getting 2.5" 9.5mm working in a 2.5" 12.7mm machine

http://bixnet.net/images/HDD-NB-Connector-Display-Dell.jpg if i take off the connection like in the picture here will it fit into the 12.7 mm spot in my other laptop.

 

A 9.5mm thick HDD can be used to replace a 12.5mm thick HDD provided the intrface is the same. You may need to use some packing to hold the drive in place.

If the target computer is old then there may be an upper limit on the HDD capacity that is supported by the BIOS.

John

 

i tried it, it fitted, but would not boot properly even tho it found the HDD. prolly the bios as u said.

 

What laptop do you have? There could be an updated revision depending on how old it is.

 

Well, chiming in a bit late, but it will work. Just make sure that the drive is completely inserted into the socket on the motherboard.

You will have to format the harddrive and install an operating system on the drive if you wish to use it as the operating system drive.
If the drive had XP or vista, you cannot boot that os in your computer, as it will only boot in the system the operating system was installed in.

K-TRON

 

why is that K-tron. you are right it started fine and then crashed. Is that because the XP was preinstalled by a different manufacturer?

 

When you install XP or Vista, it scans your hardware, and will only work with the same motherboard, it is so that the consumer cannot use the same xp/vista disc on more than one system. You will have to install the harddrive into your laptop and reinstall the operating system on your laptop. That way, xp will scan for your motherboard, and then make that laptop only able to load xp in that machine.

K-TRON

 

thanks i did not know that. So i goto into BIOS and boot from CD, and insert a new XP disc?

 

Yup, and then you can use your harddrive

K-TRON

 

so i don't need to partion and format, like the old days on windows 98.

just boot from CD and install.

 

well, when you go to install the operating system, you can either make a partition in the free space to install windows, or you can format the entire drive to install windows. No matter which way you go, you will have to format, so back up the data on the drive by using it as a seconary drive in another computer.

2800th post

K-TRON

 

will the windows XP CD allow me to format it relatively simple from that?

 

It should be pretty simple, but simple to me may be a different simple to you. Just back up your data first, and then you can play around with partitioning.

K-TRON

 

k-tron. there is one problem it is a dell C400 latatude. And it has no CD or floppy disk so how can XP be installed on a new HDD. Surely, the bios must allow boot from USB stick.

otherwise what the hell am i gonna do!

 

you have no optical drive?
Well I am sure that the operating system was installed via a optical drive or through a network (via ethernet cable)

I had a C640, which looks similar, and it had removable optical drive, which you could swap a floppy drive/battery in. You should probably buy one, if you want to install XP.

The only other thing you can do is install Windows 2000 on it. Windows 2000 does not scan for hardware/motherboard, so if you install the operating system onto the drive in another laptop, you can simply put the windows 2000 harddrive into your c400 when installation is complete, and then boot into windows 2000.
I know win 2000 is old, but its your only real option without buying a optical drive. I have never done a network install, so I have no idea how to do it.

The C400 is much to old to support boot from USB. Plus I think it has USb1.1, so it would take a really long time if it supported booting through USB.

K-TRON

 

but does the optical drive not need to logon to windows XP to work. how can i install an optical drive via USB without an O/S?

 

you can simply plug in the optical drive and it will work. You do not need special drivers for it to work. I am talking about an optical drive which fits into the laptop.
If you are referring to a usb optical drive, it may work, but your system will have to be able to boot through USB in order to install XP.

Your bios has predefined drivers, to recognize hardware, so if its not detected, it cant be used.

K-TRON

 

there is no space to install an internal optical drive. its a very small laptop. difficult situation eh.

 

hmm, well it seems your only options are windows 2000, and then somehow using the internet to download a XP upgrade package (not sure if their is one)
or you can try giving network installation a shot.

Their is not much else I can do, the c400 is old, and probably designed to use 2000 anyways.

I did manage to find a helpful picture:


Can you tell me what interface that optical drive plugs into?
It is probably a dell proprietary port or a parallel port, but it looks like their is one available, but unfortunately you will have to purchase one.

Looks like you can buy one here:
http://www.golaptopparts.com/DELL_Latitude_c400-Dell_Latitude_c400_external_media_bay.html

However you will also need a optical drive to fit into the adaptor, why the media bay doesnt come with an optical drive and a cable (for between the drive and the laptop) is beyond me, but at least we have found an answer. Check ebay for cheaper prices, or send an email to dell and hope to get an answer

K-TRON

 

What are the BIOS options for boot devices?

I would expect it will include a USB floppy disc drive and, I think, there is a way to format a USB flash drive to boot as if it is a floppy disc drive. Then you can also have a copy of the boot CD on the flash drive.

I'm sure someone has figured out how to convert a bootable disc into a bootable flash drive.

John