mSATA FAQ: A Basic Primer

[LoneWolf15]

Your suggestions do work, but one would have to go into each user profile and individually change the settings for each profile. What I would prefer is for user files to end up on D:\Users\abcd, etc. instead of C:\Users\abcd by default. One such solution that is floating around on the net is this one: Move the Users Directory in Windows 7. I would be curious to find out if anyone has tried this solution and whether it is a stable alternative?

The only solution I know of to accomplish that requires doing a custom clean install of Windows 7 using sysprep, with an unattend.xml file to specify the location of the \Users folder. I found this out after having Windows 7 installed already, and since I am the only user of my laptop (thus, one user profile), I decided not to do it.

There are also some caveats to that method. This may have been fixed, but at one point this caused issues with applying future service packs. Microsoft's TechNet forums have some links to describe this process, but it's the only MS-approved method I know of for Windows Vista and 7.

[pipiamoeba]

I have 3X3 antenna on X220. I heard mSATA SSD can't be installed because the antenna is using the same space. Can anyone confirm it? Thanks.

[chaosphoenix]

I have 3X3 antenna on X220. I heard mSATA SSD can't be installed because the antenna is using the same space. Can anyone confirm it? Thanks.

Where did you hear that? I thought the 3x3 antenna only affected the webcam....

[Petrov]

I have 3X3 antenna on X220. I heard mSATA SSD can't be installed because the antenna is using the same space. Can anyone confirm it? Thanks.

I think it's the internal mobile broadband which, if selected, takes up the same space as the mSATA drive would - not the 3x3 antenna per se. The 3x3 antenna stops you having the webcam only, As far as I know.

Petrov.

[MisterWuf]

I think it's the internal mobile broadband which, if selected, takes up the same space as the mSATA drive would - not the 3x3 antenna per se. The 3x3 antenna stops you having the webcam only, As far as I know.

Petrov.

I think he's referring to having an extra antenna lead in the mSATA/WWAN bay. I don't think it would be a problem, but if it is and you're not using it, just cut the connector off and cover the end of the wire with a piece of tape.

-darren

[yrc]

The only solution I know of to accomplish that requires doing a custom clean install of Windows 7 using sysprep, with an unattend.xml file to specify the location of the \Users folder. I found this out after having Windows 7 installed already, and since I am the only user of my laptop (thus, one user profile), I decided not to do it.

There are also some caveats to that method. This may have been fixed, but at one point this caused issues with applying future service packs. Microsoft's TechNet forums have some links to describe this process, but it's the only MS-approved method I know of for Windows Vista and 7.

LoneWolf, That is exactly what I am finding out by reading up various postings on the Technet forums. Apparently the problem with applying service packs remains a mystery. Some claim that it has been fixed, others claim it hasn't. In my case, I have two T420 machines and one of them will be shared by multiple users. I am planning to clean install on both machines as soon as the 80GB mSata disks arrive (have two on order with my vendor, who thinks end of this month is the earliest he can get them). I have an unattend.xml file ready and will try it on one of the machines. Will let you know how it goes.

[ST_Jim]

I have 3X3 antenna on X220. I heard mSATA SSD can't be installed because the antenna is using the same space. Can anyone confirm it? Thanks.

The mSATA is compatible with the 3x3 antenna on the x220.

The 3x3 antenna is incompatible with the HD web camera, as they occupy the same physical location at the top of the LCD. If you want the camera you have to go for the 2x2 antenna.

Caveat: if you have a WWAN internal mobile broadband card, it occupies the same slot as the mSATA card - so you can't have both of these either.

[Shayes]

sticky this thread

[Shayes]

so it doesnt sound like its that much of a hassle to actually physically install the ssd into the wwan slot? i dont wanna do this if im gonna run into ridiculous road blocks

[LoneWolf15]

so it doesnt sound like its that much of a hassle to actually physically install the ssd into the wwan slot? i dont wanna do this if im gonna run into ridiculous road blocks

The method depends slightly on your model of ThinkPad, but it's fairly easy for someone with basic technical skills.