replacing hard drive in laptop

[thosecars82]

Hello

I have a laptop that just got its hard drive broken. I want to replace the hard drive with a new one and using the recovery CD that came with the laptop to restore the operating system to the default factory settings.

Can I buy just any hard drive for laptops?

Do I need a hard drive with the exact storage capacity as the original one in order to make sure that the recovery disc is usefull?

Moreover, do I need exactly the same hard drive as the original to make sure that the recovery disc is going to work with the new hard drive?

Thanks

 

[PohTayToez]

Can I buy just any hard drive for laptops?

Almost. There are two main types of 2.5" (laptop size) hard drives. If you're computer is 3 years old or newer it almost certainly uses SATA hard drives, if it's older it might use IDE. This is really the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to compatibility.

 

[thosecars82]

Almost. There are two main types of 2.5" (laptop size) hard drives. If you're computer is 3 years old or newer it almost certainly uses SATA hard drives, if it's older it might use IDE. This is really the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to compatibility.

Thanks

So then according to what you told me, I guess I must suppose that the recovery disc is going to work all right even if the physical storage capacity of the hard drive is not the same, right?

If there is some other people who could confirm this point, I would appreciate it.

 

[strollin]

You should be OK provided the new drive capacity is the same size or larger.

 

[thosecars82]

You should be OK provided the new drive capacity is the same size or larger.

Ok, thanks.

 

[voyagerfan99]

Any size drive will work as long as you get the correct drive interface (SATA or IDE)

 

[thosecars82]

Question:
What type of hard drive does a toshiba satellite a210-19I use? IDE, SATA....?
Thanks

 

[PohTayToez]

Sata

 

[thosecars82]

Sata

Thanks