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Can i use an M SATA SSD in one of my unused WIMAX slots? if so, can i install windows on it and use it as the main drive
That was added in the T420, but the legacy machines (XX00/10) did not get it as it is a PCB revision that cannot be added in firmware. Even on the machines where you have a choice, it’s combined with the WWAN slot so your choice is cellular INSIDE the laptop, or having to carry a hotspot to have an mSATA SSD. Yours is wired up for WWAN or Turbo Memory, unless it is split between 3 slots and is not “shared”. To do the conversion on this one, you’re going to need a mSATA to uSATA (1.8”) adapter PCB from eBay and a 3D printed caddy since these 1.8” s machines lack a hackable drive caddy. What you will need to do is download an adapter like this, print it yourself (or have it done elsewhere for you if you do not own a 3D printer). I do need to warn you mSATA was a stopgap standard (many laptops with potential for 2 drives ruined by this bad choice), so it began to die when PCIe SSDs came along - and nobody is making an adapter like the mSATA to uSATA ones that will work for machines like yours - and the performance is ALWAYS subpar compared to a good PCIe SSD. There may be a compatible M.2 adapter out there I do not know about that can be made to work, but your size options will be severely limited due to the inherit limitations of how far one can adapt these legacy machines due to bad past component choices. You have a horrible laptop in terms of hard drive/SSD upgrades. Since there is no caddy in these s laptops, so you will need to make your own pull tab - use electrical tape and that will usually do the trick.
