Replacing HDD in a laptop

**k0NG0** · 12-09-2007, 04:41 PM

So, my sister's Dell Inspiron 510m has a harddrive that broke recently. Dell, in their infinite Dellitude, have a replacement 80GB drive they want $340 for in local currency. Which is a real punch in the crotch (hey, girls hurt there too) considering you can get one for $100 from places not graced by the Dell name.

Being me (meaning: both handsome and smart) I figure I can just buy another 2.5" IDE drive and plop it in the "Media Bay" or whatever the Dellians call it. Provided it's of the 9.5mm height variety as that's all the enclosure can manage or so I've been told by mr. Internet.

But! I am nothing if not cautious (I'm amply padded 24/7) so I was wondering if there are any pitfalls. Do Dell routinely write a BIOS that self-destructs when you install products not blessed by his Dellness lord Mike? Can I perhapsly bump the capacity to, say, 100 or 120 gigglebytes without things exploding in a display so grand people will weep at the sight of it (I believe you could buy the 510m with 100GB of HDD capacity back in the day).

That is the sum total of my ponderings this Sunday evening.

FearFactory · 12-09-2007, 04:59 PM

lol i never had a Dell, in fact, it's hard to find a Dell here on Portugal but i don't believe that Dell wrote "a BIOS that self-destructs when you install products not blessed by his Dellness lord Mike", leave that to Tom Cruise

but you made me

with your post!

Scoundrel · 12-09-2007, 04:59 PM

Yeah you can replace it with whatever you like, I've swapped several 40-60 -and 80gb drives with 100 and 120gb drives without any problems, even in Dell's :-)

*SRTDodge05* · 12-09-2007, 05:01 PM

Just buy any laptop hard drive and put it in your laptop. The dell branded drivers are either seagate or WD.

ctal · 12-09-2007, 05:30 PM

kONGO -- A few things to consider:

The failed hdd may have had a hidden recovery partition, in lieu of a Windows installation CD and other software CD's (which Dell may not have supplied originally). Obviously you won't have that on the non-Dell replacement, so the question becomes what will Windows be installed from, and is the product key known? I've read comments by people who have requested Windows installation CD's from Dell, and have succeeded or not succeeded depending on who they happened to speak to.

I think that laptop was designed after bios's no longer had a 137 gB barrier, but if you want to go larger than that you should check to be sure.

Not sure what the "media bay" is connected to, but I'd suspect it would be a slave location on an IDE channel, and it would be better to put the new drive where the old one is, as master.

Regards,
-- Al

*SRTDodge05* · 12-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctal

kONGO -- A few things to consider:

The failed hdd may have had a hidden recovery partition, in lieu of a Windows installation CD and other software CD's (which Dell may not have supplied originally). Obviously you won't have that on the non-Dell replacement, so the question becomes what will Windows be installed from, and is the product key known? I've read comments by people who have requested Windows installation CD's from Dell, and have succeeded or not succeeded depending on who they happened to speak to.

I think that laptop was designed after bios's no longer had a 137 gB barrier, but if you want to go larger than that you should check to be sure.

Not sure what the "media bay" is connected to, but I'd suspect it would be a slave location on an IDE channel, and it would be better to put the new drive where the old one is, as master.

Regards,
-- Al

If he gets a dell replacement drive it wont have windows on it. If the bios doesnt see a drive bigger then a 120gb windows still will see over 120gb. Ask dell or check there website for bios info.

**Gorganzola** · 12-09-2007, 05:49 PM

Hey bud,

The media bay is the thing on the side where the ODD (Optical Disk Drive) is sitting. You can actually take out the ODD and put in a second battery or an enclosure that contains a second hard drive.

Assuming the drive that failed is the primary one, the one you want is remove is that one.

