HD interposer

How come when you buy a new HD they never include an interposer? Does anyone know where I can get one for a 2.5" HD?

 

The bracket plus interposed is $7 direct from dell for the m17xr3. Shipping is $6

Cheers,

 

The interposer came with my R3. It's inside the Port 1 (middle) cradle or slot. It's not immediately apparent because it looks like part of the bracket, but it slides/eases out with some manipulation. Easy to overlook at first. Remove the cradle and bracket and you should find it. It's covered with a soft rubber or plastic casing or sleeve which has to be removed.

 

Thanks Rev.

 

I read somewhere that interposer is not included in port 1 if you buy a refurb r3. Very cheap for Dell not include it.

 

That would be messed up. But as posted above it wont cost much. But it is messed up because you will have to call Dell and wait till it arrives.

 

Anywhere other than Dell to get one ?

 

maybe ebay

 

I can confirm this. I just received my refurb M17x R3 this week and there was no interposer or screws for a 2nd drive. There is a cage (the part that's attached with 3 screws) in the HDD1 spot but that's it. I'm going to call Dell tomorrow to see about getting the missing pieces, but it does seem cheap to not include the necessary mounting hardware with a 2-bay system, refurb or not. I bought an SSD for boot/programs, and definitely want a second drive for storage.

I'm also confused as to whether I'm missing a cradle. Is this different from the cage I'm referring to (which is perhaps the "bracket")?

I did check eBay just to see what was available, but it's tough to tell what parts are compatible with the R3. Many just specify m17x, with no specific revision. Not sure if these parts changed between revisions.

 

Also confirm this, just got my R3 and no interposer. Called Dell and had them send me the parts, got everything but the interposer. =(

 

What a beating! Did you call them back?

 

Terminology can get confusing. The bracket/cage/cradle are the same thing. On the new ones, there is a temporary placeholder sub-bracket inside the cage and attached to it with 4 screws that serves the role of a HHD/SSD. The interposer is connected to that interior sub-bracket, which serves no further purpose once the drive is installed into the bracket/cage/cradle. Here is a picture. When the drive is installed, flip the bracket over, slide it forward to connect to the system board connectors and screw it down.

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Thanks much for the clarification. So, my system does have the extra bracket, but is missing the interposer and extra screws that I will need. I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with tech support this morning, and had a degree of difficulty explaining what I needed. Ultimately, they processed a "parts short order" for me, and they are shipping the following to me:
6H7T5 ASSEMBLY..., BRACKET..., HDD, SECOND..., M17XR3 00001

Hopefully this will include everything I need, but the service rep was difficult to understand, and he seemed to be stating that I did not need the interposer. I told him repeatedly that I do in fact need the interposer to connect the second drive to the system. The tech just said I can always call back if the problem is not resolved.

Based on wcdturbo's experience and this strange conversation with the tech, I'm not confident that I get the interposer in the kit, but I will update my experience for anyone else who is experiencing the same issue. Unfortunately I will be traveling for the next two weeks, so the parts will arrive while I am gone.

 

My R3 reburb didn't have the interposer either, I already ordered one from ebay for $12. It's easier then dealing with people lol

if you go that route, get the $12 one, the other cheap ones ship are from china, while the $12 one comes from florida... unless you don't mind waiting 3-4 weeks

 

Luxferro, thanks for the tip. Is this the one (item description from ebay)?
Dell 1420,1720,1721 SATA HD Interposer,Connector XK231
It says compatible with Alienware M17X and M17xR2, so I'm guess it's also compatible with R3.

Side note: I went ahead and installed my 256 GB Crucial M4. Running as a single drive system untill I get the hardware for the second drive. Man, this thing screams! WEI now 7.5 with a 7.9 for the hard drive!

 

Yeah, that is the one I ordered too. I'm pretty sure it works for R3 as well. Thought I read it somewhere. It looks the same from the picture too

I put a SSD in mine too, only a 60GB. But I plugged in the original HD into usb 3.0 sata quick port thing, and put all my games on that for now. It even plays great over usb 3.0 lol. Soon as the Interposer comes I'll just install it and be ready to roll with all my stuff already on it

 

hate to be the negative nancy but I don't think that is the right interposer. Let us know when you get it but I think the R3 interposer is different than the other M17x's

 

Good luck man. That is exactly what they sent me plus they sent me an extra bracket.
R185F BRACKET..., MOUNTING..., METAL..., SSDR, LATCHED ADDRESS..., M09 00001
6H7T5 ASSEMBLY..., BRACKET..., HDD, SECOND..., M17XR3 00001

 

doh, I hope your wrong

Edit: I think your right. Sorry to betashave if I lead to you wasting $12

 

No worries on that, Luxferro, I haven't bought one yet as I'm waiting to see what Dell sends me. But it helps if you can confirm that part is not compatible with the R3.

