computers

[1930]

I am having such a good time getting my back-up comp working again that someone gave me a HP pavilion a867c in like new condition as a back up to my back-up but they destroyed the old hard drive because they were afraid it might still contain some info I guess. I was not even able to get a model numbers off of it because it was gone by the time I received this unit.
I need to get a new hard drive, I looked on the HP site and typed in my model # and it is telling me I think that originally installed was  a •250 GB SATA  7200 rpm hard drive, does this make any sense to anyone, I notice that the connector on this comp is different from my A220n HP desktop in that it is much smaller, ( alot less pins and seems to go directlly into motherboard )  I was told this comp was the version directly before the version that I normally use and am becoming much more famiar with.
I went on e-bay and there are many of these hard drives and many different manufacturers, very wide price ranges and dont want any mistakes in my purchase so I was hoping maybe someone here could give me some tips other than to throw this comp in the trash because like any old tool I have my heart set on reviving the old girl once more.
Thanks for any tips or advice

 

[KeepinOldBolts]

I'm sure no expert, but here is a bit of guidance.

1. 250g (gig) is the HD size (space). Bigger is better when it comes to replacement. Most new home computers are 1T (terabyte).

2. SATA (a technology type), is one of a few. You replace SATA with SATA. More info here: http://www.home-pc-help.com/harddrivetypes.html

3. Unlike old handtools, old PCs don't age well. New computers are better, faster, more drive space. Hard drives definitely dont last forever.

Its a fine line when replacing hard drives, especially when the operating system goes kaplewie and dont have backup disks to reload it. I recently went through this with a home HP, I have a new one in its replacemnt (another Pavillion). Yet, when my HD went on the netbook, I had no problem replacing that hard drive. New PCs come with Windows 7. Love that!!

Did that help?

J

[kxxr]

I would add that you should not pay much for a used 260 GB SATA 7200 if you are determined to replace the original drive with one just like it. By that, I mean that $20 would be tip top dollar for one. Your goal (imo) should be to determine what is the biggest HD your machine/operating system will support and then buy that new. Drive space is waaaay below $100/terabyte these days, even with shipping. Then, determine how much RAM your machine/operating system will support and maximize that. Short of upgrading the processor, those are the 2 best, cheapest things to do. Again, my opinion only. If there is a computer repair place near you that is willing to sell used parts, they should be able to fix you up with a HD that will work for very few dollars. I say willing because most places just pitch those old parts as they just don't have any value.
The best way to determine what upgrades your motherboard will support is to find out what kind it is, and google until you find a user manual for it. The manual will tell you what kind of disks you can use, how much ram, what processors it can use, how to set the various jumpers etc etc. You may be able to find out the name of the motherboard by googling or, it will be printed on it somewhere also.

[rusty]

The only thing I will add here is, if you go for a larger drive, don't go too much larger, there are some compatability issues for drives bigger than 500G, and serious compatability issues for drives > 2Terabytes in old machines.

I assume you have a windows CD that you can use to put windows on it....

[1930]

Wow all great info, yes I have a windows disk no problem there. I see the hard drives on e-bay anywhere from a few dollars to 5o dollars and up, not sure what the differences are. Thanks for all the info, every little bit helps me to make an informed decision, I did not know most of it already.

[scottg]

  First off, is this a desktop or a laptop?
 It its a notebook you are on your own

 If its a regular desktop...........
 It won't be too bad at all.

 Western Digital used to to be the premier drive company, but Seagate has even better customer service lately.
   
 Yes you want a ~250-500 gig sata, and you will never fill even 1/2 of that, so don't worry about a bigger drive.
 
 You don't need to match, or even care what brand drive came in your computer.
   Just a decent quality 250 sata and you are set.
(Sata just means the kind of plug it uses to plug into the motherboard.
 At least from your perspective this is all you need to know. Sata has a lot of pins :) )

 I see new/sealed Seagates for around 40 dollars, free shipping. So don't pay more than that. 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SEAGATE-250-GB-SATA-3-5-7200-RPM-DESKTOP-HARD-DRIVE-1-YEAR-WARRANTY-/170695346631?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27be3c49c7
Here is a Hitachi for 30
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Hitachi-250gb-Hard-Drive-SATA-7200-RPM-HDP725025GL380-Sata-3-5-0A35399-/190577659883?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5f504feb
 
Swapping in one or more drives is practically a no brainer.
 The hardware is the -easy- part.  10 minutes and some of them don't even require you have a screwdriver!
  Many want a #2 phillips but we know you have that.

