Hi
@LaPorta
Yes it looks like the 1400 has an easier layout. Likewise, the 3400 is also easier to work with. And way different than Lombard/Pismo machines.
The setup in the 2400c is a little different. The hard drive is mounted directly onto the logic board, with the front held in place by the IDE connector (no ribbon cable, direct connector) and the rear held in place by two screws that are put in from the top of the logic board. Once reassembled (and the computer is sitting open, on a desk) the hard drive is suspended upside down from the bottom of the logic board. Definitely a different setup than the other PowerBooks I’ve worked with. No drive cage/sled/mounting in the plastic case. Only direct to bottom of logic board.
From what I’ve read, electronically this should all work no problem as long as the CF card is UDMA compliant. I went with a SanDisk 32GB model as it was the smallest capacity I could find. My only concern is if the weight of an adapter and CF card (or even SD Card and adapter) would over time (many years) cause the IDE connector to break its solder connections on the logic board.
Did this all on an impulse since I opened the computer up earlier this week to remove the PRAM battery before it leaks. I have all the parts sitting on my desk (delivered yesterday from Amazon), before I decide to move forward with reassembling the computer. I do have an old 10GB drive I could use instead and at least it would be long enough for the rear screws to provide support and a small upgrade from the 6GB drive currently in the machine.