Laptop hard drive.

Rikki

macman wrote: »

Changing a laptop hard drive takes a only a few minutes.

So now it's a case of buying a new OS disc and deciding if I dare. :eek:
Do I just change the hard drive then install the disc?

Did you look as the hard drives in the e-buyer link? Do I have an upper limit I can install?

Donnie

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=2&cat=4&subcat=19

Might be limited in your BIOS. Is it a Compaq? Which model?

Rikki

Donnie wrote: »

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=2&cat=4&subcat=19

Might be limited in your BIOS. Is it a Compaq? Which model?

It's a Packard Bell Easynote H5.

How do I check my BIOS? (Apart from on start up)

I have updated the RAM to 1.5GB with another 0.5GB available but I utilised the existing RAM and added 1.0GB

closed

Is your existing hard disk full?

You can use drive imaging software to backup and restore to a new hard disk, if you have an external drive to copy the data to. Have you compared the cost of all the upgrades to a new laptop?

swvillafan

closed wrote: »

Is your existing hard disk full?

You can use drive imaging software to backup and restore to a new hard disk, if you have an external drive to copy the data to. Have you compared the cost of all the upgrades to a new laptop?

Good point about the cost.

Cost wise you're looking at approx:-
> £90 for a boxed (not OEM) copy of win 7 home premium
> £80 for a 320gb 2.5" ide hard disk

Thats half way to buying a newer laptop which would probably have a large hard disk, win 7 already installed, faster processor, more ram etc.

Also, is your laptop man enough to take win 7? Download and run the win7 upgrade advisor. It'll run a few checks on the machine and tell you whether its going to cut it or not.

Donnie

Rikki wrote: »

It's a Packard Bell Easynote H5.

How do I check my BIOS? (Apart from on start up)

I have updated the RAM to 1.5GB with another 0.5GB available but I utilised the existing RAM and added 1.0GB

You check it on start up.

If you can't get any info, perhaps you should play it safe and go with the 160 GB Samsung at £45....or is that not enough?

Once installed, create at least two partitions. One for the OS and programs and another for your Data. Maybe 50GB & 100GB approx.

Rikki

160gb would be plenty.
I don't keep anything stored on the laptop so hard drive space isn't a problem. I often dump everything and start again from the restore partition on the laptop. I've never made a master CD.

Windows 7 compatibility - or the only areas highlighted by the check.

NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5100
NVIDIA
-Unknown-
We don't have compatibility information about this device.



SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
SiS
-Action recommended-
Before installing Windows 7, go to the device manufacturer's website to download the latest driver for this device. After installing Windows 7, install the saved driver.


NETGEAR RangeMax(TM) Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WPN111
NETGEAR
-Action recommended-
Before installing Windows 7, go to the device manufacturer's website to download the latest driver for this device. After installing Windows 7, install the saved driver.

last one:

Adobe Acrobat 6.0.1 Professional
version 006.000.001
Adobe Systems
-Known issues-
You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.


I like this laptop and I'm happy to spend a little on it.

Donnie

If you don't keep anything stored on the laptop, why are you installing a new HDD? Honestly, I wouldn't bother with that or Windows 7 under your circumstances.

Rikki

Donnie wrote: »

If you don't keep anything stored on the laptop, why are you installing a new HDD? Honestly, I wouldn't bother with that or Windows 7 under your circumstances.

The hard drive is on it's way out.

I should have said anything stored I didn't have backed up. I have music and photo's on the hard drive plus my working documents but everything is backed up onto an external hard drive.
When it decides to play up I am not too bothered about going back to factory settings but it would be nice having a hard drive that doesn't keep crashing and failing to start.

Donnie

Rikki wrote: »

The hard drive is on it's way out.

I should have said anything stored I didn't have backed up. I have music and photo's on the hard drive plus my working documents but everything is backed up onto an external hard drive.
When it decides to play up I am not too bothered about going back to factory settings but it would be nice having a hard drive that doesn't keep crashing and failing to start.

Ok, so get the new HDD. Do you intend to clone your old disc on to the new one? If you don't you will lose your Restore partition.

Have you already purchased the Windows 7 Discs?