[SOLVED] Replacing a Hard Drive

TMF · 03-29-2008, 05:07 AM

Hi, this is my first post. I should mention that I am in no way an expert on computers, but I am very interested in how they work. I have an old computer (Packard Bell 5106) that the hard drive died on some time ago. We got a new office PC straight away, but I was wondering about trying to fix the old one to use in the workshop. Its as much about the curosity and interest about trying to fix the machine than anything else. Because it does not hold any real value, It is perfect to practice on. I have found another Hard Drive for £3.99 which is excactly the same Seagate one that is in the machine.
So what I am asking is
1) Is there an old thread where this topic has been discussed?
2) Is it an easy repair?
3) Will I need my own copy of XP to re load onto the machine?
4) What else do I need to know

Thanks in advance

xLostSoulx · 03-29-2008, 05:21 AM

1) Try searching for this.
2) You want to rebuild your old hard drive? That may be a challenge, why not use the new one?
3) If you are rebuilding your old one, and it already had an operating system then no. If you are going to use the new one you bought then yes.

It would be easier to use the new hard drive that you have just purchased as it would same you time, but if your curious on how everything works then you might be able to recover your old one (but that is complicated).

Kind regards, and welcome to TSF!

Tumbleweed36 · 03-29-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMF

Hi, this is my first post. I should mention that I am in no way an expert on computers, but I am very interested in how they work. I have an old computer (Packard Bell 5106) that the hard drive died on some time ago. We got a new office PC straight away, but I was wondering about trying to fix the old one to use in the workshop. Its as much about the curosity and interest about trying to fix the machine than anything else. Because it does not hold any real value, It is perfect to practice on. I have found another Hard Drive for £3.99 which is excactly the same Seagate one that is in the machine.
So what I am asking is
1) Is there an old thread where this topic has been discussed?
2) Is it an easy repair?
3) Will I need my own copy of XP to re load onto the machine?
4) What else do I need to know

Thanks in advance

If the old hard drive is completely dead, then you need to just use the new one. Depending upon what happened to the old drive (some times a disk utility download can repair a drive if there are only some bad sectors on that drive) You might want to download and try Seatools from Seagate on the old drive to see if you can get it going.

If you put in a new drive and have the old drive OS, then yes, you can sue that. However, if you don't have a copy of the OS disk from the old machine, then you will have to purchase one.

Putting one in an old machine usually is as easy as changing a jumper setting on the drive, pulling the old one out and unplugging it and plugging the new one in. Then, you will be ready to load the OS on it.

Post back with further questions/concerns.

**Done_Fishin** · 03-29-2008, 08:25 AM

providing that the motherboard is functional then replacing the drive and re-installing an Operating System would normally revive the PC.

Perhaps if you were to be a little bit more specific in your "project" and the components available we would be able to give more useful advice

**FreoHeaveho** · 03-29-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xLostSoulx

1) Try searching for this.
2) You want to rebuild your old hard drive? That may be a challenge, why not use the new one?
3) If you are rebuilding your old one, and it already had an operating system then no. If you are going to use the new one you bought then yes.

It would be easier to use the new hard drive that you have just purchased as it would same you time, but if your curious on how everything works then you might be able to recover your old one (but that is complicated).

Kind regards, and welcome to TSF!

Lostsoul, btw your messages inbox if full and i cannot reply to your pm. please clear out your messages.

apologies for the interuption to the op.

TMF · 03-30-2008, 03:53 AM

Thanks for the help so far people . I will get hold of Win XP operating system and have a go at putting the new drive in. I am sure I will need a bit more help later one. If I do I will try to get all the componant details for more accurate help.

**Deleted090308** · 03-30-2008, 04:04 AM

A guide: http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...hard-drive.htm

**Done_Fishin** · 03-30-2008, 04:13 AM

I found a support site for your system here
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/it...1220791&g=1400
seems to support XP which is a good sign ..

good luck

edit.

It's an old motherboard check the capacitors on the motherboard for signs of swelling .. (domed tops) or leakage. They'll need to be replaced.

TMF · 03-30-2008, 06:49 AM

I have checked all the capacitors, and all seems fine. I have swapped the hard drives over.
Is £70 a good price for a new copy of Windows XP Prof 2002 operating system?

**Done_Fishin** · 03-30-2008, 07:11 AM

Sorry I, personally, can't advise about prices .. I can advise you though to to take extreme care about the source of where you get the CD & Registration key from. There are a lot of people taking advantage of the ignorant .. so make sure that the CD & key look legit before you start. If you're buying second hand, the label with the number on it will probably be stuck on the back of a PC somewhere. What you don't want are ownership or "fake" reg key problems, where Microsoft may ask you to pay again if you can't prove to them that you are now the sole owner/user of the key you are buying.

**mattlock** · 03-30-2008, 07:12 AM

Yes, that's about $140 USD, which is the going rate here in the states for Windows XP Pro OEM.

TMF · 04-02-2008, 04:35 PM

Thanks everyone, I now have a working PC for the workshop

. Got me wondering about the idea of building my next PC. I feel some reasearch coming on.

**Done_Fishin** · 04-03-2008, 09:03 AM

Good luck , Have fun .. after all that's what it's all about

03-29-2008, 05:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
TMF Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 OS: win XP	[SOLVED] Replacing a Hard Drive Hi, this is my first post. I should mention that I am in no way an expert on computers, but I am very interested in how they work. I have an old computer (Packard Bell 5106) that the hard drive died on some time ago. We got a new office PC straight away, but I was wondering about trying to fix the old one to use in the workshop. Its as much about the curosity and interest about trying to fix the machine than anything else. Because it does not hold any real value, It is perfect to practice on. I have found another Hard Drive for £3.99 which is excactly the same Seagate one that is in the machine. So what I am asking is 1) Is there an old thread where this topic has been discussed? 2) Is it an easy repair? 3) Will I need my own copy of XP to re load onto the machine? 4) What else do I need to know Thanks in advance

03-29-2008, 05:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
xLostSoulx Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 82 OS: Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP Pro SP3, Server 2003 Enterprise SP2 My System	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive 1) Try searching for this. 2) You want to rebuild your old hard drive? That may be a challenge, why not use the new one? 3) If you are rebuilding your old one, and it already had an operating system then no. If you are going to use the new one you bought then yes. It would be easier to use the new hard drive that you have just purchased as it would same you time, but if your curious on how everything works then you might be able to recover your old one (but that is complicated). Kind regards, and welcome to TSF!

03-29-2008, 08:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 8,260 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7(x64), Linux distros incl. Ubuntu 9.10 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Slax6.1 My System	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive providing that the motherboard is functional then replacing the drive and re-installing an Operating System would normally revive the PC. Perhaps if you were to be a little bit more specific in your "project" and the components available we would be able to give more useful advice __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Submit New Articles Here How to Use Ubuntu to Recover Windows files

03-30-2008, 03:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
TMF Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 OS: win XP	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive Thanks for the help so far people . I will get hold of Win XP operating system and have a go at putting the new drive in. I am sure I will need a bit more help later one. If I do I will try to get all the componant details for more accurate help.

03-30-2008, 04:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,272 OS: Xp	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive A guide: http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...hard-drive.htm

03-30-2008, 04:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 8,260 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7(x64), Linux distros incl. Ubuntu 9.10 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Slax6.1 My System	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive I found a support site for your system here http://support.packardbell.com/uk/it...1220791&g=1400 seems to support XP which is a good sign .. good luck edit. It's an old motherboard check the capacitors on the motherboard for signs of swelling .. (domed tops) or leakage. They'll need to be replaced. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Submit New Articles Here How to Use Ubuntu to Recover Windows files Last edited by Done_Fishin; 03-30-2008 at 04:16 AM.

03-30-2008, 06:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
TMF Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 OS: win XP	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive I have checked all the capacitors, and all seems fine. I have swapped the hard drives over. Is £70 a good price for a new copy of Windows XP Prof 2002 operating system?

03-30-2008, 07:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 8,260 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7(x64), Linux distros incl. Ubuntu 9.10 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Slax6.1 My System	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive Sorry I, personally, can't advise about prices .. I can advise you though to to take extreme care about the source of where you get the CD & Registration key from. There are a lot of people taking advantage of the ignorant .. so make sure that the CD & key look legit before you start. If you're buying second hand, the label with the number on it will probably be stuck on the back of a PC somewhere. What you don't want are ownership or "fake" reg key problems, where Microsoft may ask you to pay again if you can't prove to them that you are now the sole owner/user of the key you are buying. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Submit New Articles Here How to Use Ubuntu to Recover Windows files

03-30-2008, 07:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,180 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive Yes, that's about $140 USD, which is the going rate here in the states for Windows XP Pro OEM. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

04-02-2008, 04:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
TMF Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 OS: win XP	Re: Replacing a Hard Drive Thanks everyone, I now have a working PC for the workshop. Got me wondering about the idea of building my next PC. I feel some reasearch coming on.

04-03-2008, 09:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 8,260 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7(x64), Linux distros incl. Ubuntu 9.10 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Slax6.1 My System	Re: [SOLVED] Replacing a Hard Drive Good luck , Have fun .. after all that's what it's all about __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Submit New Articles Here How to Use Ubuntu to Recover Windows files