What kind of HD do I have?

[Ed Hansberry]

How can I tell what kind of HD I have, short of taking the PC apart? It is a Dell 4400, almost 2 years old. I want to add a second one to it - the larger the better. I am pretty sure it isn't an ATA133 only because, IIRC, those didn't come out until after I purchased this one.

Speed is unimportant. I just want it as big as possible. Do I have to have an ATA133 interface to use http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=305077&pfp=BROWSE or will it just not be as fast?

I also suppose I'll have a problem with the size over 137GB. :? I'd probably need to get a new controller that would work with my existing 80GB drive and a new one.

[Janak Parekh]

How can I tell what kind of HD I have, short of taking the PC apart? It is a Dell 4400, almost 2 years old. I want to add a second one to it - the larger the better. I am pretty sure it isn't an ATA133 only because, IIRC, those didn't come out until after I purchased this one.
Device Manager should tell you the model number. So should the BIOS on startup.

Speed is unimportant. I just want it as big as possible. Do I have to have an ATA133 interface to use http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=305077&pfp=BROWSE or will it just not be as fast?
ATA133 drives should be backwards-compatible; it'll just run a bit slower.

I also suppose I'll have a problem with the size over 137GB. :? I'd probably need to get a new controller that would work with my existing 80GB drive and a new one.
That's more likely to be an issue, yes. Promise, among others, make reasonably cheap ATA133 controllers. You can leave your existing HD on the existing channel or can move it over. The only thing about moving it over is that you'd need to install the driver first so that Windows would still boot. You might be able to jumper the disk to make it "appear" smaller until Windows boots, and then use a disk management tool, but I'm not sure if you want to go through that...

--janak

[tourdewolf]

I also suppose I'll have a problem with the size over 137GB. :? I'd probably need to get a new controller that would work with my existing 80GB drive and a new one.

If your running Windows XP you might be able to just install SP1 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

If you are running an intel chipset, likely with a dell, then you might want to check here
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa/instruct.htm

Also you might want to shop a bit, a lot of large drives now come with a controller card included in the package. I recently bought a WD 200 that came with one.

[pacemkr]

Speed is unimportant. I just want it as big as possible. Do I have to have an ATA133 interface to use http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=305077&pfp=BROWSE or will it just not be as fast?
ATA133 drives should be backwards-compatible; it'll just run a bit slower.

In real wolrd applications the speed difference between a new ATA 133 and a 100 is not even noticeable.


I also suppose I'll have a problem with the size over 137GB. :? I'd probably need to get a new controller that would work with my existing 80GB drive and a new one.

I dont think you need a controller as long as you have a free spot to connect the drive to. If you only have 1 HD and a CDROM or two right now you should have a free IDE channel weather it is slave or master doesnt make much difference with never drives as far as I know. What you have to worry about is your motherboard BIOS. You might have to upgrade your bios to get it recognized before system startup. Once thats done then you should worry about getting it recognized in windows, although I think there is a simple patch that will do the job.

Also, might I suggest http://www.newegg.com as your source for computer hardware. I've been their customer for several years and the service is superb. Check out http://www.bizrate.com/ratings_guide/cust_reviews__mid--28697.html

[Janak Parekh]

In real wolrd applications the speed difference between a new ATA 133 and a 100 is not even noticeable.
Right.

What you have to worry about is your motherboard BIOS.
Right -- and on a 2+ year-old machine, an upgrade might not exist. That's why the jumpering trick may work (although, I haven't done that in a while), and a new controller would certainly work (and might boost performance marginally, although Ed only listed a 5400rpm disk).

Also, might I suggest http://www.newegg.com as your source for computer hardware.
Ditto. Have been happy with their service, although I do price-shop and go elsewhere when it's cheaper.

--janak

[Ed Hansberry]

Always so complex... :| The latest BIOS for this machine is June 2002. So, if I got another controller card, I could put my old 80GB drive on the new card and still use the new 250+GB drive as a slave? Now I have to see if I have an extra PC Card slot. I suspect the controller on there now is on the MoBo.

[Janak Parekh]

So, if I got another controller card, I could put my old 80GB drive on the new card and still use the new 250+GB drive as a slave?
Yes, or if the new controller is dual-channel, you could put both as separate primaries.

Now I have to see if I have an extra PC Card slot. I suspect the controller on there now is on the MoBo.
Probably. (BTW, you meant PCI, right? ;))

--janak

[Ed Hansberry]

Now I have to see if I have an extra PC Card slot. I suspect the controller on there now is on the MoBo.
Probably. (BTW, you meant PCI, right? ;))
:frusty:

[Jason Dunn]

Does it need to be internal? Often external drives are much easier (Firewire, USB 2.0 - just add a card).

[Ed Hansberry]

Does it need to be internal? Often external drives are much easier (Firewire, USB 2.0 - just add a card). Yeah, but usually more expensive. Good thought though. It would allow me to move it around.

[Jason Dunn]

Yeah, but usually more expensive. Good thought though. It would allow me to move it around.

The "do it yourself kits" are often a better way to go - you go out and buy a shell for $50 or so (probably less), pick between USB 2.0, Firewire, or both, and then put whatever hard drive you want inside, and it will probably end up being cheaper than a "pre made" external HD. :way to go: