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    Hard Drive pinless ATA?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Mannerisky, Dec 27, 2007.

  1. Mannerisky

    Mannerisky Newbie

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    I've got a Dell Inspiron 6000 whose hard drive died. I took it out to see what to buy for a replacement. It is a Hitachi Travelstar 40GB ATA/IDE. The problem is that it doesn't have the 44 pins I was expecting. Instead, it has 44 contact points like a PCI card or RAM chip; they aren't spaced like SATA, and the drive is labeled ATA, but without the pins I am unsure.
    My question is what type of replacement drive should I buy? Am I going to have to contact Dell to get a proprietary hard drive?

    Dell lists it on their website as
    X6920 HARD DRIVE..., 40G, 9.5MM, 5.4K, HITACHI..., MORAGA PLUS..., LEAD FREE...
    but doesn't list any possible replacements.
     
    Mannerisky, Dec 27, 2007
    #1
  2. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    Best thing to do is call Dell, they would know. :)
    For tech support: 1-800-624-9896
     
    talin, Dec 27, 2007
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  3. Mannerisky

    Mannerisky Newbie

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    I'm out of warranty, but I'll try their online support.
     
    Mannerisky, Dec 27, 2007
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  4. Mannerisky

    Mannerisky Newbie

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    Eureka!
    There is a small adaptor that sits over the pins to turn them into contacts. It comes off with a bit of prying. I'm pretty sure any ol' ATA drive will work now, if I keep the adapter around. Certainly better than $135 for a 40GB 54k :D
     
    Mannerisky, Dec 27, 2007
    #4
  5. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Wish i saw this thread earlier or i would have told you that! But yeah, its just an adapter that all laptops use.
     
    nizzy1115, Dec 27, 2007
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  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Welcome to Dell's penchant for proprietary hardware :biggrin:
     
    Shyster1, Dec 27, 2007
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  7. pizzadeliveryninja

    pizzadeliveryninja Newbie

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    Hi,

    Found this after a bit of googling. I appear to have the same problem. The hard drive in my Inspiron 6000 has pins and is connected by an adaptor. My replacement drive (Hitachi Travelstar 5K160) has a card connector as pictured below.

    I can remove the adapter from my current hard drive - but because that is pin to card, it won't fit on the new drive. If I compare the size of the two drives, it is clear that without the adapter, my new drive is not quite as long as the old one and therefore is not getting connected.

    Am I being incredibly thick? Is there an adapter on my new drive too? Or have I just bought the wrong drive for the wrong laptop?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

    pizzadeliveryninja, Jan 28, 2008
    #7
  8. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    The hard drive in the pictures looks like it has a SATA interface, which is not compatible with your Inspiron 6000; your laptop has a PATA interface. Unfortunately that means the new drive will not work. You will have to get a PATA version of it - its number is HTS541616J9AT00. See if you can exchange the drive you bought with one of those.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jan 28, 2008
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  9. pizzadeliveryninja

    pizzadeliveryninja Newbie

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    Ah. Thought that it might be something like that. I feel rather stupid now.

    Thank you very much for your helpful response - it is much appreciated.
     
    pizzadeliveryninja, Jan 28, 2008
    #9