Installing internal hard drive advice

Paddyboy_2

Hi Everyone,

My uncle recently got a computer from his job which was connected to a server, it has a 2.4ghz pentium and 512mb ram but only has a hard drive of 5gb with Vista installed on it.

Its very slow when loading up and opening and closing programs, obviously because its memory is at 4gb of the 5gb total. I have deleted everything that will not be used on it, i.e. programs etc.

He basically wants to use it for surfing the net nothing more, so have told him i will get a new hard drive which retail's at about £35, i have found the correct one which matches the one already installed.

My query is what precautions do i need to take? and because Vista is already installed on the 5gb hard drive is there anything i can do? will i loose this on adding new one?, my friend said you should be able to add this to the slot as there is nearly always 2-3 free slots, will this work? will computer run smoother? any help appreciated whatsoever appreciated.

DCFC79

Paddyboy wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

My uncle recently got a computer from his job which was connected to a server, it has a 2.4ghz pentium and 512mb ram but only has a hard drive of 5gb with Vista installed on it.

Its very slow when loading up and opening and closing programs, obviously because its memory is at 4gb of the 5gb total. I have deleted everything that will not be used on it, i.e. programs etc.

He basically wants to use it for surfing the net nothing more, so have told him i will get a new hard drive which retail's at about £35, i have found the correct one which matches the one already installed.

My query is what precautions do i need to take? and because Vista is already installed on the 5gb hard drive is there anything i can do? will i loose this on adding new one?, my friend said you should be able to add this to the slot as there is nearly always 2-3 free slots, will this work? will computer run smoother? any help appreciated whatsoever appreciated.

You sure its 5gb hard drive, why not stick ubuntu on the pc if all he wants it for is to surf the net

BillTrac

The size of the hard drive has nothing to do with the memory.

I am sure any computer running Vista will have a larger hard drive than 5gb.

And if it is a computer from his job why is he not getting them to sort it out?

Plus 512mb of memory means Vista won't run correctly, if at all

Make/model number etc would help us to help you

aliEnRIK

I agree, he REALLY needs a minimum of 1 gig of ram

Donnie

Paddyboy wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

My uncle recently got a computer from his job which was connected to a server, it has a 2.4ghz pentium and 512mb ram but only has a hard drive of 5gb with Vista installed on it.

Its very slow when loading up and opening and closing programs, obviously because its memory is at 4gb of the 5gb total. I have deleted everything that will not be used on it, i.e. programs etc.

He basically wants to use it for surfing the net nothing more, so have told him i will get a new hard drive which retail's at about £35, i have found the correct one which matches the one already installed.

My query is what precautions do i need to take? and because Vista is already installed on the 5gb hard drive is there anything i can do? will i loose this on adding new one?, my friend said you should be able to add this to the slot as there is nearly always 2-3 free slots, will this work? will computer run smoother? any help appreciated whatsoever appreciated.

You can 'ghost'.... make an exact copy of the smaller drive on to the larger drive.

Vista and all the settings will stay exactly the same, he will just have a more usable PC.

I/my technician used Acronis True Image. There's a free older version knocking around somewhere on the forum, as well as various other freeware options.

You may well have to connect one as Master and the other as Slave and then 'ghost' the image to the Slave.

Then place the Slave in the position of the Master.

Here's a walkthrough.

HDClone

johngc

As has been said above - changing your hard drive will not improve your vista experience. Plus you might want to look at this http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/system-requirements.aspx

Vista will not install on a machine with only 5Gb HDD. You need a minimum of 20Gb with 15Gb available.

If you have got the specs right, then you need more memory. Vista really needs a bare minimum of 1Gb but I would suggest 2Gb if you want it to feel a bit speedy.

timbim_2

Yeah, for a reasonably competent technician to put vista onto a machine like that would be calssed as idiotic. Ubuntu is the best bet if he can learn to use it, not much different from windows though.

dcag36

im suprised its loading at all with vista running on a 5gb HHD

the recommendations for vista are....
1GB Ram
80GB HDD

Paddyboy_2

Hi Lads,

thanks for all your replys...

The information i have given is totally incorrect, my unlce sent me an e-mail saying the machine was very new and had latest operating system, but a small hard drive and was running slow...

The truth is that it is a pentium III 933mhz with 128mb ram and XP installed on it, i have just seen it this morining so its pretty much self-explantory why its so slow and old.

Sorry for wasting your time and appreciate your answers, i will install a new hard drive and some extra ram. the pentium 3 will be sufficient for what he wants to use and if i have problems i may use that ubuntu as recommended by you giys.

Thanks alot,

Paddyboy

aliEnRIK

No worries mate, though im wondering if your uncles not too happy! Sounds like he was blagged into buying that!
For the computer then 1 gig of ram will easily be sufficient for it, anymore would be overkill on such a slow processor.

timbim_2

Yeh, or you could pay nothing and get a perfectly usable ubuntu machine!