There's obviously a need here with the one-drive refurbished R3's, so hopefully we can figure the best solution. If the only solution is Dell, then maybe I'd have better success going through the sales dept rather than tech support. I don't mind paying for the part but just want to reduce the hassle of getting the wrong parts.

 

Well after over an hour on the phone, I ended up having to buy the same thing you guys got. First I called tech support, and they wanted to sell me this kit. Then I hung up while waiting for a price... and called sales. Sales is clueless about hardware, so they referred me back to tech support. I gave in and bought it before I started to get angry. This is what they are sending:

1 6H7T5 Assembly,Bracket,HDD,Second,M17XR3 $6.99

Now after realizing this is the same crap they gave you guys, without the interposer, now I am getting more pissed.

Who do we have to call in order to get this part? Or get some visibility on this issue so they can train their techs properly?

edit: just wasted another hour on the phone with a different alienware tech, who said the kit they are sending me comes with the interposer. I hope they are right....

 

I got this one, must be a run on them cause the price went up. works like a charm
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

 

Some other candidates from same Seller, though they may all be the same.

Dell Studio 1735 /1737 Bay 2 , Alienware M17X Connector | eBay

Dell Vostro 1700 bay #2 Alienware M17xR2 HDD Connector | eBay

Dell Studio 1735 1737 Bay 2 , Alienware M17X Connector items in wondercity3 store on eBay! (Index of interposers)

 

That was a nice list, but unfortunately none of those are for an R3. The R3 interposer looks exactly like the picture The Revelator posted earlier in this thread:



I made a post on the "official alienware" dell forums... Hoping to get some visibility on this problem for us R3 owners who buy refurbs.

I guess I can cross post it to get further visibility Outlet Refurbs: Why are they missing the interposer for 2nd hard drives? - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community

 

FWIW, I contributed to your thread on the Dell forum. I would say being able to run dual drives in these systems is a very reasonable expectation, especially when "certified refurbished" is defined by Dell to mean that the system meets "original factory specifications."

 

Lux, let us know if you get the interposer with your kit. My kit with the exact same number didn't include it. They are supposed to call me today.

 

K, I'll post soon as it arrives. I have no hope though, going by what the last people people who got this same kit received.

wcdturbo, let us know how your phone call goes.

 

Part 6H7T5 HDD Bracket Assy (Secondary/Kit) includes the following (it should anyway) -
2864D SCREW,M3X3,KSH,MS,BLO
4PMPH BRACKET,HDD,M17XR3
8F9T8 SATA,22P,INTERPOSER
R185F BRACKET,MTG,MET,SSDR

 

DELLChrisM, Thanks for letting us know that.

Hopefully the last couple people who got this kit just got bum kits. But if my kit comes without the interposer, then what do we do?

 

Thanks Chris, Alienware support sent me a 6H7T5, it included everything above in your list EXCEPT the interposer.

 

My kit arrived today and the interposer was indeed included.

 

That's good to here betashave. I guess there is hope after all

 

For those that did not get the interposer, in a private message, send me your service tag number, shipping address, phone, and email. Let me try to dispatch
8F9T8 INTERPOSER to a couple of Americas customers. The part is a Dell mod so it may not let me but it will not hurt to try.

 

Hi all, the interposer is not included even in the brand new M17 r3 (I live in Italy, bought the laptop in July 2011); last week I wanted to add a 2nd hard disk but inside the laptop I found only the hd bracket without the interposer; I phoned Dell Italy and they told me the interposer was not included because I bought the laptop with only 1 hard disk (what about the hd bracket included?). Anyway the interposer is sold only with bracket together as a kit (RoHS:Yes,ASSY,BRKT,HDD,2ND,M17XR3).

 

My R2 came with 2nd set of HDD caddy, screws and interposer. Fairly cheap online if you cannot wait for Dell to ship you one.

 

Hi All, I have an alienware M17 R3, I do not have an interporse but I live outside of the US, I'm asking if some of you guys how bought it from ebay did work fine since they ship it out side the US.
Because the Dell here in Uruguay and Argentina do not sell this part and Dell US will not be seeding this to me. So I'm asking if someone got this so I can buy one. Thanks

 

I didn't get one with my M17x R3 that I bought a couple of years ago. Just spoke to Dell UK, and they wanted £30 for the part!!!! I'll see if I can find a cheaper one on eBay etc.

 

SATA Connector for Dell alienware M17X R3 R4 HDD | eBay

It's from USA, ends up about £16-£17 with currency conversation.