Replacing 80Gb int hd with 500Gb int hd

[Guest]

I am contemplating purchasing and installing a Seagate 500G internal hard
drive. I have Windows XP Pro, RAM 256MB, Speed 945MHz, AMD Duron Processor.
The pc was made for me, it's not a name brand, and the person who made it for
me is not longer available. I have a 40Gb C Drive and an additional 80Gb int
hd. With the following specifications, is the 500Gb int hd compatible with
my system so that I can replace the 80Gb int hd with the 500Gb int hd? I
already have 3 300Gb ex hds and I would prefer getting an int hd instead of
another ex hd (plus the price is unbeatable). It would serve only for backup
of completed data, no work would be done on the files in the drive.

Also, my 80Gb int hd plugs in, no brackets, etc, are required. The specs
below state "Complete with cable, disc utility CD, quick-installation guide
and mounting screws." This makes me think that I can't just pull out the
80Gb and insert the 500Gb. Am I correct? I easily installed my ext hds but
I'm not used to working inside of my pc. I did install a 3 port firewire
card which plugged in and needed to be screwed onto the case and it was
easily accomplished. Would connecting the 500Gb int hd be as easy?

Seagate - World's quietest 7200-RPM drives, with 8-Mbyte, and the most
advanced fluid-bearing motor.
Award-winning DiscWizardTM software makes installation a snap.
SeaToolsTM diagnostic software continuously checks your hard drive for data
safety and drive performance.
Complete with cable, disc utility CD, quick-installation guide and mounting
screws.
Compatible with Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98SE, and NT; may be used with Linux,
Mac OS and Netware.

Specifications
Model No: ST3500841A-RK
Capacity: 500GB
Platform: PC/MAC
Rotational Speed: 7200RPM
Cache Buffer Size: 8MB Buffer
Interface: ATA/100
Internal/External: Internal

Denise

 

[Rich Barry]

Denise, since your system see all your drives with no problem then sure
go ahead with installing the 500G drive.
Just make sure that you reinstall the data cable with the red stripe
facing the white power connector. Also, set the
jumper on the new drive as slave or maybe cable select.

 

[DL]

Whether you need to fix an internal hd with screws or not is dependent on
the hd tray/holder.
If your current hd is on a screwless tray then pull it out and slide new hd
in.
You would have to ensure new drive is jumpered correctly.

I have to assume your mobo bios supports this size of hd?

PS
You have spent money on numerous hd's but havent bothered installing more
ram??????
Bizare, and you appear to using your sys for video files!!!

 

[Kerry Brown]

I am contemplating purchasing and installing a Seagate 500G internal
hard drive. I have Windows XP Pro, RAM 256MB, Speed 945MHz, AMD
Duron Processor. The pc was made for me, it's not a name brand, and
the person who made it for me is not longer available. I have a 40Gb
C Drive and an additional 80Gb int hd. With the following
specifications, is the 500Gb int hd compatible with my system so that
I can replace the 80Gb int hd with the 500Gb int hd? I already have
3 300Gb ex hds and I would prefer getting an int hd instead of
another ex hd (plus the price is unbeatable). It would serve only
for backup of completed data, no work would be done on the files in
the drive.

Also, my 80Gb int hd plugs in, no brackets, etc, are required. The
specs below state "Complete with cable, disc utility CD,
quick-installation guide and mounting screws." This makes me think
that I can't just pull out the 80Gb and insert the 500Gb. Am I
correct? I easily installed my ext hds but I'm not used to working
inside of my pc. I did install a 3 port firewire card which plugged
in and needed to be screwed onto the case and it was easily
accomplished. Would connecting the 500Gb int hd be as easy?

That is a fairly old system. Make sure it supports drives larger than 137
GB. The motherboard may not support 48 bit lba or may need a BIOS upgrade.
Your current 300 gb drives are external so not affected by the motherboard
controller.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for responding. The job of replacing my 80G int hd with a 500G
hd may be a little more than I can handle (BIOS, motherboard supporting it,
etc) so I think I'll get another external hd (hopefully I can find one that's
500G) and store the info on it as it will rarely be used. I'm planning on
updating my pc, piece by piece. Just got a new lcd monitor because my
graphics kept fading after I'd been on the net for over 2 days. In 6 mos or
so, I'll start thinking about a new pc. It's over 3 years old now and it get
almost constant use . . . it's my workhorse. Again, thank you all for
responding.

 

[Guest]

Hi DL,

How do I install more RAM? Like I said, I know very little about the inner
workings of a PC. Does it plug in? If it does, I can do that. From the
specs that I gave you, how much RAM can my pc handle? How will I know what
is compatible with my pc or are the generic?

Denise

 

[DL]

You visit a branded memory site eg www.crucial.com and use their memory
selector tool.
Provided when you open your case, you disconnect the pwr supply and dont
unnneccessarily medle / touch components its hard to go wrong.
Many shops/stores will install memory / components whilst you wait. You will
pay more for the item than if you did it yourself, but then if you dont wish
to open the case........