Questions about HD upgrade procedures

I'm thinking about swapping my Dell D505's 40GB hard drive with a Seagate 100GB drive. I think I know the procedures pretty well but it's been ages since I've messed with hard drives and that only involved desktop systems where you can use multiple hard drives in the system. But I think I've read and thought about this enough.

1. Backup all my important data to several DVDs
2. Turn off computer and take out the battery
3. Unscrew the two screws on the bottom.
4. Gently pull out the old hard drive
5. Gently insert new 100gb hard drive
6. Seat the hard drive cover firmly and re-seat the screws
7. Install the OS with the OS CD, and the Drivers and Utilities CD respectively
8. Dump the backup data from DVDs into the new hard drive.

I have never opened a laptop computer before so I have to ask if there are any loose wires or cables that attach the hard drive to the computer's motherboard. Other than that, am I missing anything from my procedure? Any tips or words of caution?

 

Some dell laptops use a pin converter, which you will need to move from the old drive to the new. The converter should be easy to see once the hard drive is removed from the interface.

* Inspiron 8600c * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo * 2x512 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * 60GB 7200RPM HDD *

 

Thanks for the heads up.

But by the way, will upgrading my hard drive (by myself) void my warranty?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by reddog0051

 

if you want a procedure, i think cnet.com has one(i think it was one of the weekend project things or something, and the HD change was combined with a lot of other parts, i think).

 

I've come to a stop. I've slid the old hard drive out but the screws securing the old hard drive to its cradle are impossible to screw loose. I'm worried that if I try any harder it would strip the grooves on the screw-head, so much that would be impossible for any screwdriver to get it loose.

Has anyone encountered this? I'm seriously thinking about taking my notebook to Best Buy so that they can mess it up

 

I hope you remember righty-tighty lefty-loosy. My guess is that you are using the wrong size screwdriver. You should be able to transmit quite a bit of torque before it begins to strip. With a good twist, the screw should come loose and it is easy to unscrew from there.

* Inspiron 8600c * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo * 2x512 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * 60GB 7200RPM HDD *

 

You could be right, I might have used the wrong sized screwdriver. Well, it's too late though. I managed to get 3 out of the 4 screws out, but the fourth is totally stripped.

I just bought an extra hard drive caddy, connector and screws off eBay for $6. I'll install the new hard drive on that. Why oh WHY didn't I think of that before! [ !]

 

Were you able to get it out even a little bit? If so, you could use pliers to bend the sides of the head together with a bit of elbow grease, then you just made yourself a thumb screw. this depends on the thickness of the head, though.

* Inspiron 8600c * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo * 2x512 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * 60GB 7200RPM HDD *

 

I'm still waiting for the new hard drive caddy to come in from the mail but in the meantime I went to the computer store from which I bought my Dell notebook. I asked them if upgrading the hard drive by myself would void the warranty. They said it most likely would. But they mentioned that since I purchased "the absolute best warranty" (their words) I can claim that the notebook broke by accident. So in other words if my notebook breaks after being "accidentily upgraded" I can still get a full replacement. [ ]

 

This was a note written to a colleague, and I thought that I might get some 'top-notch' advice here too...Did not want to start another thread...lol

Well, that got me thinking about my present Compaq
Presario 12XL300 laptop HD which is a (LOL) 6GB
Toshiba... I wrote down where I contacted a authorized
Compaq Repair Shop, and the Tech quoted:

20GB IBM HD---$129
Installation & Transfer Fee---$95 and (I think he
would 'ghost the older 6GB HD)...

But I have just D/L the Service & Maintenance Guide
(pdf) for the Compaq Presario 12XL300, and I know that
it is quite easy to open it up...as I have before...

I have been searching Google like a madman (lol), all
the dam Computer Parts Warehouses have my original
Compaq HD--->6GB for $290!

I would like to be able to order a compatibale HD, and
just replace it myself, as I have the latest BIOS from
Compaq for my laptop...

Are you familar with any of this procedure? I recall
somewhere, that a BIOS flash from the actual HD
Manufacturer was needed in order for the laptop to
actually recognize the entire new HD...lol But also,
some woman replaced hers (by herself) 12XL300 with a
20 GB IBM--->price @ $90-110....and when she plugged
her laptop in, the OS(WinXP) immediately recognized
it...

From the old Compaq Support site & Communities 2 yrs ago of so)

"The upgradation of hardrive requires a BIOS upgrade with support for the upgradation. The available ROMpaqs do not offer support for a Hard Drive upgradation... Contact your nearest authorized Compaq Service/Repair Shop ie: Radio Shack..."

Any advice here would greatly be appreciated...

P.S. I even Googled this site which has a 'Laptop Hard Drive Guide/Compatibility :
http://www.memorysuppliers.com/laphardrivgu.html