New internal Harddrive

Koraji · Mar 17, 2014

So My current Harddrive is very loud, and shows the signs of dying. (Slower than normal boot-up times, longer than usual folder opening\everything is just slower than usual). Like I said it's very loud, esp on boot up. And has the old clanking noise. And it also freezes.

So my question is, am I just paranoid, should I even replace it, or should i keep it and maybe add a new one(two internal drives)?

Another worry is, Isn't the operating system saved on the hard drive? So If I buy a new hard drive, how would I go about getting my operating system on the new drive? I currently run a 32-bit windows xp professional s3, and If I have to get a new OS, I would want to get a 64-bit Windows 7, and I can't really chuck out another $80-$100 for a new OS.

Nathan Willis · Mar 17, 2014

Yes, That Hard drive is failing. You should replace it! Do not keep it. Throw it away.
It could fell any minute now. You do not want to keep it because it will fail and you will loose your data.
If you have a desktop you can have 2 hard drives. Make sure only 1 has your OS though.
If your computer uses IDE then upgrading your hard drive will not be as easy.
If your Hard drive is IDE you will have to go on ebay and try to find an old used IDE drive.
It sounds like your computer is old and may be IDE.
Yes, the OS is on your hard drive. You could get a cloaning kit to migrate your OS to the new hard drive.
It is highly recommended to just do a clean install though.

If you have a laptop this HDD will work fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Drives-Notebook-WD5000LPVX/dp/B00C9TECFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395091555&sr=8-1&keywords=laptop+hard+drive

For a desktop.....

http://www.amazon.com/WD-Blue-Desktop-Hard-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395091632&sr=8-1&keywords=hard+drive

When you buy a hard drive the manufacturer will give you programs to migrate your OS.
You will have to go to the hard drive's vendor website and download the program.
For the clean install you can go on eBay and get a cheap copy of Windows XP.
I would highly recommend doing a clean install.
Cloning hard drives can cause problems.
Happy Computing!

Koraji · Mar 17, 2014

Nathan Willis :

(Ya this is a desktop , sorry should of mentioned that)

Well the computer that I have is the Gateway 838GM media center, and according to:
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/gateway-838gm-media-center/4507-3118_7-31576776.html
The harddrive is a Serial ATA interface
Would there be any issue if I got a IDE drive and it was Serial ATA? Or are these two different thing and I'm just an idiot who isn't understanding the thing I'm attempting to reseach?

And I was looking at the exact same harddrive on newegg.

Phillip Corcoran · Mar 17, 2014

You need to get a SATA drive (first generation SATA, otherwise known as SATA I).
SATA II and SATA III will also work on your Gateway PC, but only at SATA I transfer speed, but don't let that bother you if only SATA II or SATA III drives are available. They will definitely work on your PC.

SATA drives are the industry standard now anyway, so why bother buying the old IDE type when your PC can use SATA ones?

If you bought an IDE drive you would also have to buy an interface adapter and they can be unreliable, why take the risk.

Nathan Willis · Mar 17, 2014

OK, desktop! That is good that the hard drive is SATA.
You can NOT put an IDE hard drive in a SATA computer.

The interface is different, so it will not work. There is nothing wrong with asking questions.
That is how we learn! Right? That HDD is ok.
This is a better hard drive.t

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395092697&sr=8-2&keywords=seagate+hard+drive

I'm not impressed with Western Digital.
The HDDs are not what they used to be.
Everyone that I know that has a WD hard drive (Including me) had to replace it.
The Segate is much better. (Brand any way)
My Dad built a system with a WD HDD and it has already crashed 3 times.
The hard drive already failed. Same thing happened to me.
before I went to SSDs I got the Seagate HDDs. Never had a problem after that.
Go with a Seagate!

I highly recommend a clean install of the OS too.

When you put the new drive in make sure the old one has been removed.
When you try to reinstall your OS with another hard drive with a OS it will cause problems.
If you buy a copy of XP your computer should have a COA sticker.
You can use that to activate it.

Happy computing!

Koraji · Mar 17, 2014

Phillip Corcoran :

Would the hard drive mentioned work?
http://www.amazon.com/WD-Blue-Desktop-Hard-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395091632&sr=8-1&keywords=hard+drive
?

Koraji · Mar 17, 2014

Nathan Willis :

Koraji :

OK, desktop! That is good that the hard drive is SATA.
You can NOT put an IDE hard drive in a SATA computer.

The interface is different, so it will not work. There is nothing wrong with asking questions.
That is how we learn! Right? That HDD is ok.
This is a better hard drive.t

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395092697&sr=8-2&keywords=seagate+hard+drive

I'm not impressed with Western Digital.
The HDDs are not what they used to be.
Everyone that I know that has a WD hard drive (Including me) had to replace it.
The Segate is much better. (Brand any way)
My Dad built a system with a WD HDD and it has already crashed 3 times.
The hard drive already failed. Same thing happened to me.
before I went to SSDs I got the Seagate HDDs. Never had a problem after that.
Go with a Seagate!

I highly recommend a clean install of the OS too.

When you put the new drive in make sure the old one has been removed.
When you try to reinstall your OS with another hard drive with a OS it will cause problems.
If you buy a copy of XP your computer should have a COA sticker.
You can use that to activate it.

Happy computing!

I've honestly heard the opposite, that WD was more reliable in life span terms. and that seagate had life-span issues.

Koraji · Mar 17, 2014

Anyway, thank you for the assistance, you've been a great help!

Nathan Willis · Mar 17, 2014

Yes, that HDD will work. Well, WD was no good for me.
It is really up to you want you want though.

Nathan Willis · Mar 17, 2014

Koraji :

No problem! Thanks for the best answer!

Phillip Corcoran · Mar 17, 2014

Yes it will provided your gateway motherboard does not have a hard drive capacity limit of below 1TB, which is not impossible given the fact the factory supplied one is only 200Gb. I know it can take 320Gb and very likely a 500Gb, but beyond that I don't know and I've been unable to find such information regarding 1TB

Nathan Willis · Mar 17, 2014

Phillip Corcoran :

A hard drive is a hard drive. SATA is not limited to how big of a hard drive you can get.

Windows XP is not limited to a hard drive size.
It is safe to stay under 2TB with XP though.

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New internal Harddrive

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