  Getting it all loaded up and working will take time though.
I suggest you get someone for that part.
     yours Scott
  PS Its motherboards you have to match exactly. This is where that story came from. Your windows won't load or work on another kind of motherboard.
 But hard drives you can swap between brands and between sizes all you want.   Just stay "near" your original size, 250gigs and make sure its a stata, and you are set. 

[amertrac]

Now the real story from an expert. You turn on the computer( only if you did not forget to turn it off it last night) then you click on favorites then tool talk. if nothing happens you then get int the tough section shake the tower hit the monitor a couple times . redo from start . if nothing call grandaughter. WHAT THE HECK I turned it on this morning and got all this gibberish about hard drives I thought i had the travel channel I thought someone messed up my puter.All right now lets get back to tools bob w,

[1930]

Thanks Scott, I did not see the Hitachi and will make an offer on it
The only thing I would disagree with is this ...... Sata has a lot of pins .......it would seem that Sata has not nearly as many pins, the connectors are much narrower, this makes zero difference and not trying to ruffle any feathers, I just like to point out what I read and what I see and hope that someone will correct me and teach me something.
I also remarked in the original post that this was an older comp. than what I am used to dealing with but I guess I am wrong, it is the next computer version or transition comp from my a220n to whatever came after this a867c.
Looks like I am moving up in the world. Thanks again

[kxxr]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00280717&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

The 'spec' page for the a867c

With a working internet connection, google mastery (it is surprising how many every day google users have never read the 'how to google' page) and bulldog persistence, you can manage 99.9% of computer problems on your own. Oh, and time, you may need lots of time. Some problems can take days and days.

[1930]

Thanks KX

[lzenglish]

I bought an HP 42ON Pavillion at a yard sale 5 years ago for ONE Dollar! Of course it did not work, but after replacing the power supply (25 bucks), it runs like a raped ape! It has a 160 gig hard drive, and had 500 meg of memory, of which I pumped up to 1,000 meg. So now I have Less than 30 bucks in it. and all of her (the seller)personal porn, and or erotic pic.s that my wife made me delete! LOL Well, after a few years on tool talk, it Died!!! So, since I had the licence for my daughters XP-Pro disk, I have been back in buisness for a couple of years now. I always wanted one of those slim line monitors, as opposed to my HUDGE OLD DELL monitor, but would not fork out the 150 dollar plus for one. Last year at one of my usual Yard sale excursions, I found "TWO" flat screen working monitors for 3 bucks each! I think I have overloaded my computer with the close to 6 thousand family, and tool pictures, but I bought another back-up for 5 dollars, just in-case it dies for good. Now after all that Bla Bla Bal i just gave you, here is a Tip for you jason, but promise me you will not tell anyone else! Agreed? IF YOU HAVE A LOCAL STATE COLLEGE NEAR YOU, as I do, They MAY have a used computer store, as the students are constantly letting Mom and Dad buy them a new computer, etc., so they take their old one to the campus hock shop, which is the Go to! It's name is  The (*&*^$$#@) store, and You can buy Power suppllies, memory, etc., etc. DIRT CHEAP!

"SEEK, and YE SHALL FIND"

Wayne

[1930]

Guy had that hitachi drive on e-bay for 29.99 or best offer so I offered him 20, automaticially declined, ok so I offered 23 same deal, last chance, e-bay told me I had better make it good so I bumped it up to 25....now weeere getting somewhere, the seller is going to consider it, he responded back this afternoon that he would sell it for 28 bucks, I e-mailed him back OH BOY your gonna save me a whole two bucks, piss off, Ill keep lookin.

[kxxr]

Seagate Barracuda ST250DM000 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
    Cache: 16MB
    Model #: ST250DM000
    Item #: N82E16822148765
    Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
    Now: $39.99
    $1.99 Shipping
    Add Seagate Barracuda ST250DM000 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive to cart
Brand new at NewEgg.com
That's a bargain, and when your a867c dies, you just take it out and install it as a secondary drive in another machine.

[kxxr]

Then get 4 of these:
G.SKILL Value 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Desktop Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-1GBNT
    Cas Latency: 3
    Voltage: 2.6V - 2.75V
    Timing: 3-4-4-8
    ECC: No
    Model #: F1-3200PHU1-1GBNT
    Item #: N82E16820231036
    Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$23.00, $0.99 shipping

And 1 of these for all your storage:
Western Digital My Book 3.0 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive WDBAAK0010HCH-NESN
Special savings with combo deal, ends 9/30
In stock. Now: $69.99

Use the 250g drive for the operating system only, keep it clean and speedy and store all your pictures etc. on the big drive. You will then have a smokin' machine. All for about $200, and the parts you bought can be used in your next home brewed machine. That is what I'd do if I had $200 burning a hole in my pocket. Which I don't. But if I did....