Laptop Hard drive

[winos5]

Question for the computer nerds on the board. My son's cheap lap top needs a new internal hard drive. It's a hitachi 160 GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive. Looking for recommendations on where to buy it. Primary concern is cost. The Acer laptop only cost $350 new so I don't want to drop a fortune on this. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[jakobeast]

I am not a computer savvy nerd. but you may be better off getting a new one.

 

[Tater]

I've always bought from newegg.com. Good prices and very reputable.

Never had a problem buying from them or returning something if needed.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

newegg gets a vote from me as well. Can also look at frys.com and (amazingly) compusa.com for price comparison. Plus there is always Amazon which usually provides hits from some of these places.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

newegg.com or tigerdirect.com usually run you the best deals

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

newegg.com or tigerdirect.com usually run you the best deals

Just an FYI, tigerdirect and compusa merged after tigerdirect's parent company purchased compusa. The compusa name is in process of replacing tigerdirect....most likely due to some of the litigation tigerdirect has been dealing with.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Just an FYI, tigerdirect and compusa merged after tigerdirect's parent company purchased compusa. The compusa name is in process of replacing tigerdirect....most likely due to some of the litigation tigerdirect has been dealing with.

I hope to dear god that they dont start following Compusa's business practices, because I have never had good dealings with them.

 

[MassHavoc]

Yep, newegg is good, Fry's and the others, what I tend to do is use newegg for the reviews and such and find the exact one that I want then price shop for that model on amazon or others like pricewatch.com.



Then I know I get the one that I want for the best price. if there are no major differences in price, stick to newegg or amazon.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Yep, newegg is good, Fry's and the others, what I tend to do is use newegg for the reviews and such and find the exact one that I want then price shop for that model on amazon or others like pricewatch.com.



Then I know I get the one that I want for the best price. if there are no major differences in price, stick to newegg or amazon.

I wish we had a Fry's around here. I love that place.

 

[R K]

Question for the computer nerds on the board. My son's cheap lap top needs a new internal hard drive. It's a hitachi 160 GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive. Looking for recommendations on where to buy it. Primary concern is cost. The Acer laptop only cost $350 new so I don't want to drop a fortune on this. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

It does not have to be a Hitatchi drive. It can be any 2.5 inch 5.4k SATA drive. Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba.... Ect ect...





ST9160314AS



Hard drive - 160 GB - internal - 2.5" - SATA-300 - 5400 rpm - buffer: 8 MB



Around 45 bucks. If it's just the drive that failed it is worth it to buy a new drive JAKO!

 

[R K]

I am not a computer savvy nerd. but you may be better off getting a new one.

Good advise..

 

[winos5]

It does not have to be a Hitatchi drive. It can be any 2.5 inch 5.4k SATA drive. Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba.... Ect ect...





ST9160314AS



Hard drive - 160 GB - internal - 2.5" - SATA-300 - 5400 rpm - buffer: 8 MB



Around 45 bucks. If it's just the drive that failed it is worth it to buy a new drive JAKO!

Yes, just the hard drive, which is apparently notorious for this particular chinese POS laptop. But hey, it was dirt cheap when I bought it and I figured I'd be less upset when my son spilled something on it.



Will there be power/compatibility issues if I upgrade the drive a bit?

 

[LordKOTL]

There shouldn't be--just make sure it's SATA and you'll be golden.



And yes, here's the rule--if you need it sourced right away and can't wait for shipping - go to Fry's. If you can wait, Newegg.com it.



Hell, here you go:

Newegg.com search for laptop hard drives

 

[MassHavoc]

Yes, just the hard drive, which is apparently notorious for this particular chinese POS laptop. But hey, it was dirt cheap when I bought it and I figured I'd be less upset when my son spilled something on it.



Will there be power/compatibility issues if I upgrade the drive a bit?

I'm sure you are right and I'm just more curious about the problem, but what did it do to make you think that it's only the hard drive? I've seen a lot of crazy things happen that make it look like other crazy things and can be fixed with something as simple as cleaning a connector. I'm not saying you are wrong or don't know anything just curious as to what the problem is exactly.

 

[winos5]

I'm sure you are right and I'm just more curious about the problem, but what did it do to make you think that it's only the hard drive? I've seen a lot of crazy things happen that make it look like other crazy things and can be fixed with something as simple as cleaning a connector. I'm not saying you are wrong or don't know anything just curious as to what the problem is exactly.

I thought it was a virus at first. Windows would lock up while it was loading, after the user pass word was entered. Only way Windows would load was in safe-mode.



Trial and error basically.



Spyware/adware programs didn't detect anything wrong. Wiping the hard drive and re-booting with a rescue disc didn't work either.



A friend who is tech guy swapped out the hard drive with one he had at home and that worked.



Edit: While looking for hard drives on line and reading reviews of the recommended replacement for this particular laptop it was apparent they are notorious for this.

 

[howcho]

If it where me, and I do this a lot in my work. I would be going to some mom and pop computer shop and buying a used one. Make sure it is Sata like the others say and you are good. Format it by installing the New/used HD in the laptop, insert your Windows OS disk and then inform the laptop to boot from cd. The process is rather easy and there will be tons of online instruction if you need it.



Having said that, I don,t usually go out to buy used drives, I just so happen to have lots of them laying around because I take out reusable parts before dumping any laptop or pc.



Your techie friend if he is like me will have half a dozen in a drawer, ask him.

 

[Ymono37]

Good advise..

Bad speeling ^

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

I hope to dear god that they dont start following Compusa's business practices, because I have never had good dealings with them.

Tiger appears to be in charge, but their name has taken a beating over the last 5 or so years, while CompUSA seems to still have a recognizable name that is more positive than Tiger for some reason. Read about that when the purchase happened around 2 years ago.

 

[MassHavoc]

I thought it was a virus at first. Windows would lock up while it was loading, after the user pass word was entered. Only way Windows would load was in safe-mode.



Trial and error basically.



Spyware/adware programs didn't detect anything wrong. Wiping the hard drive and re-booting with a rescue disc didn't work either.



A friend who is tech guy swapped out the hard drive with one he had at home and that worked.



Edit: While looking for hard drives on line and reading reviews of the recommended replacement for this particular laptop it was apparent they are notorious for this.

Ahhh that makes sense. thanks.

Bad speeling ^

GENIUS.

 

[R K]

Bad speeling ^

No shit sherlock.