ok so im not the brightest when it comes to older products out there. But ok my mom has this gateway desktop computer that is 10 years old and so i believe the hard drive died the other day, i wanted to get her a new hard drive so i guess my question being, the one that she had was an ATA, can i just replace that one with any other ATA drive? or PATA drive? then also she said she can't even update adobe reader to the newest she can only go as far as 7.0 because of the cpu, what do we recommend? she only uses the computer for internet, email, and tax stuff.
ok so im confused
- Thread starter sarus86
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bkribbs
New Member
Basically, you just need to get another ATA drive (which is the same as PATA I believe) that is the same size. As long as she has at least Windows XP SP1 or greater, she can get any amount (in terms of GB). You just need to make sure that you get her the right size. I would assume it to be 3.5" as it is a desktop, but you need to check.
As far as adobe reader, does it work without it? If her CPU is that outdated, chances are that you would have to get a new computer. However, if you give us some specs, we can see if maybe it is upgradable.
To begin at the beginning, what makes you think the HDD is dead ? As regards a suitable replacement, I would ASSUME the HDD in her machine is a 3.5 inch ATA, (IDE) drive. Practically any 3.5 inch IDE drive can be used to replace it. Generally speaking you will want one as large, (storage space wise), or larger than the one it now has. The only problem you can run into replacing one IDE drive with another larger one, is sometimes the bios will not recognize drives larger than x size. Usually you can flash the bios to get around that one, but before buying a significantly larger drive, check to see if there are updated bios's available for the mobo. And if the board has the latest bios, what is the maximum size drive it will recognize.
Intel board, gonna be harder to get the specs on that. Their site is a zoo. Let me do a bit of research. EDIT : Initial research done. There were various HDD recognition size barriers on older mobos. Some bios's would not recognize any drive larger than 32 Gig. Other bios's would not recognize any HDD larger than 120 Gig and still other bios's would not rcognize any HDD larger than 137 Gig. Question is which type of barrier does the bios on your Intel board have ?
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Benny Boy
Active Member
There's 1 bios update released on 12/5/2001. But even if it was purchased after that date, I wouldn't fool with it.
Need to make sure of the problem 1st.
Try using a hdd diagnotic utility if your not sure it's the hdd.
If it is, perhaps there's a repair for it. Putting it in the freezer overnight may help it. Let it thaw completely before putting it back in.
The thing about buying a hdd, is that Windows will probably have to be purchased too. And since the machines is so old, even if you put $ in it and got it working again, something else could easily go out soon.
I'm assuming it had XP.
I'd recommend spending the hdd and Windows $ on a new tower.
For about $400 you or her could build a good tower for the tasks you stated, and move up to 7 at the same time.
If you have an os and re-useble product key then, same thing only different. Just the tower w/o buying an os.
EDIT: and with the new tower, she can use the latest adobe reader.
Need to make sure of the problem 1st.
Try using a hdd diagnotic utility if your not sure it's the hdd.
If it is, perhaps there's a repair for it. Putting it in the freezer overnight may help it. Let it thaw completely before putting it back in.
The thing about buying a hdd, is that Windows will probably have to be purchased too. And since the machines is so old, even if you put $ in it and got it working again, something else could easily go out soon.
I'm assuming it had XP.
I'd recommend spending the hdd and Windows $ on a new tower.
For about $400 you or her could build a good tower for the tasks you stated, and move up to 7 at the same time.
If you have an os and re-useble product key then, same thing only different. Just the tower w/o buying an os.
EDIT: and with the new tower, she can use the latest adobe reader.
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K, apparently this is a Gateway machine, or at least that was where that part number led me.
The newest bios can be found at :
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?param=2510260&st=pn
I found a FAQ wherein someone asked why a 75 Gig drive was being recognized as a 65 Gig drive, and gateway answered it was purely cosmetic that the full size of the drive would be recognized. That suggests to me that you can use a 120 Gig drive at least with their latest bios. Unfortunately I have not been able to relocate that FAQ to post a link. Their site is another zoo.
I downloaded the latest bios and extracted it, wound up with a file giving instructions how to flash the bios, But no visible bios file, and no description of the problems solved by this bios version. (Usually if they have enlarged the size of HDD that can be recognized they will say so.) EDIT : Last time I tried to open the bios zip I double clicked it and just got the flashing istructions. I ten trie it again using win-zip, and this time I found the full download, but still no brag sheet saying what had been fixed by this bios update.
Anyway, it seems your choice is spend $40 or $50 on a new HDD, or Build an all new machine. Up to you.
The newest bios can be found at :
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?param=2510260&st=pn
I found a FAQ wherein someone asked why a 75 Gig drive was being recognized as a 65 Gig drive, and gateway answered it was purely cosmetic that the full size of the drive would be recognized. That suggests to me that you can use a 120 Gig drive at least with their latest bios. Unfortunately I have not been able to relocate that FAQ to post a link. Their site is another zoo.
I downloaded the latest bios and extracted it, wound up with a file giving instructions how to flash the bios, But no visible bios file, and no description of the problems solved by this bios version. (Usually if they have enlarged the size of HDD that can be recognized they will say so.) EDIT : Last time I tried to open the bios zip I double clicked it and just got the flashing istructions. I ten trie it again using win-zip, and this time I found the full download, but still no brag sheet saying what had been fixed by this bios update.
Anyway, it seems your choice is spend $40 or $50 on a new HDD, or Build an all new machine. Up to you.
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ok so to clarify yes it is a gateway machine as you were able to determine, after talking with my mom a little, she found her paper work and she had actually updated the bios to the most recent possible the one on 12/5/2001. But ok so as far as options, option one and to me the one that makes sense(but might not make sense to her) get a new motherboard and hdd and basically build an all new machine. Second option get a new hdd(but still not really that big in 120GB, which for her isnt really bad) and then put a fresh install of XP on it but not be capable of really upgrading in the future. So what would your recommendations be?
Depends on what she wants to spend. Before making the decision be sure to check the mobo for the "Capacitor Problem". See :
http://www.computerforum.com/188645-pc-wont-switch-not-sure-if-its-power-issues.html
If none of the caps show the slightest sign of bulging at the top, then it is OK to buy an HDD and fix it that way. As regards "Future Upgrading" there will of course be limitations there, but HDD capacity isn't really one of them, because you can always stick in a second HDD, which would mean going from the original 30 Gig up to 240 Gig which ought to be enough for her purposes.
http://www.computerforum.com/188645-pc-wont-switch-not-sure-if-its-power-issues.html
If none of the caps show the slightest sign of bulging at the top, then it is OK to buy an HDD and fix it that way. As regards "Future Upgrading" there will of course be limitations there, but HDD capacity isn't really one of them, because you can always stick in a second HDD, which would mean going from the original 30 Gig up to 240 Gig which ought to be enough for her purposes.
Benny Boy
Active Member
TS mentioned in the OP that "i believe the hard drive died". That says to me that it doesn't have to be the hdd. If the prob can be pinpointed to a cheap easy fix, then maybe. Otherwise it's just pissin' in the wind.
The new tower imo is the only realistic way to go. You'd just be pouring good money after bad trying to fix up a machine that even after a fix won't run the program's she wants/needs.
The new tower imo is the only realistic way to go. You'd just be pouring good money after bad trying to fix up a machine that even after a fix won't run the program's she wants/needs.
bkribbs
New Member
Unless there is some real easy fix, a new tower would be a decent idea, and a crazy good upgrade from a pentium iii.