is it very hard to upgrade my internal 40 gig hard drive to say a 320 gig hard drive? is it possible to do this with limited computer knowledge, or should i pay for someone else to do it? is it sometimes not possible to do this, because the computer will not allow this ? i have a Dell Dimension 2400 desktop.
should i just buy an external drive, or are internal drives faster? the speed is important to me
2006-10-10 02:26:10 · 5 answers · asked by jjc3333 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
no, you should be able to do it. I recommend making the 320 GB drive a slave drive to the current 40 GB drive, though (having both of them) - because the 40 GB drive currently houses your operating system and programs. That way, you can install the 320 GB drive, get the space you need, and still keep your old stuff.
Cables are pretty much the same (EIDE) - so you should be able to simply connect the new 320 GB drive to the open space on the current cable. What you need to do is then jumper the 320 GB drive to slave, and jumper the current 40 GB drive to master.
Once you do this, reboot the computer - the OS should be able to figure it out. You'll need to format the new drive, when the OS boots, but other than that, you should be in business!
Good luck!
2006-10-10 02:30:16 · answer #1 · answered by gatesfam@swbell.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
internal is faster...so stick wih that, and.you may want to consider adding a hard drive, rather than just replacing one. Replacng one involves starting from scratch with all the things like drivers, game positions, and all the other things that you haven't backed up.
Adding a new drive is only a matter of 4 screws, 2 plugs, and one jumper setting. The instructions are in the box the hard drive comes in...it's easy.
2006-10-10 02:32:32 · answer #2 · answered by Joe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Internal drives are faster. They just contribute more heat internally and consume additional power as a set back.
It isn't really hard. You just have to make sure your motherboard supports that size of hard drive memory and compatibility.
The difficult part for a novice is transfering of your data from old drive to new.
2006-10-10 02:31:48 · answer #3 · answered by eternalvoid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope , not too hard, it will come with instructions, you just have to make sure the plugs are the same. internal are much faster. you are n't replacing your existing drive, just adding another. just plug it in, mount it, set it to slave with the little jumper dealies, and it will appear in my computer.
2006-10-10 02:32:40 · answer #4 · answered by joelius24 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not get an extrnal USB hard drive?
http://www.maxtorsolutions.com/en/Main/home_home_office.html
2006-10-10 02:31:04 · answer #5 · answered by Angry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