Dell Inspiron 1720 replacement Hard Drive problem

[libsid]

With the help of a Dell technician, I discovered that my hard drive died. I ordered a (new) replacement from Dell. They sent WD2500BVPT. I slid the connector/adapter off the old HD, onto the new one; I screwed the new HD w/adapter into the bracket.

I cannot screw the new HD w/bracket into my computer. I swear it does not fit. It drops into the slot, but it appears that the holes are slightly misaligned, and the screws tend to be driven crookedly. There's no shifting the bracket, either... it won't budge.

I was on the phone with Dell for 3 hours (no exaggeration) and they told me to take it to a technician for installation. The Dell technician didn't even bother to tell me to slide the old connector on the new one... I kept saying it didn't have the same connecting parts... I was told this is the new "upgraded" HD. I knew that it would never work. I had to go online and find that solution myself.

I'm no computer whiz, but this does not seem to require an IQ of 500 to replace!

I even put the old HD back in and it screws in perfectly, but when the new HD is in the bracket, it will just not seat properly. I think I have stripped the darned screws trying to seat them.

Have you ever heard of this problem? If you could offer assistance, I would be most grateful! I can send photos if you need them.

thanks very much,
Elizabeth

 

[noidea_77]

Try to send a photo of the problem. As far as i got it, the old disk is a sata type and the new one is, so it should fit. Does it look like in the manual under Adding and Replacing Parts? http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/om_en/pdf/DT5494MR.pdf

 

[libsid]

Try to send a photo of the problem. As far as i got it, the old disk is a sata type and the new one is, so it should fit. Does it look like in the manual under Adding and Replacing Parts? http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/om_en/pdf/DT5494MR.pdf

I have stripped the screws... I am having a hard time getting them out. I did shoot photos of the new HD in the slot.... as soon as I can get it out, I will exchange it for the old HD, shoot photos of that, and send to you. just about a quarter of an hour...

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[libsid]

pictured in the manual is the bracket that holds the Hard Drive... not the Hard Drive itself. I had to take the old HD out, and press the new one in.... so the picture in the manual tells us nothing. (well, at least it tells ME nothing... )

 

[libsid]

Here's the two HD's... the solid white on left is the original/old HD. The white with blue label is the replacement/new one.


<a href="http://beta.photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd195/siddyshots/Hard%20Drive/IMG_5968_zps70fdbb76.jpg" border="0" alt="IMG_5968_zps70fdbb76 photo IMG_5968_zps70fdbb76.jpg"/></a>

 

[fzabkar]

The original HDD has a small adapter PCB. Just grab it and pull on it away from the drive. Then you will see the SATA connector behind it.

 

[libsid]

The original HDD has a small adapter PCB. Just grab it and pull on it away from the drive. Then you will see the SATA connector behind it.

thanks fzabkar-

You say "small adapter PCB"? .... and what do you mean, "see the SATA connector behind it"?

do you mean the adapter that I referred to in my original post? The 'male' adapter needed for the connection to the laptop?

Yes, after continuously insisting to the Dell technician that the connectors were not the same on the old and the new, and after 3 hours of Dell's non-help, I found a great tutorial at http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=page&id=6 ) Listed in step #1 is the photo of the connector/adapter, and how to transfer it to the new hard drive. (wouldn't you think that they could send an instructional e-mail or ship a printed instruction sheet with the HD?

The problem here seems to be the fit of the bracket & new HD into the slot. I stripped the screws trying to get it to fit, and I have the adapter pushed in all the way, and the HD screwed tightly into bracket. The only explanation I can come up with is that the depth MUST be thicker with the new HD in the bracket... why else would it not screw in thoroughly, even when firmly pressed into place?

I fought with it all day yesterday, and finally (hugely embarrassed) called the Geek Squad to install a HD!!! They want $49.99 to do it... I will stand over his shoulder (if allowed) to see where I went wrong. I will post the conclusion here.

 

[libsid]

 

[fzabkar]

Sorry, I saw the connector still attached in your photo and wasn't sure whether you were referring to the same item.

The following document has detailed dimensional specs:
http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/COMP/fcpa/hdd/discontinued/MHY2xxxBH_Install.pdf

As usual, WD's specs are sparse:
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2879-701278.pdf