2nd harddisk for dv7-3020

[Alan Whimp]

I bought an HP Pavilion DV7-3020sa a week ago which has 2 HDD areas but only
1 HDD fitted.
I have bought an identical HDD to the one already installed to fit into the
2nd drive slot but cannot find anywhere where I can buy the lead to connect
it to the mainboard.
Having now tried over 15 companies, including HP, I am becoming frustrated.
Does anyone know where the lead can be purchased?
It is a SATA socket on one end and a very very small plug on the other and
is only around one inch long. (Please note that it does not connect directly
to the mainboard in the usual clip-in method, it does have a small cable!)

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Your laptop has both eSata and USB connections, but no additional drive
slots, it only accepts external drives. Your choices are to either purchase
a USB-based hard drive enclosure or use an eSata drive w/cable such as the
ones here:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2429&name=eSATA.

The proper terms for your installed drive, to avoid confusion when you are
describing it to others, is that it is a single physical drive partitioned
into two volumes. This is common with most manufacturers, one is a recovery
volume for use only when you have a complete operating system failure.
Access to this should be described in your system documentation.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alan Whimp]

rick it as got another slot for another harddisk i just need the cable but i
dunno where i acn buy the cable from

 

[Rick Rogers]

eSata cables:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=esata+cable

Laptops don't generally have additional slots for hard drives, only
provisions for connecting external ones, are you certain you are looking at
the right thing?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[DL]

That model does not have provision for a second internal drive
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...ry&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&lang=en&product=4034195
You are seeing two partitions on a single drive and not 2 drives

In order to connect a second drive you need a drive enclosure which uses
either usb or eSata to connect to your laptop external ports

Where a laptop has provision for a second internal drive there are no cables
/ connectors required the drive simply connects directly to the internal
connection all ready inplace

 

[Thomas Wendell]

According to this manual, there IS a second HD bay
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01859261.pdf

 

[Dominic Payer]

If so, the special cable would either be supplied with the machine or
available only from HP.

 

[DL]

but not for the model stated

According to this manual, there IS a second HD bay
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01859261.pdf

 

[DL]

To clarify that link;
"
This user guide describes features that are

common to most models. Some features

may not be available on your computer."

 

[Curious]

The manual linked to only descibes how to replace a HDD in the second slot
it does not describe how to add a second drive if your computer model
configuration only came with one HDD.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

He probably is. I have a DV7 also and it does indeed have two drive bays.
Bay 1 is populated with the system hard drive, bay 2 has no drive but does
have both space for a drive and a motherboard-mounted connector for a small
combo power/SATA cable that appears to be HP specific.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Learn something new every day. Thanks Richard.

Guess he'd have to contact HP for the appropriate cord. Wonder if the drive
is proprietary as well considering the connection type???

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[mwvik]

just saw your post if you are still looking i found one at www.LaptopKing.com   it is 59.99 and comes with the rubber mounted cradel and the cable.


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