PCWorld Forums: Can I Replace My Current Hard Drive with a Western Digital WD800 - PCWorld Forums

I have a western digital wd800....enhanced ide hard drive...could I replace the hard that is in it and will it be reconized.


|Operating System|
|Computer System|
|Computer Name|USER-9GDBDN4SPD|
|User Name|user|
|Organization| |
|Operating System|
|OS Name|Microsoft Windows XP Professional|
|OS Version|5.1.2600|
|ServicePack|2.0|
|Product ID|55274-640-5336245-23974|
|System Uptime|09/06/2008 9:22:53 AM|
|Internet Explorer Version|7.0.5730.13|
|Microsoft DirectX Version|9.0c (4.09.00.0904)|
|OpenGL Version|5.1.2600.2180 (xpspsp2rtm.040803-2158)|
|Free Physical Memory|34 MB|
|Free Page Files|307 MB|
|Free Virtual Memory|2008 MB|
|Registry|
|Maximum Size|66MB|
|Current Size|4MB|
|Status|OK|
[file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/User/Desktop/System%20Information%20Report.html#TOC] |Processor MainBoard|
|Center Processor|
|CPU Name|Intel Celeron processor|
|Code Name|Model 6, Stepping 5|
|Manufacturer|GenuineIntel|
|Current Clock Speed|534Mhz|
|Max Clock Speed|534Mhz|
|Voltage|NULL|
|External Clock|NULLMhz|
|Serial Number|NULL|
|CPU ID|x86 Family 6 Model 6 Stepping 5|
|Socket Designation|NULL|
|Motherboard|
|Model|HAWK|
|Manufacturer|Asus|
|Serial Number|xxxxxxxxxxxx|
|BIOS Name|PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0.P|
|BIOS Vendor|Phoenix Technologies LTD|
|SMBIOS Version|1.16|
|BIOS Date|13/07/2000|
|BIOS Features|
|ISA is supported|Yes|
|PCI is supported|Yes|
|Plug and Play is supported|Yes|
|APM is supported|Yes|
|BIOS is Upgradable (Flash)|Yes|
|BIOS shadowing is allowed|Yes|
|ESCD support is available|Yes|
|Boot from CD is supported|Yes|
|Selectable Boot is supported|





|Drives|
|Disk drive|
|Name|QUANTUM FIREBALLlct10 15|
|Media Type|Fixed hard disk media|
|Capabilities|15GB|
|InterfaceType|IDE|
|Partitions|1|
|Total Cylinders|1940|
|Total Heads|240|
|Total Sectors|29332800|
|Total Tracks|465600|
|Tracks Per Cylinder|240|
|Sectors Per Track|512|
|Bytes Per Sector|63|
|S.M.A.R.T Support|Yes|
|Current Temperature|0C (32F)|
|CD-ROM Drive|
|Name|MITSUMI CR-4804TE|
|Drive|D:|
|Transfer Rate|NULL|
|Status|OK|
|IDE Controller|
|Name|Intel® 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller|
|Manufacturer|Intel|
|Status|OK|
|IDE Controller|
|Name|Primary IDE Channel|
|Manufacturer|(Standard IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers)|
|Status|OK|
|IDE Controller|
|Name|Secondary IDE Channel|
|Manufacturer|(Standard IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers)|
|Status|OK|

Hi BrowneyeFrenchman. First, I have changed your Discussion title to give a clearer indication of your question. For future reference, please be as descriptive as possible in both the heading of your Discussion as well as the post itself.

Now, I have some questions for you:

- Can you please tell us the manufacturer and model number of this computer?

- Do you want to add this hard drive to your current setup or do you truly want to replace your current drive with the Western Digital drive?



From what I see so far, it would not be prudent to provide an assessment yet.

Sorry...I will remember that...Hewlett Packard Pavilion 6653c...I would like to replace it..it has windows xp home on it and alot of my files..I figured it would be more stable then the one I am using now.

In addition, I think part of the Western Digital model number is missing. Is it a WD800BB drive (this would be a 80 GB EIDE Caviar 7200 rpm 3.5 desktop hard drive)?

wd800bb-22jhao-80GB EIDE drive



|Physical Specifications|
|Formatted Capacity ^1^|80,026 MB|
|Interface|40-pin EIDE|
|Actuator Type|Rotary Voice Coil|
|Number of Disks|3|
|Data Surfaces|6|
|Number of Heads|6|
|Bytes Per Sector|512|
|User Sectors Per Drive|156,301,488|
|Servo Type|Embedded|
|Recording Method EPR4|Rate 16/17 PRML|
|ECC|Reed Solomon|
|Head Park ^2^|Automatic|

Okay, the first thing you should do is back up any files that you would like to save from the existing hard drive. I would advise either CD or flash drive. I am not sure if this computer came with the Windows XP CD. If it did not, or you do not have it, you will have to request (purchase) one from HP. The easiest way to do that is to follow the steps outlined within this Document {document:id=1107}.

