LAPTOP UPGRADESolved/Closed

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Hi!

I really need help very badly.  I am moving to another country and I need to upgrade my laptop before I go.  

I have an old laptop so with all its hardware.  My storage capacity is only 20gb and I would also like to upgrade from dvd-rom to a dvd burner or even hd.

My storage model is Hitachi Travelstar: IC25N020ATCS04-0.  I need some suggestions on what possible alternative I can have to increase my storage.  My other concern also is that I am not sure about these connectors if the new storage hardware would fit my old one because I really don't know how to identify the names of these connectors.

Lastly, I also have the same problem with upgrading to a dvd burner because of the connector from my external dvd drive to my laptop.

I would really appreciate any help.

Thanks!

xpcman · Answer

That Hitachi hard drive is rather standard.  Any 9.5mm (2.5 inch) ATA (IDE) drive should fit.  I would limit the upgrade size to 60 GB so you do not have BIOS problems with the new drive. There are a number of internet sites that sell replacement laptop had drives.  Most have an online configuration program that can find compatible drives given the make and model or the laptop. 

What make and model is the laptop does it have a special cable for the optical drive?  You can always use a generic USB DVD drive but you need one with its own power supply.

Good Luck on your upgrade.

xpcman · Answer

If you look at the hard drive caddy you will see an adapter at the end of the caddy. This takes the standard 2.5 inch IDE (ATA) hard drive and adapts it to the plug that is on the Dell motherboard. That is why it looks different from a bare drive. It is so small that you don't notice it unless you know to look for it.
 
The Dell L400 uses a "Media Bay" external CD/DVD unit.  You can buy a DVD RW that will replace your existing CD unit.  You pull out the old one and insert the new  drive. You need DVD Burning software (get it free from Ashampo).
I have found the best source for parts for older Dell laptops is Ebay. 

A quick search on Ebay (USA site) searching for "Dell L400" found:
a 120GB hard drive  #110302642651 with a Dell part number  (there were also 20GB and 60GB drives)
two DVD-RW drives for the Media Bay #390026598995 and #350139436729  both Dell original parts

I have bought a number of new Dell items on Ebay and had zero problems. In many cases these are new parts that were purchased by corporations as bundled packages or as spare parts and then sold off when the laptops were retired from service. 

I hope this helps.

xpcman · Answer

I checked the recommended hard drive size and 120GB should work OK. Go to this site 
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi-bin/shop/store.cgi?command=features&kind=laptop&pos=0&type=Laptop
and enter your laptop name and model number in their EZ Upgrade Center they list a 120GB drive for the L400. 

The hard drive is listed for a fair price and they also offer a transfer kit (Apricorn USB Hard Drive Data Transfer Upgrade Kit) and software that will copy your existing hard drive to the new hard drive before you install it.  After you install the larger hard drive the old drive can inserted into the Apricorn case - reformatted to clean the drive and used as a backup USB drive.
All in all a good deal.

xpcman · Answer

The make of the hard drive should not matter if it is listed as compatible on the above web site.  

Good Luck

xpcman · Answer

That Seagate drive should fit  
   
    your Dell needs:

    * Interface: ATA/100
   
    * Height: 9.5mm

Good Luck

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