take it to a dealer. You might feel stupid asking for that kind of help, but you will REALLY feel stupid if you break your new, expensive machine.

[hausman]

I agree with richk. It's not worth the risk of damage to either the system or the SSD to use excessive force on your own.

Incidentally, all is not lost. Once you extract the drive you can remove a spacer to make it 7mm thick. The spacer is held with 4 screws. Without the spacer those screws may be too long, so you may need to find shorter ones (or just depend on the rubber rails to hold the drive in place.)

[sandiegosd]

Thanks for the help.

Fact is that one hour I spent on doing all this already gave my morale a dip and had myself question my intelligence once again..oh well.

I'll take it to some local repair shops and see if they can take it out without cracking anything.

p.s. by 'dealer' what do you mean? I don't think Lenovo has retailers around here in Minnesota

[richk]

Where in Minnesota. I'm sure you will have less trouble in St Paul than you will if you are in International Falls.

[sandiegosd]

Half way between Minneapolis and St Paul, on University of Minnesota campus.  There are some computer shops around campus. I'll drive there sometime and ask whether they can handle this

[richk]

Enter your zip code here:
http://www.partnerinfo.lenovo.com/partners/us/resources/dealerlocator.shtml

[sandiegosd]

Got the SSD out and returned it..
I bought the Intel 520 Series but later found out there are two heights with this model : 7mm and 9.5mm.
Currently looking for another SSD. Do you know any good deals on 7mm SSDs?