Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (
More info?)
"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message news:c4v79i$i27$1@panix3.panix.com...
> In article <c4v481$k7r$1@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com>,
> Ian Roberts <sorry@NOSPAM.com> wrote:
> >
> >"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message
> >news:c4utm0$pmh$1@panix3.panix.com...
> >> In article <c4unnd$7eo$1@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com>,
> >>
> >> I wouldn't use a refurbished/remanufactured drive on a bet.
> >>
> >> I can't help you with a UK spupplier. In the USA I'l pay
> >> about US$85 for a 20GB laptop drive and US$160 for a 60GB drive.
> >>
> >> You need to match up the brackets and mounting hardware that is
> >> specific to your laptop. Older laptop s used disks that were 12mm
> >> think, but are no longer made, AFAIK. Current disks are 9mm think and
> >> will work in old laptops (BIOS considerations aside if it's really old
> >> and your new drive is really big.) You have to get the right brackets.
> >>
> >> If you have to copy data from the old disk to the new disk there are
> >> lots of ways to do this. Ask.
> >>
> >
> >Hi Al
> >
> >Thanks for replying.
> >
> >Yep I agree it is a bit of a bet going for a used drive but ironically
> >getting a new one is no guarantee either!
> >
> >My friend has had two new IBM drives fail. Not the kind of performance I'd
> >expect from a global heavyweight!
> >
> >Thanks for the heads up on the drive height. Ive since learnt that this
> >laptop uses 9mm drives.
> >
> >I have no worries about getting the data off the drive as long as it lives
> >long enough! I have an external 10Gb USB Lacie drive that I can backup to. I
> >won it in a competition a few years back. Its been one of the most useful
> >things in the world I never bought! And I had never even thought of getting
> >one prior to winning it! Its amazingly robust - it uses a Toshiba 2.5" drive
> >and this thing has been bouncing around inside bags and cases for miles and
> >miles and its never skipped a beat.
> >
> >Most dealers Ive spoken to can supply laptop drives but so far none have
> >been willing to give me a definite yes on compatibility. Ghee whizz do they
> >really expect me to buy it first and just hope it works!!!!
> >
> >I'm getting pretty fed up with the shite service and abysmal product
> >knowledge of these suppliers - do they want to sell their products or what?
> >
> >Thanks for listening. Rant Over.
> >
> >Ian I^)
> >
> >
> >
>
> You might check into uk.comp.sys.laptops for local sources.
>
> comp.sys.laptops can probably answer questions about specific models
> of laptops and drives. You haven't said what model you are working on.
> I don't think laptop compatibility issues are any
> differerent that IDE compatibility on desktop systems.
They can be, particularly with drive capacity.
With desktop systems all you really need to worry about is whether
the bios suffers from one of the problems like the 32GB limit with
relatively modern systems. With laptops you dont necessarily even have
a proper drive table in the bios where you can set a USER drive type.
> The connection dumbs down to whichever is
> slower, the controller or the disk, and it works.
Sure, but not necessarily with drive capacity.
> Some disks draw more power than others, which might reduce
> battery hours a little bit.
>
> Tom's Hardware (www.tomshardware.com) has had reviews of laptop disks.