Old Work Laptop trying to add 2.5" SSD

https://imgur.com/gallery/kSNXbyY

I have an Old Lenovo ThinkPad laptop.

I am looking to use a Samsun 850 Evo 2.5" SSD in the system to run Linux and practice my programming skills. I see an opportunity for great career growth, and I need a system I can practice on.

After removing the back panel, it appears there are two M2 SSD slots and one 2.5" SSD/HDD slot.

The M2 slots look like there are connections available. While the 2.5" slot is blocked off where I'd expect the connection to be availible. How can I connect the 2.5" SSD to the laptop?

Additional information: The left most slot is the original OS boot slot. The fixture in the slot appears to be a heat sink. The 2 unsued slots have a spot for a ribbon cable, maybe?

14 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

CaptDust@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 1y (1 reply)

What Thinkpad model is this? Would be easier to look up supported hardware with that information. I think it's missing a drive cage, I don't see any mounting hardware in that 2.5" area. And likely will need a ribbon adapter, if the model supports one.

There is also a possibility this is just empty space in the chassis unfortunately.

Edit-: JHDD2 should work with a ribbon cable adapter, you'll still want a drive caddy to keep it secured.

Heikki@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y

Thank you for your help. I found the cable. I didn't think of a tray but will be sure to order one.

Thank you

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 3 pts · 1y

Search the model for a repair guide. That should tell you all you need to know.

Heikki@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y (1 reply)
ZebraGoose@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1y

hey, here's a cleaner link 😁

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296024619796

brickfrog@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 1y

Easier with the model # of the Thinkpad so people can look up the specs, but working off what you posted and the pics..

and one 2.5" SSD/HDD slot

Have you tried plugging in the 2.5" SSD there & then boot into the BIOS to see what it detects? (your 3rd pic, the slot on the right looks like it could take a 2.5" SATA drive) Carefully... just as a test run - Like the other comment said there isn't a drive cage or anything there so you couldn't really run it with a 2.5" drive full-time until you can rig up something to mount it properly.

This particular Thinkpad may have only been set up for M2 drives so getting a 2.5" drive working there could be tricky, I'd just get a compatible M2 drive to install in there since you know for sure that's what the Thinkpad was configured to work with previously.