Computer Hardware Forum

I am trying to find a replacement hard disk for a Panasonic Toughbook
CF-T1. The original Toshiba MK4020GLS disk was damaged irrepairably
when the laptop's owner knocked it on the floor while the disk was
spinning. With little experience of notebook hardware I am finding out
that replacing a 2.5" disk is not nearly as straightforward as
replacing a 3.5" one in a desktop.

I tried a Hitachi 80GN 40GB disk as it seemed identical in spec to the
MK4020GLS (and available locally), but the laptop wouldn't even POST.
Replacing the defective disk or removing the disks completely would
allow the system to POST again. It was only then (sigh) that I decided
to do a little research. Here are my findings:

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-T1 provides +3.3V to power the logic on pin
41 of the IDE connection. This seems to be quite a rarity (most
provide +5.5V) and goes some way to explain the long battery life of
this model. The Toshiba MK4020GLS is one of a rare breed that runs its
logic on 3.3V and I have not been able to find a replacement disk,
Toshiba or otherwise, that has this specification. Most disks are sold
with 5V logic.

My question is therefore this: Does anyone know where one can get hold
of a Toshiba MK4020GLS or compatible disk (I'm based in the UK) or
know of any way to get a 5V logic disk to from a 3.3V supply.

I have trawled through usenet and the web, and have yet to come up
with anything.

TIA

Steve

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quote:
Originally posted by Steve Terrill 
I am trying to find a replacement hard disk for a Panasonic Toughbook
CF-T1. The original Toshiba MK4020GLS disk was damaged irrepairably
when the laptop's owner knocked it on the floor while the disk was
spinning. With little experience of notebook hardware I am finding out
that replacing a 2.5" disk is not nearly as straightforward as
replacing a 3.5" one in a desktop.

I tried a Hitachi 80GN 40GB disk as it seemed identical in spec to the
MK4020GLS (and available locally), but the laptop wouldn't even POST.
Replacing the defective disk or removing the disks completely would
allow the system to POST again. It was only then (sigh) that I decided
to do a little research. Here are my findings:

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-T1 provides +3.3V to power the logic on pin
41 of the IDE connection. This seems to be quite a rarity (most
provide +5.5V) and goes some way to explain the long battery life of
this model. The Toshiba MK4020GLS is one of a rare breed that runs its
logic on 3.3V and I have not been able to find a replacement disk,
Toshiba or otherwise, that has this specification. Most disks are sold
with 5V logic.

My question is therefore this: Does anyone know where one can get hold
of a Toshiba MK4020GLS or compatible disk (I'm based in the UK) or
know of any way to get a 5V logic disk to from a 3.3V supply.

I have trawled through usenet and the web, and have yet to come up
with anything.

TIA

Steve 
 

Steve:

How were you able to resolve this issue?  My T-1 faces the same situation, t
he only source is US based panasonic service center who charges USD 470 for 
the bare drive, which is a rather pricey solution.

Would refurbishing the Toshiba MK4020GLS be a solution?

Cheers,

Chihsan

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quote:
Originally posted by Chihsan 
Steve:

How were you able to resolve this issue?  My T-1 faces the same situation, t
he only source is US based panasonic service center who charges USD 470 for 
the bare drive, which is a rather pricey solution.

Would refurbishing the Toshiba MK4020GLS be a solution?

Cheers,

Chihsan 
 

Hi Chihsan,

I found the following hint in another forum to use a 5V-only Drive by using 
the 5V spindle-power connector only,
and removing the pin 41 connection:
[url]http://leog.net/fujp_forum/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=6636&FORUM_ID=21[/u
rl]

I will try that with a Fujitsu-drive and my CF-T1.

Cheers,
David

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quote:
Originally posted by davidl 
Hi Chihsan,

I found the following hint in another forum to use a 5V-only Drive by using 
the 5V spindle-power connector only,
and removing the pin 41 connection:
[url]http://leog.net/fujp_forum/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=6636&FORUM_ID=21[/u
rl]

I will try that with a Fujitsu-drive and my CF-T1.

Cheers,
David 
 

It works (for me)!

I changed today on a CF-R1 (20GB 3,3V HDD) to a Fujitsu MHV2080AT 80GB 5V HD
D and it works great! I bent PIN 41 down and connected it to PIN 42 (but pro
pably they are already connected internally) and removed PIN 44. 
The new drive needs max. 0,55 Amps (incl. logic) and the old drive required 
 0,7 Amps only for the spindle-power, so I'm pretty shure that it won't hurt
 the power supply.

Have fun,

k.m

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