HDD Removal Instructions: Documentation

Main index for service manual: Documentation

Beyond that, the system uses an Intel 855GME chipset. Therefore, the only limitation to the size of the drive is the capabilities of the chipset. Dell doesn't limit the drive that can be put in the system by the BIOS. So, feel free to pickup the other drive. I wouldn't go over a spindle speed of 5400RPM though. The system wasn't designed to accomdate the heat from a faster spindle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0NG0

So, my sister's Dell Inspiron 510m has a harddrive that broke recently. Dell, in their infinite Dellitude, have a replacement 80GB drive they want $340 for in local currency. Which is a real punch in the crotch (hey, girls hurt there too) considering you can get one for $100 from places not graced by the Dell name.

Being me (meaning: both handsome and smart) I figure I can just buy another 2.5" IDE drive and plop it in the "Media Bay" or whatever the Dellians call it. Provided it's of the 9.5mm height variety as that's all the enclosure can manage or so I've been told by mr. Internet.

But! I am nothing if not cautious (I'm amply padded 24/7) so I was wondering if there are any pitfalls. Do Dell routinely write a BIOS that self-destructs when you install products not blessed by his Dellness lord Mike? Can I perhapsly bump the capacity to, say, 100 or 120 gigglebytes without things exploding in a display so grand people will weep at the sight of it (I believe you could buy the 510m with 100GB of HDD capacity back in the day).

That is the sum total of my ponderings this Sunday evening.

3 of 7 · 12-09-2007, 05:54 PM

As long as it has an IDE drive, order another (larger) one and pop it in... Reinstall windows using an XP home disc and the number on the laptop, (you'll likely have to phone MS.. No biggie I do it a couple of times a week)
If you don't redo the fat partition, you won't have the use of the media buttons without booting into windows (if it had that ability to begin with)..
Partition in into 2 drives and make an OS image on the second drive and Bob's your uncle..

**k0NG0** · 12-09-2007, 07:12 PM

Most excellent news. I kiss you all!

*SRTDodge05* · 12-09-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0NG0

Most excellent news. I kiss you all!

3 of 7 · 12-09-2007, 07:20 PM

Ewewewewew!

*Bofinn* · 12-10-2007, 09:19 AM

I'm just posting so I can get a kiss too! SMOOCH!

**Gorganzola** · 12-11-2007, 12:00 AM

Any chance your sister would honour that on your behalf?

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0NG0

Most excellent news. I kiss you all!

Anarchi · 12-19-2007, 08:02 PM

Anything at or below 120GB should be fine. Some laptops (or the recovery software) have problems if the HDD is too large (or is its too small in some cases).

So go for a 60GB/80GB/100GB/120GB

**k0NG0** · 12-20-2007, 04:42 AM

Bought a 120GB Hitachi 5400rpm drive. Will install it as soon as I get my hands on the laptop.

