My Gateway PC is low on HD space, need add hard drive!

[JohnCM]

I have a Gateway Essential 933C with a Flex ATX case. I've had it for
awhile, I'd say over 3 years. I'm running Windows ME and have a 20GB
hard drive, with just about 2GB of space left. Most of it is claimed
by mp3's which take up over 10GB.
It would be silly to buy another PC, so how would I go about adding a
hard drive? I hear USB drives are more expensive, and arent as fast as
"traditional" IDE drives. But I dont think I have any extra room in my
case for another hard drive. So I dont know how I could use an
internal hard drive, which are cheaper, and offer quicker access.
I dont want to be spending more than $200 on this upgrade. Any ideas?
I could replace the existing hard drive, but that would mean copying
huge amounts of files, and re-installing Windows ME. I just want to
add another hard drive. What's the best way to go about it?
Also my USB ports are all full so I'd need a hub or expander of some
sort, if I go the external route.

 

[kony]

I have a Gateway Essential 933C with a Flex ATX case. I've had it for
awhile, I'd say over 3 years. I'm running Windows ME and have a 20GB
hard drive, with just about 2GB of space left. Most of it is claimed
by mp3's which take up over 10GB.
It would be silly to buy another PC, so how would I go about adding a
hard drive? I hear USB drives are more expensive, and arent as fast as
"traditional" IDE drives. But I dont think I have any extra room in my
case for another hard drive. So I dont know how I could use an
internal hard drive, which are cheaper, and offer quicker access.
I dont want to be spending more than $200 on this upgrade. Any ideas?
I could replace the existing hard drive, but that would mean copying
huge amounts of files, and re-installing Windows ME. I just want to
add another hard drive. What's the best way to go about it?
Also my USB ports are all full so I'd need a hub or expander of some
sort, if I go the external route.

Replace the current drive with one having higher capacity. 120GB drives
can be found in the local newspapers for less than $100.

Retail packaged drives will typically come with (or it's downloaded from
manufacturer's website) a floppy or CD to copy over the old drive to the
new... it's quick and relatively easy, no reinstalling the OS or anything
of the sort, all you might need do is temporarily have one drive sitting
on top (or next to) the case if there isn't room to mount both drives in
the case simultaneously during the copy operation.

Keep in mind that the new drive may run warmer than the old, if the case
has poor airflow you could potentially need find a way to increase that
airflow. If you open the case immediately after shutting off the system
and feel the drive it should give you some idea... if the current drive
feels pretty warm it's a fair bet the new drive will need something done,
though you can always repeat this simple test after installing the new
drive, and if your case has an empty 5.25" external bay there are also
HDD bay coolers that could hold the new drive, would improve the cooling.

An internal drive is the way to go, it'll be much faster than your current
drive and also much faster than an external drive, though with the old
drive left over you might consider an external enclosure for it, to make
periodic backups.

Your system might not support HDDs over 128GB in size. If you were
considering larger sized drives then check for a bios update to address
this. The system "should" have already had support for up to 128GB as it
shipped from the factory, assuming it started out as a 933MHz system, new
~ 3 years ago.

 

[DaveW]

If you get a USB external drive it HAS to be USB version 2.0, and your
computer does not currently contain USB 2.0; it has USB 1.1. You would have
to install a USB 2.0 PCI card.

 

[Trent©]

I have a Gateway Essential 933C with a Flex ATX case. I've had it for
awhile, I'd say over 3 years. I'm running Windows ME and have a 20GB
hard drive, with just about 2GB of space left. Most of it is claimed
by mp3's which take up over 10GB.
It would be silly to buy another PC, so how would I go about adding a
hard drive? I hear USB drives are more expensive, and arent as fast as
"traditional" IDE drives. But I dont think I have any extra room in my
case for another hard drive.

Pull the cover and take a look. It would be unusual if you don't have
room for at least one more drive.

So I dont know how I could use an
internal hard drive, which are cheaper, and offer quicker access.
I dont want to be spending more than $200 on this upgrade. Any ideas?

Even if you don't have room, you can always MAKE room...as long as you
own a drill, a hammer, and a fire extinguisher! lol Write back if
you really don't have the room.

But definitely go with an internal.

And make sure the BIOS will support the size of drive you want to get.
They're selling Western Digital 40 gig drives in my area for
$29...after rebate.

I could replace the existing hard drive, but that would mean copying
huge amounts of files, and re-installing Windows ME.

You could actually just clone this info over to the new drive with
little problem. It would be very easy...so don't rule this option out
if that's the way you want to go.

I just want to
add another hard drive. What's the best way to go about it?

Just look inside...to see how the existing drive is mounted. Then see
if you have an area right above or right below that drive...just like
that area...that is empty. There should be.

Also my USB ports are all full so I'd need a hub or expander of some
sort, if I go the external route.

Exactly. I'd go internal...as you suggested.

Good luck. Let us know if you have more questions.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[kony]

If you get a USB external drive it HAS to be USB version 2.0, and your
computer does not currently contain USB 2.0; it has USB 1.1. You would have
to install a USB 2.0 PCI card.

What are you smoking?

There is no "had to be" to it.
It is a fact that any enclosure bought will run from his USB1.1 ports,
albeit at the much slower USB1.1 rate. Even so, USB2 is drastically
slower than onboard PATA ports, it would make no sense to buy BOTH an
enclosure and a USB2 card instead of firewire (1394) enclosure and PCI
card, unless he has specific need for USB2 support on other devices.

 

[kony]

Pull the cover and take a look. It would be unusual if you don't have
room for at least one more drive.


Even if you don't have room, you can always MAKE room...as long as you
own a drill, a hammer, and a fire extinguisher! lol Write back if
you really don't have the room.

Flex ATX case though, even if there is room to shoehorn in another drive
they'd almost certainly be stacked atop each other, degrading the already
marginal cooling.