Major manufacturers such as Dell and HP have model numbers for their systems, but then they have a more unique number. Dell calls theirs the service tag number and HP calls theirs the product number. This number denotes the exact configuration of a particular computer. A specific model can have multiple service tags or product numbers. This is not the serial number which you should never post.

Mph has already done some research and you have as well. I found this webpage which more or less confirms the previous postings on memory.

From the specifications, it appears to be the exact same memory as my HP zv5330, except I could only put one in mine. The price of one module from Dell is about the same as the one I got directly from HP. The next problem after you confirm on the Dell website by entering your service tag no, is do you get the memory from Dell, or do you attempt to save money by going 3rd party sourcing. Many memory manufacturers off memory, and if I were going to go 3rd party, I definitely would not go lowest price.

Memory is an area where one can save too much money. A few dollars saved on memory could cost more in returned parts because they just did not perform correctly. When I upgraded my laptop, I struggled to find what I though was an exact match, and finally decided that while it was more expensive to get the memory from the OEM manufacturer, it was safer. The memory they sell for your machine will definitely work in your machine. Considering the pricing of the one versus two, I think it would be a no-brainer to go two.

Hard drives, that is a different matter. I would definitely go third party. The dell website lists only a refurbished 40GB HD, so that is not a good deal. It did say the HD ships with a carrier and header, which would lead me to thing they use a special connector that fits on the pins on the end of the drive similar to the device on my HP drive. I was able to find a spare from a jobber that deals in laptop parts - Impact Computer in Florida. Dell lists the drive as a Fujitsu Z40P, 9.5MM thick and 5400 RPM. I have an 80GB as my operating drive in my HP replace the original Hitachi of the same specs. These are 2.5" wide drives and while in the laptop sturdy, but very fragile when outside. Weight is an enemy in laptop designs, so the tops of these drives are very thin and carry a warned not to press down on them, lest you damage the drive.

Newegg carries a line of 2.5" IDE interface drives that are suitable in your machine. Depending on how large you want to go, you can get one for anywhere from $55 for a replacement 80GB (Hitachi) to $95 for a 160GB (Hitachi) or $100 for a Seagate 120GB. When choosing on Newegg, the interface is actually listed as ATA-6. You will see AT listed in a lot of specs (MB's and Cases listed as ATX for example) as these interfaces, sizes & etc first came into being with the IBM PC-AT in the 80's. You will also sometimes see IDE (integrated drive electronics) listed as PATA (Parallel ATA). This is not the same as SATA. Do not confuse the two.

While any ATA-6 or IDE 2.5" HD is compatible, there is apparently a header connector on the HD. These drive have 48 pins on the end arranged in two groups, on of 44 pins (2x22) and this will be where the header if present is connected. The other group is 4 pins (2x2) and may have a jumper to select master or slave. I have found this jumper is not necessary in my laptop, but that may not be the case in yours.

When you order your new HD, you will also need to order either an inexpensive enclosure or a moderate priced enclosure or you can future proof yourself with an adapter like this that while more expensive, will fit almost any internal device. Investment in a software package such as Acronis True Image 10 that works with USB devices will allow you to clone your current HD onto the new HD in the enclosure/adapter. Then you just swap the new drive in place of the old drive and reboot. I have done it several times on my HP laptop and have had not problems with XP. Like anything, Acronis has some work to do to get their software to work seemlessly with Vista as it does on XP.

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