getting a new hard drive

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 02:25 PM

Hi all,

So I've got a 4 year old Compaq Presario notebook, and over the last year it has gotten progressively slower and slower when I'm running large programs, multiple programs, or largish media files. At one point, I was able to do these kinds of things free of problems, but of course it can't stay new forever.

I understand that all computers need regular maintenance, so I had a savvy friend of mine help me completely erase my hard drive and reinstall windows. This did not alleviate the problem; my computer is just as slow as it was. I still have roughly 65% of my hard drive space free, so that's not the culprit. I figure the only remaining reason for this sluggish pace is that hard drives simply get old, and eventually must be replaced.

So my question is: how can I get a new hard drive for my laptop?

Is it expensive enough so that I might as well just get a new computer? Could there be another problem that's causing my computer to run so poorly?

Thanks for helping
David

**vladimirb** · 03-03-2009, 02:41 PM

Hello and welcome to TSF...
To know why your system is slow even you did install a fresh operating system, we need to know system specifications of your laptop...
Maybe you have insufficient RAM or CPU is too weak...
About HDD: You should test your HDD for possible slow or bad sectors... Check what make/model is your HDD... Visit manufacturers Web Site, download diagnostic tools and test your HDD...
If your HDD is OK, you do not need to buy a new one...
Maybe you need to add some RAM so your laptop would run much faster...
For example, if you have only 256MB DDR RAM, you should at least add 512MB so Windows XP will run smoothly... Windows XP can run on 256MB too, but if you install lot of applications, your laptop need to have at least 512MB to run normally...

If you want to buy new HDD, you must check what type is your current one...
Is it IDE or SATA???

If you just need to buy one component, either it is RAM or HDD so your laptop will run nice, you do not have to buy a new PC...
Otherwise, since laptop is 4 years old, I do not think you should spend too much money on components, better buy new laptop...

Keep us posted...

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 03:51 PM

Thanks for bringing these things to my attention,

My CPU is a 3.00 GHz Pentium 4 Intel processor, so (unless I'm mistaken) this is still a sufficient processor.

RAM may be a large part of my problem. I have 384 MB of RAM. This was the maximum amount available to me at the time when purchased this computer, but times change, I know.

I attempted to download a diagnostic tool for my HDD. The only information as far as make/model I could find was the string IC25N060ATMR04-0. When I searched for this I found that it is an IBM Hitachi HDD, but I can't tell if it's dekstar, ultrastar or something else. I installed the only diagnostic tool Hitachi has to offer on their website ("OGT diagnostic tool") but when I ran the program it gave me a message "File not found : scsioat.dll". Maybe this is not the correct diagnostic tool?

What advice do you have from this point?

Thanks
David

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 03:55 PM

Well, the answer is simple, get more ram. 384MB is the equivalent of almost nothing.

What type of RAM does your computer take DDR1 or DDR2 and what's the speed of it.

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 04:24 PM

Ok, so I picked up this program SIW to check out all this information, maybe you can now help me decifer what it all means.

Maximum Capacity: 1024 MBytes
Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MBytes
Memory Slots: 2

Memory type: DDR (PC2700)
Speed: 166 MHz
Supported frequencies: 133 MHz, 166 MHz

Of course there's much more information that I can see about my system that I haven't taken the time to write here...

It seems that with a maximum capacity of 1024 MB, I could add 640 MB of RAM (I already have 384MB) to my computer, is that correct? Is that enough to make my computer at least satisfactory? What is the significance of the maximum memory module size?

Thanks
DAvid

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 04:36 PM

what's the model number for your notebook

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 04:41 PM

It's a compaq presario r3000.

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 04:46 PM

"The notebook contains 2 memory slots, one of which is
accessible for an optional 128-MB, 256-MB, 512-MB, or
1024-MB memory module upgrade."

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 04:53 PM

I'd recommend upgrading your computer to 2 GB (1 X 1024MB). Currently, I don't see any special sales.

