HDD compatibility issue: T61 with WD5000BPKT

[nirn]

Hi,

I failed cloning my original T61 hard drive (T61-8892-79G)  to a new  WD5000BPKT (western digital 7200 RPM SATA II) .

After boot, I get the message: cannot read disk

Is it a hardware compatibility issue ?

Should I update the bios or change its settings ?

Thank you,

Nir

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

is your drive an advanced format drive? it should say on the hdd label.

[zoltanthegypsy]

That is an Advanced Format drive.  It causes issues that vary depending on OS.  They can be fixed.

The failed clone operation is (maybe) another issue.  @ theOP: when you did the clone op, was the new drive installed in the laptop?  ThinkPads are fussy about this.  The new drive should be installed in the regular HD slot, and the source in the external adapter or ultrabay.

Hard Drive Clonewars - Klonekrieg Der Festplatten

Z.

[nirn]

Hello Lead_org,

The WD5000BPKT is indeed "Advanced Format Drive".

What should I do ?

Thank you,

Nir

[ColonelONeill]

You may need to do a file-by-file backup instead of a sector-by-sector backup.

I'd just go ahead and start from scratch, personally.

[nirn · Accepted solution]

It worked!

I performed the following steps.

1) Download "acronis WD edition" from western digital home page.

2) Installed "acronis WD edition" and created a "bootable rescue CD",

    using the acronis software.

3) Bought a "Dynamomode 2.5" SATA enclosure."

   (That is a SATA->USB converter).

4) Installed the new WD scorpio black WD5000BPKT
     inside my lenovo T61-8892-79G.

5) Installed the old drive in the external  Dynamomode 2.5" SAT enclosure.

6) Restarted the computer and loaded the "acronis WD edition rescue CD" from boot.

7) I cloned the external old drive to the new 500GB drive (now installed inside the computer).
     I selected  "manual mode" cloning, and kept the original size of the Lenovo hidden partition.

8) The cloning took ~40 minutes and completed successfully.
      After restart, windows booted normally and everything looked the same

      only the HDD had 360 free GB instead of 10GB.

Many thanks to Zoltanthegipsey, lead_orf and colonelOniel,

Nir

[zoltanthegypsy]

Excellent.  What OS are you running?

If XP, you should probably run one of the available alignment tools, or performance may suffer.  If Win 7, check to see if Windows Update still works.  If it does, you're done.  If not, there's a little more work to do.

Z.

[hgkaroley]

Did almost exactly what you did except used automatic option under Acronis.  It enlarged the hidden partion slightly but gave most of the space to the C: partition, 

Rebooted without external drive plugged in and that was it.  All programs and data stil there.

Only thing is that I can't boot the original WD 250GB 5400 drive in the external deive enclosure.  Not sure why.

[TuuS]

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hgkaroley wrote:

Only thing is that I can't boot the original WD 250GB 5400 drive in the external deive enclosure.  Not sure why.

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When starting, hit "F1" to enter bios and find your boot settings and make sure usb harddrive booting is enabled. That should fix the problem. If you have difficulty understanding the options, I'll look at them again and try to describe them better.