The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Dell 600m hard drive upgrade

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by doudou66_2008, Feb 18, 2008.

  1. doudou66_2008

    doudou66_2008 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Dear All,

    I bought my Dell 600m in 2005. Everything is so far so good. One thing I am concerned is that its HD is only 60GB. Can I buy a 160 GB 2.5" HD and upgrade it? Anyone done this before?

    I have read some articles and they suggest to use a External HD instead. Also it seems that it is not as easy (safe) to upgrade HD as to upgrade RAM. What bad consequence could be if I do sth stupid?
     
  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

    Reputations:
    4,412
    Messages:
    8,077
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Just make sure that the harddrive you purchase is an ata harddrive.
    You can get a 250Gb ata laptop harddrive if you wanted to. Just make sure its ATA not SATA. SATA laptop harddrives will not work in your laptop.

    K-TRON
     
  3. admlam

    admlam Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    221
    Messages:
    1,203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Just wanted to add that 2.5" ATA, also known as PATA will work. SATA will not work.
     
  4. doudou66_2008

    doudou66_2008 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks.

    What I am curious is why people (in some articles) say it is not safe to change laptop HD?

    What I should pay attention to when I change the HD?
     
  5. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

    Reputations:
    4,412
    Messages:
    8,077
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    On some very old laptops, which have less than 10Gb storage, have problems recognizing drives over 30 Gb because of LTA errors. Basically technology was very slow then, and it was not for a few years that the harddrives were able to get larger capacities.
    Also very old laptop harddrives were 12.5 and 15mm thick,now they are generally all 9.5mm in height.
    Replacing a harddrive takes time because one has to backup all of their data and collect all of the appropriate drivers. Then they have to remove the old drive, install the new one, then install xp and all of your software, drivers and programs. The process is time consuming, which is why many just live without upgrading.
    Just do not drop the harddrive and do not install the harddrive when the system is plugged in. Unplug the battery and ac power and then install the harddrive.

    It is safe and pretty easy to upgrade and change the harddrive.

    Good Luck

    K-TRON
     
  6. doudou66_2008

    doudou66_2008 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thank you very much.