Once you have that, the installation of the drive is relatively simple. Before we proceed, I would gather that (from the fact that you have this drive and wonder if it is able to replace your current drive) you are comfortable with opening your computer and working within it, correct? If that is correct then we can proceed forward.

If that is not the case, then the short answer to your question is "Yes," the Western Digital WD800BB can replace your current hard drive. You can take that drive to any local computer technician and they will install the drive and reinstall Windows, with the files that you want.

ok...so even if I already have xp on the hard drive I want to put in..i still have to get a xp cd...would it not just read the hard drive that I put in or is it not that simple..lol..yes I am new at this part as far as my understanding

browneyefrenchman said:

>

Quote

>
>




See, this is that kind of information that would have been best mentioned in the initial post. :D If you have a new drive, that already has a legal, validated version of Windows XP, the process is just like changing a tire....out with the old and in with the new.

You still did not answer the major question. Are you comfortable with installing the drive yourself?

yes i am comfortable in doing that...reread what i wrote....wasn't trying to sould like a smarta on the last part i wrote...i am going to see what it does..thanks for the help so far

ok..i get to the part where it is the blue screen that gives me different opptions of restoring..i get a pot up that says system restore environment is incomplete..i push ok and another one pops up and tells me to stick in system restore cd...%MEDIA_TYPE%#1.i am looking on the web for a download.

mphenterprises said:

>
> Once you have that, the installation of the drive is relatively simple. Before we proceed, I would gather that (from the fact that you have this drive and wonder if it is able to replace your current drive) you are comfortable with opening your computer and working within it, correct? If that is correct then we can proceed forward.
>
> If that is not the case, then the short answer to your question is "Yes," the Western Digital WD800BB can replace your current hard drive. You can take that drive to any local computer technician and they will install the drive and reinstall Windows, with the files that you want.

Actually, the easiest thing would be to get a program like [True Image and clone the old drive to the new drive. Then it would be a matter of just putting the new drive in place of the old drive once the cloning has been done...and it will be just like you were before, but with a newer drive. The only practical matters would be how to connect the new drive to clone to it. If you have a spare IDE connection, then you could temporarily hook it up to the computer internally. If you don't have a spare internal connection, then you could get an USB enclosure for use with the drive temporarily.



Now, if you DO NOT want to have the system be exactly the same as before, then that is a whole other matter.

Oh, don't even think twice about it. Believe me, I can completely understand. As SMax stated, an image of the drive is a quick, inexpensive, and way to get your system up and running after a hard drive swap. Now, since you already have an Operating System on the Western Digital drive, that may not necessarily be applicable in your case. I await your response to SMax's response before I continue with any further troubleshooting.

My old hard drivd has become unstable and i also found out that the os on the old one is illegal copy...yeah that sucks..that is why i was wanting to get this one to work.

ok...i did the hd that came with the in computer as master and the wd800bb as slave..opened my computer up and i see A.C...Recovery(D:) and local disk E:.......can i go in and make a ...like..repair cd or something.

Okay, you have both hard drives successfully installed in your computer. Of what would you like to make a repair CD? If you would like to replace the original drive (presumably the C: and D: drives and also the stated illegal Operating System) then there is no need to make a repair CD.

You stated that there is already a legal Operating System on the Western Digital drive. If that is the case, you can use that drive as the primary (master) drive and the original drive as the secondary (slave) drive. Then, as SMax stated, you can create a image of the Western Digital drive by using True Image. Scroll up to see his post regarding Acronis True Image.

i still have the issue of the os on my wd hd stating that my system restore environment is incomplete..insert system restore %MEDIA_TYPE% #1 CD...never had a xp cd..have to get this corrected before i can make this one my master..

What Operating System do you have on the Western Digital drive and how exactly did you install it?

ok..on the wd hd i have xp sp2 home edition that was prinstalled from another computer..gateway..i have been trying to figure out how to get the key code finder...magic jelly bean..to look into the reg on the wd hd but have not figured out how.

Well unfortunately, we cannot assist you with recovering the Product Code. Doing so would be in violating of the {document:id=1000}. What I can advise you to do is to contact Gateway. As long as you have a valid proof of purchase for the Gateway computer, you should have no problem getting either the Product Code associated with that Operating System or a new Product Code specifically geared for this Operating System.