Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (
More info?)
I have been reading carefully this thread, as I have a similar
problem. I posted it before, but here it goes again. Please give me
your comments, namelly in item n# 1.
I have a 5wv235 (serial # 8047FPP410C9 )Presario 700 MHz AMD Duron,
with the original
10GB Hard Drive. I updated recently to windows XP- SP1 ( the original
operating system was windows ME not sure. Never upgraded the
BIOS because apparently no-one is available for windows XP. Current
Bios date: 10/12/00. I would like to add another Hard Drive.
1- What is the biggest capacity Hard Disk I can put in this computer?
Which disks should I avoid?
2- Are there any software updates I must do before adding that new
Hard Disk?
The Compaq/HP site has none BIOS upgrade to windows XP, but I found
BIOS upgrades to windows ME and 2000 that are more recent than the
one I have. Should I upgrade using these?
Thaks in advance
Vuela
ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote in message news:<413db921.3917322@news.charter.net>...
> Uh, uh. It is entirely unreasonable to expect a drive manufacturer to keep tabs
> on the BIOS hard drive limits for perhaps thousands of different BIOSes. A
> drive manufacturer may have anecdotal information about a specific BIOS, but
> nothing comprehensive. A drive manufacturer will also tell you that you can
> always use their drive overlay software, which fakes out the Windows operating
> system regarding hard drive geometry and makes extremely difficult the recovery
> of data from the hard drive in the event of some major problem. (I had a
> client's system here last week with drive overlay software, and getting the data
> off of the failing drive was as much fun as a root canal.)
>
> If the original poster buys a 40GB or larger hard drive and finds that the HPaq
> BIOS won't accept it, the best option is then to buy and install a 3rd party
> ATA/IDE controller with its own BIOS to overcome the original BIOS limitations.
>
> ... Ben Myers
>
> On Tue, 7 Sep 2004 08:56:31 -0400, "Howard Kaikow" <kaikow@standards.com> wrote:
>
> >Best way to confirm is to call the tech support for the drive manufacturer.
> >
> >--
> >http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> >"Pat" <pkelecy@insightbb*no_spam*.com> wrote in message
> >news:gX7%c.14352$vy.10821@attbi_s52...
> >> I don't mind buying something new. I just wasn't sure if a new drive
> would
> >> work in my old computer. But based on the responses I've received, I'm
> >> starting to think it will as long as the capacity isn't too large.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the response. -Pat
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "Howard Kaikow" <kaikow@standards.com> wrote in message
> >> news:chj1jo$41v$1@pyrite.mv.net...
> >> > Don't buy a hard drive on ebay.
> >> > You have no way of knowing the condition of the drive and you get no
> >> > warranty.
> >> >
> >> > Check for best prices at www.pricegrabber.com.
> >> > Good prices usually at www.provantage.com, www.buy.com, etc.
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> >> > "Pat" <pkelecy@insightbb*no_spam*.com> wrote in message
> >> > news:TTR_c.113477$9d6.20992@attbi_s54...
> >> > > The hard disk on my DeskPro EP (300Mhz Celeron) died and I would like
> to
> >> > > replace it. I'll probably look for something off of eBay, but I'm not
> sure
> >> > > what to look for in terms of specs. The original drive was 4.3GB,
> although
> >> > > I wouldn't mind something larger. Would any 4.3 GB drive work? Could
> I
> put
> >> > > in a larger size without any problems? Any advice would be greatly
> >> > > appreciated (this is my first time through this).
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanks for the help. -Pat
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >