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    Help!!! w/ HDD replacement question

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mdfaulksey, Jul 11, 2007.

  1. mdfaulksey

    mdfaulksey Notebook Enthusiast

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    So...I have ordered my Lenovo T61 but I want a bigger HDD than is offered. I am new in the field of notebooks. I am wondering...
    A. Can you open up and put in a new HDD yourself once you get it, in a notebook?
    B. Is that a good idea if they don't offer the 160gb - 250gb 7200 rpm HDD?
    C. What is the best way to go about doing that? Meaning...
    But stock HDD and chuck it...buy HDD from online source?
    or
    any other suggestions?
    D. Where is the best place to get a 160 -250 gb (7200 rpm) HDD for a laptop of this kind?
     
    mdfaulksey, Jul 11, 2007
    #1
  2. JellyGeo

    JellyGeo Notebook Evangelist

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    md - I don't have a T61 but I've upgraded every laptop I own - so I feel partially qualified to comment. I get all of my drives from NewEgg - just received a 120-Gb SATA that I installed on my dv2000t (replacing a hot running 80-Gb Seagate by the way). Only problem - and a major problem - I have run into is trying to image Vista from a factory drive to a new drive. Good old Ghost 8 won't work - well it images Vista over to the new drive just fine - but it won't boot! :mad:
     
    JellyGeo, Jul 11, 2007
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  3. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    a) Yes you can.
    b) It depends on what HDD you have at the moment, and the how much capacity you need. But 7200rpm HDDs are marginally faster than 5400rpm HDDs, but the small difference is a big speed difference.
    c)/d) Buy it from somewhere like newegg. HDDs from Lenovo will be overpriced.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010150380+1035507776+1035907918&name=Serial+ATA150

    Any of the Hard Drives on that page will do. You need to shop around for better deals. For reference, the type of HDD you are looking for a 7200rpm 2.5 inch HDD, which using a SATA (Serial ATA) Interface.

    For instructions on how to upgrade the HDD, you need to visit Lenovo's support site, and you need to punch in your T61 version number. (Four digits long).
     
    Lil Mayz, Jul 11, 2007
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  4. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    The best way to save a bundle when ordering a laptop is to buy the stock model w/ the best CPU and GPU that you are willing to buy, and then to upgrade the modular components like the RAM and HDD. These components can be purchased at any major electronics retailer, online or not.
     
    Bog, Jul 11, 2007
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  5. Chenmaster

    Chenmaster Notebook Enthusiast

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    One thing you might consider is that you can get a second hard drive. On thinkpads you can replace the optical drive for either an extra battery or an extra hard drive. If it's more storage space that you need you might want to think about an external hard drive too since that will be the cheapest per GB.
     
    Chenmaster, Jul 11, 2007
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