Installing a second hard drive on a laptop?

[DrunkMonkey 0]

Ok, here's the deal:

Of the 20gb hard drive that I got with my PC, fully 9.5gb of that is Mp3s. It's becoming clear that I'm gonna need to either get an additional hard drive or an iPod.

How does one install a second hard drive on a dell laptop? does it go in that slot that currently holds the socket for PCMCIA cards?

Any help is appreciated.

[AggieDave 6]

You can duct tape it to the case...OR a better solution would be an external FireWire harddrive. If you don't have a firewire capability, you can get a PCMCIA adapter for it.

Go here:

http://www.pricewatch.com

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[DrunkMonkey 0]

I do have Firewire capability. Thanks Dave, I'll look into that.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

Ok, here's the deal:

Of the 20gb hard drive that I got with my PC, fully 9.5gb of that is Mp3s. It's becoming clear that I'm gonna need to either get an additional hard drive or an iPod.

How does one install a second hard drive on a dell laptop? does it go in that slot that currently holds the socket for PCMCIA cards?

Any help is appreciated.

Yeah, firewire or USB. You can get a huge drive pretty cheap and buy your own case for it for like 30 bux.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[mr2mk1g 10]

These days it's relatively rare to have laptops which can take more than 1 HD. Options are as above or use microdrives in the PCMCIA card slots (slow, expensive and small) or simply buy a bigger HD and reinstall on that one. If you don't want to cart around an external drive that's probably the only viable option. Cheapest easiest and highest capacity option would be to do as described above though.

[AndyMan 7]

It's dificult to add a second internal hard drive.

You can replace the one hard drive you have now, that's usually pretty striaght forward.

1) backup all your stuff
2) remove old HD
3) add new HD
4) install OS + apps
5) restore the backup of all your stuff

Otherwise, a good option is to add an external hard drive. You can get either a Firewire or USB drive.

If you go USB make sure it's labeled as "High Speed USB2". Just because it's USB2 doesn't mean it's high speed. Also, make sure your laptop supports USB2. Many older ones do not.

If your laptop has a firewire port, then it's a no-brainer, get a firewire disk.

If your laptop has neither firewire nor USB 2, then you'll need to buy an expansion card that plugs into the PCMCIA socket.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[yoink 321]

as an aside, huge advances are being made in HD technologies...

heck out tiny hard drives... the size of a domino.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4411649.stm

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

If you go USB make sure it's labeled as "High Speed USB2". Just because it's USB2 doesn't mean it's high speed. Also, make sure your laptop supports USB2. Many older ones do not.

_Am

That is not true. If the USB is 2.0, it is high speed. All USB 2.0 is called high Speed USB. "

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

as an aside, huge advances are being made in HD technologies...

heck out tiny hard drives... the size of a domino.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4411649.stm

Yeah, that is sweet. Get ready for affordable terebyte drives in your computer.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[AndyMan 7]

Quote

That is not true. If the USB is 2.0, it is high speed. All USB 2.0 is called high Speed USB. "

Sorry, it's not.

From http://www.usb.org/developers/packaging/

Inconsistent use of terminology in combination with the existing general misconception that USB 2.0 is synonymous with Hi-Speed USB and/or failure to display the Certified USB logo on qualified products creates confusion in the marketplace.

Always look for the "High Speed" logo.

USB 2.0 can also be "Full Speed", which is the speed used by 1.0

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I have a 250 GB external HD that I keep all my files on and a portable dual layer DVD burner. That way as time goes on and I purchase a newer, faster computer, it makes it easier. Plus if my computer ever crashes or I get a virus, recovery is simple.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

Quote

That is not true. If the USB is 2.0, it is high speed. All USB 2.0 is called high Speed USB. "

Sorry, it's not.

From http://www.usb.org/developers/packaging/

Inconsistent use of terminology in combination with the existing general misconception that USB 2.0 is synonymous with Hi-Speed USB and/or failure to display the Certified USB logo on qualified products creates confusion in the marketplace.

Always look for the "High Speed" logo.

USB 2.0 can also be "Full Speed", which is the speed used by 1.0

_Am

That is only referring to the fact that USB 2.0 is not SOLELY high speed. USB 2.0 can handle low and full (which is USB 1.1), and Hi (480 MB/s). However, since all USB 2.0 can now handle hi speed, for the average consumer, hi speed means USB 2.0.

The USB naming you refer to does is meant for the USB capabilities on your computer. It is meant for products which would hook into that port. So, if the product can only use a max transfer of 12 MB/s or 1.5 Mb/s, it is labeled USB. If it can handle 480, it is labeled Hi Speed USB. In any case, the USB PORT on the computer, if USB 2.0, can handle both of these transfer rates.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[DrunkMonkey 0]

I'm going to get one with firewire capability. My usb ports are already full, even with a 1 to 4 splitter hub.

[lummy 4]

Quote

It's dificult to add a second internal hard drive.

not true at all... Most laptop manufacturers make something called a HD caddy which will let you put a second HD in the media bay, kinda like these these . They're especially handy when you need to get data off a bad HD or one with a trashed OS. Course you can't use your cd rom with the 2nd HD in tho..

With that being said, I'd agree with everyone else and buy the external USB or Firewire HD

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

I'm going to get one with firewire capability. My usb ports are already full, even with a 1 to 4 splitter hub.

Sounds good. I think people do not use their firewire ports enough anyway.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[AndyMan 7]

It seems we're in agreement then. In the post you replied to, I was refering to the products, not the computer.

Anyways, it's still good advice to look for the "High Speed" logo, rather than the spec number.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

It seems we're in agreement then. In the post you replied to, I was refering to the products, not the computer.

Anyways, it's still good advice to look for the "High Speed" logo, rather than the spec number.

_Am

Right. I just misunderstood your post. I totally agree.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.