Thinking of Updating the Hard Drive

M

Moronicus

New Member
HI,
My friends' computer is really dicked up. Her hard drive shows only 5% remaining space (outta 20gb). I was thinking of updating her drive to a larger one. My questions are these: What do I need to look for when purchasing a new one?, How hard are they to install and get running? Any suggestions on brands? I don't have a ton of money to spend and I'm not all that sharp with these hi tech things! LOL LOL Give me a race engine and I can help, but these things are a little different! LOL LOL All I know about here computer is that it's a Compaq, I don't know if it's a Presario, or a Pavillion. I will try and find out more info and post it later. But in the meantime any help would be appreciated!
 
Choice said:
Well once you purchase the drive, install it. Head to your BIOS and set it as a slave drive.
Click to expand...

That doesnt help him at all...

What you can do is add another hard drive in addition to what you have now, that way you dont have to reinstall windows and her files. So go to a store such as bestbuy or www.newegg.com, and look for a hard drive labeled IDE, or ATA100/ATA133 and pick it up. I would recommend another 40GB or 80GB because if your small budget. Then once you bring it home, set the jumper to "slave", and install it in your PC, then hook up the cables. (it should tell you how in your Hard Drive manual).
 
Just buy an 80GB, 120GB or 200GB hard drive, they are not that expensive. here are some examples:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148039

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152022

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144102

Your compaq should have space for another hard drive, to install as slave. 1st one (20gb) is the master drive and the new one can be used as extra storage.
If not, take the old one out and put in the new one - only two connection cables required - power cable and the thin IDE cable. You will have more than enough capaciy with any of the examples above. Then install windows with the CD (I hope you have it. Boot from the CD, follow the instructions, format the HD and istall windows) and it's ready to go.

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aus2480 said:
If not, take the old one out and put in the new one - only two connection cables required - power cable and the thin IDE cable. You will have more than enough capaciy with any of the examples above. Then install windows with the CD (I hope you have it. Boot from the CD, follow the instructions, format the HD and istall windows) and it's ready to go.
Click to expand...

and if you're gonna do that make sure you backup your data from the old one first. And btw, the IDE cable is the flat grey one in your computer, when you plug it into the harddrive make sure you have the pin alligned up. Then you need to plug the molex in (the rectangularish white plug), it only goes in one way, make sure its the right way and dont force it.
 
Thanks Geoff, Ausboy and Liuliuboy! I apreciate your help and suggestions. She doesn't seem to have the windows disk. But I was told that if I called Compaq and told then I was gonna upgrade the drive they would send me the disks for $10. Has anybody ever heard this or tried this? I was looking at the Fry's ad (I'm in So Cal) and they have a Maxtor 200GB L01P200 Ultra Series 8MB Buffer UATA133 7200 RPM for $70. Is this a decent drive? Will it work in that computer?
 
Moronicus said:
Thanks Geoff, Ausboy and Liuliuboy! I apreciate your help and suggestions. She doesn't seem to have the windows disk. But I was told that if I called Compaq and told then I was gonna upgrade the drive they would send me the disks for $10. Has anybody ever heard this or tried this? I was looking at the Fry's ad (I'm in So Cal) and they have a Maxtor 200GB L01P200 Ultra Series 8MB Buffer UATA133 7200 RPM for $70. Is this a decent drive? Will it work in that computer?
Click to expand...

No problem, the windows disc will simply erase everything on your hard drive and start you off as new. You dont need to do this if your adding another hard drive, only if your replacing one.

And yes, thats an excellent deal and should work in your computer. (if not just return it :P)

And to the person who posted the hard drive links, those are for SATA and i highly doubt he has any SATA ports.
 
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