12-09-2007, 04:41 PM	#1
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,623	Replacing HDD in a laptop So, my sister's Dell Inspiron 510m has a harddrive that broke recently. Dell, in their infinite Dellitude, have a replacement 80GB drive they want $340 for in local currency. Which is a real punch in the crotch (hey, girls hurt there too) considering you can get one for $100 from places not graced by the Dell name. Being me (meaning: both handsome and smart) I figure I can just buy another 2.5" IDE drive and plop it in the "Media Bay" or whatever the Dellians call it. Provided it's of the 9.5mm height variety as that's all the enclosure can manage or so I've been told by mr. Internet. But! I am nothing if not cautious (I'm amply padded 24/7) so I was wondering if there are any pitfalls. Do Dell routinely write a BIOS that self-destructs when you install products not blessed by his Dellness lord Mike? Can I perhapsly bump the capacity to, say, 100 or 120 gigglebytes without things exploding in a display so grand people will weep at the sight of it (I believe you could buy the 510m with 100GB of HDD capacity back in the day). That is the sum total of my ponderings this Sunday evening. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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12-09-2007, 04:59 PM	#2
FearFactory The FC.Porto dragon! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portugal Posts: 3,930	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop lol i never had a Dell, in fact, it's hard to find a Dell here on Portugal but i don't believe that Dell wrote "a BIOS that self-destructs when you install products not blessed by his Dellness lord Mike", leave that to Tom Cruise but you made me with your post! __________________ P4 3.0E@3.4, Zalman CNPS7000B-Alcu, Asus P4C800-E Deluxe, 2x 512MB DDR500 Twinmos Twister, Gigabyte Geforce 6800 128MB (OC 16x6vp 385/900), NEC 2500a 8x DVD+RW/-RW (flashed to dual layer 2510a), Liteon DVD-ROM 16X, Samsung 500GB SATA, Seagate 200GB SATA (lLinux), SB Live 1024 Player, USRobotics ADSL2+ router, PSU LC Power Ozeanos 650W, Samsung 17' 795MB Flat
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12-09-2007, 04:59 PM	#3
Scoundrel Ferrari....hah!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 2,464	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Yeah you can replace it with whatever you like, I've swapped several 40-60 -and 80gb drives with 100 and 120gb drives without any problems, even in Dell's :-) __________________ Processor Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 G0@3.2Ghz Motherboard Gigabyte GA-X38T-DQ6 Memory 4GB DDR3 Corsair Twin3X4096-1600C7DHX G Graphics XFX Geforce 9800GX2 1Gig Audio X-FI Extreme Gamer Professional Harddrives 2x 150GB WD Raptor X in RAID 0 Optical Drives 2x LiteOn 20x SATA DVD/RW's Powersupply TT ToughPower 750W Case Coolermaster Stacker 830 Cooling Intel Box Cooler, & 3x Enermax Warp 120mm Fans Input Devices Logitech G5, G15, G25 Monitors 2x Samsung 226BW 22"
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12-09-2007, 05:01 PM	#4
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Just buy any laptop hard drive and put it in your laptop. The dell branded drivers are either seagate or WD.
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12-09-2007, 05:30 PM	#5
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,304	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop kONGO -- A few things to consider: The failed hdd may have had a hidden recovery partition, in lieu of a Windows installation CD and other software CD's (which Dell may not have supplied originally). Obviously you won't have that on the non-Dell replacement, so the question becomes what will Windows be installed from, and is the product key known? I've read comments by people who have requested Windows installation CD's from Dell, and have succeeded or not succeeded depending on who they happened to speak to. I think that laptop was designed after bios's no longer had a 137 gB barrier, but if you want to go larger than that you should check to be sure. Not sure what the "media bay" is connected to, but I'd suspect it would be a slave location on an IDE channel, and it would be better to put the new drive where the old one is, as master. Regards, -- Al
(Online)

12-09-2007, 05:54 PM	#8
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop As long as it has an IDE drive, order another (larger) one and pop it in... Reinstall windows using an XP home disc and the number on the laptop, (you'll likely have to phone MS.. No biggie I do it a couple of times a week) If you don't redo the fat partition, you won't have the use of the media buttons without booting into windows (if it had that ability to begin with).. Partition in into 2 drives and make an OS image on the second drive and Bob's your uncle..
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12-09-2007, 07:12 PM	#9
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,623	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Most excellent news. I kiss you all! __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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12-09-2007, 07:20 PM	#11
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Ewewewewew!
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12-10-2007, 09:19 AM	#12
Bofinn I'm gettin' dizzy! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 11,035	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop I'm just posting so I can get a kiss too! SMOOCH! __________________ ---------- JimBo ----------- When in doubt, smack it!
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12-19-2007, 08:02 PM	#14
Anarchi Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 489	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Anything at or below 120GB should be fine. Some laptops (or the recovery software) have problems if the HDD is too large (or is its too small in some cases). So go for a 60GB/80GB/100GB/120GB __________________ Mobo: Asus P5B Deluxe CPU: Core 2 Duo E6750 Memory: 2GB Corsair DDR667 Video: GeForce 8800GTS OS: Windows XP Pro SP2 Sound: Auzentech Prelude X-Fi Storage: WD 750GB. (soon SSD!)
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12-20-2007, 04:42 AM	#15
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,623	Re: Replacing HDD in a laptop Bought a 120GB Hitachi 5400rpm drive. Will install it as soon as I get my hands on the laptop. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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