Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
This is what I'm going to get/do to replace failing 40GB Hard Drive in my Dell Inspiron 1300:
Buy Western Digital Scorpio Blue SATA 250GB or 320GB ($44 for 250G - $48 for 320GB)
Buy External Hard Drive Enclosure with USB cable to install new drive (Kingwin from Amazon for $7)
Download Acronis from Western Digital
Partition the new drive using Acronis software before cloning
Clone the current drive to new drive via USB cable
Create an Acronis DOS boot CD before the swap
Remove old drive and install new drive
Boot with newly created Acronis DOS boot CD
Are these steps sound okay ? What else I need to know/do before venture into replacing the current drive ? Also, how do I check for Motherboard controller supports drives > 128GB ?
several things..
you can buy a usb to sata/ide adapter.. you dont need an enclosure.
basic procedure I would use. install acronis
make boot cd
shut off computer
plug in usb to sata/ide adapter (to computer and new drive)
boot off boot cd
clone current drive to new hdd plugged into the usb to sata/ide adapter(comes with power supply too if needed)
shut down computer
remove old hdd
reassemble with new hdd.
win.
Cost should be under 100$
you want something like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136129 for the hdd.
unless you are running out of space stick with an 80gb drive or you may have bios issues with it not working.(or research this farther)
If you can use >128gb drives they have a 160 for 65+5 ship. 320 is about 110$
I'd stick with cheapness and if you need more space a 500gb usb external can be had for under 50$
an adapter would be something like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156017