How to replace HDD in dv6500t notebook?

So i just bought a dv6500t. I forgot to get a bigger HDD as now I have a 80gb. I still have 50gbs left after i transferred all of my music and the programs that i wanted. I did a clean Vista install. So I was wondering. How would I install a new HDD in my new laptop? Is there certain specs that I have to follow when I buy the HDD or are they all generic. Also it would be great if you guys could point me to a website where I could video or pics of an install. Thanks.

 

You need a 2.5 SATA(Serial ATA150) drive for your notebook, not an IDE (ATA-6/7) one. Here is an example of one that will work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136071

Hard drive replacement instructions are in the dv6500 service manual here http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01154744.pdf

 

Also, HDDs are really easy to replace! You can always buy a external HDD box and throw your old HDD in there for extra storage after you upgrade too!

 

Where could I find an enclosure and everything else that I need to make it into a external hard drive?

 

instead of replacing it you should by a external drive. The new ones are pretty small and up to 300gb the prices are also good

 

That is a good suggestion as well. In fact, that is what I did. Just got my 120GB Firewire drive 2 days ago and dumped all my media files on that drive to regain space on my internal.........

 

Yeah I was thinking about that but I would rather have the larger drive in the laptop. I have an expansion base that I bought from HP and i'm going to get the harddrive in there. Like that i only have to connect the expansion cable instead of 5 different cables for different purposes.

 

You can find external HDD enclosures on www.newegg.com. I mean if you are upgrading your laptop HDD then why not use your current HDD as well?

 

What would be the best way to get the information off of the old hdd?
I plan on buying a 6500t when I can find a good enough deal and plan on putting another hdd in it. Would setting the old one up as the external be the best way? A guy I work with had XP on his computer but downgraded to 2000 so he said he would put his version on my computer, so would I even have to back anything up in this case?
The only thing I can think of would be finding the necessary drivers.

 

Other than that, you would need to insert it into another computer with sata connections and transfer the data over the network (you don't need a sata adapter if you are connecting the HDD to a desktop sata connection, only on the laptop you need the adapter). I was suggesting getting the external enclosure simply so you don't waste the 80GB HDD and you have extra storage space.

 

Thanks for the info. I agree with the extra drive completely. Forgive my stupidity, but when looking for an external enclosure for it, would I just have to find something that works for the SATA connections? They aren't very specific are they?

 

HI, i was just wondering, if you buy a usb hdd and clone your internal drive to it, can you then take the external hdd and stick it in your laptop, and everything will work?

 

Here is a link to one on Newegg.com:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145392&Tpk=usb%2bsata%2benclosure

It will power off of USB or firewire and hooks up to a SATA HDD, which is what you have.

Bigboy,
If you simply copy over all the files over to another HDD it won't work because the specific boot and OS files won't be placed properly on the HDD and in the MFT of the file system. The only way you could make a duplicate is if you download a program which will clone your HDD to another HDD. You could also make a Ghost Image of your laptop HDD, store it on your external HDD, and if something happens restore the image to the System HDD.

 

Yeh thats what I meant sort of clone an exact copy of the drive right? will I have to re-activate vista?