Laptop HD question.

[Jhill]

I am getting an hp pavilion 4400 laptop for pretty much free, but the HD is dead. I've never owned a laptop and don't know anything about them. ( i don't even have it yet) Someone told me that the pin layout was weird on it. But I am not sure if I understood correctly. Anyway, what kinda of HD should I start looking for? Do I just need to get a 2.5 inch ata laptop hard drive? Or are some laptop hard drives "pinned" different? I know it's not SATA.

Thanks

 

[0roo0roo]

i think they mean the ide connector on laptops is smaller than ide on desktop, it also has power built in. you can buy adaptors if necessary if you want to access or format it via desktop.
as long as its a laptop drive it should be fine. assuming its pata. if its a sata drive you are taking out then you need sata replacement. check the website for hp to see if they list components.

 

[Jhill]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i think they mean the ide connector on laptops is smaller than ide on desktop, it also has power built in. you can buy adaptors if necessary if you want to access or format it via desktop.
as long as its a laptop drive it should be fine. assuming its pata. if its a sata drive you are taking out then you need sata replacement. check the website for hp to see if they list components.

Thanks for the quick reply. I know it's not a SATA drive. So will any ata 2.5 inch laptop drive work?

I actually want to use an old desktop hard drive to make it work if possible. (i realize it won't fit inside the case) Can you point me in the general direction of an adapter that will let me use a 3.5 inch hard drive to make it work? I am assuming I'll need a power cord to since the HD will be outside the laptop.

Thanks again.

 

[jaqie]

Don't forget the fact that almost all laptops have a sort of caddy and most have a pin-adapter on them, so it looks like they are proprietary, but they infact are not, they have an adapter for that specific model of laptop.

Basically if you want to use a desktop drive you will have to run your own power to the HDD, and find or hand make a 44 pin to 40 pin adapter as the pins are incompatible. you can find wiring schemes for each online (and at hardwarebook.net).

 

[bruceb]

That may be the case on some makes. It is not the case with Toshiba
but you do slide a protective cover over the drive.

 

[jaqie]

The OP is speaking about an HP laptop.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: bruceb
That may be the case on some makes. It is not the case with Toshiba
but you do slide a protective cover over the drive.

All Toshibas are not created equal. My last two used caddys and adaptors.