You can get this for $25 AR, but there are times when I've seen it around $10:

http://shop3.frys.com/product/405465...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 04:54 PM

I see. I'm guessing that I might as well get the 1024 MB upgrade. From what I can tell, it's not that much more expensive than a 512 MB anyway. So to be clear, all I do is buy a compatible DDR PC2700 memory upgrade, open up my computer and snap it in place? Is there a catch it this? Or will my computer just suddenly be much faster?

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 04:54 PM

I couldn't find R3000 listed on here, but I did find R3000T:

http://www.corsair.com/compatible_list.html

**tosh9i** · 03-03-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidp6

I see. I'm guessing that I might as well get the 1024 MB upgrade. From what I can tell, it's not that much more expensive than a 512 MB anyway. So to be clear, all I do is buy a compatible DDR PC2700 memory upgrade, open up my computer and snap it in place? Is there a catch it this? Or will my computer just suddenly be much faster?

The catch is that it's going to cost you money. installing Ram into a notebook is a piece of cake. You'll notice a huge difference in speed. Who knows, you might end up beating yourself up for not upgrading sooner. LOL

**vladimirb** · 03-03-2009, 05:00 PM

You can use MHDD to test your HDD:

http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2005.10.02-MHDD/

You will find info how to use this tool in the link above...

davidp6 · 03-03-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks,

from what I can tell everything in the R3000 series is compatible. This site doesn't seem to differentiate.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat=

do you think there's any reason this one: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat=
is less expensive than the one above?

david

**tosh9i** · 03-04-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidp6

Thanks,

from what I can tell everything in the R3000 series is compatible. This site doesn't seem to differentiate.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat=

do you think there's any reason this one: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat=
is less expensive than the one above?

david

Those two links lead to the same page.

03-03-2009, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	getting a new hard drive Hi all, So I've got a 4 year old Compaq Presario notebook, and over the last year it has gotten progressively slower and slower when I'm running large programs, multiple programs, or largish media files. At one point, I was able to do these kinds of things free of problems, but of course it can't stay new forever. I understand that all computers need regular maintenance, so I had a savvy friend of mine help me completely erase my hard drive and reinstall windows. This did not alleviate the problem; my computer is just as slow as it was. I still have roughly 65% of my hard drive space free, so that's not the culprit. I figure the only remaining reason for this sluggish pace is that hard drives simply get old, and eventually must be replaced. So my question is: how can I get a new hard drive for my laptop? Is it expensive enough so that I might as well just get a new computer? Could there be another problem that's causing my computer to run so poorly? Thanks for helping David

03-03-2009, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: getting a new hard drive Hello and welcome to TSF... To know why your system is slow even you did install a fresh operating system, we need to know system specifications of your laptop... Maybe you have insufficient RAM or CPU is too weak... About HDD: You should test your HDD for possible slow or bad sectors... Check what make/model is your HDD... Visit manufacturers Web Site, download diagnostic tools and test your HDD... If your HDD is OK, you do not need to buy a new one... Maybe you need to add some RAM so your laptop would run much faster... For example, if you have only 256MB DDR RAM, you should at least add 512MB so Windows XP will run smoothly... Windows XP can run on 256MB too, but if you install lot of applications, your laptop need to have at least 512MB to run normally... If you want to buy new HDD, you must check what type is your current one... Is it IDE or SATA??? If you just need to buy one component, either it is RAM or HDD so your laptop will run nice, you do not have to buy a new PC... Otherwise, since laptop is 4 years old, I do not think you should spend too much money on components, better buy new laptop... Keep us posted... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager Last edited by vladimirb; 03-03-2009 at 02:43 PM.

03-03-2009, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: getting a new hard drive Thanks for bringing these things to my attention, My CPU is a 3.00 GHz Pentium 4 Intel processor, so (unless I'm mistaken) this is still a sufficient processor. RAM may be a large part of my problem. I have 384 MB of RAM. This was the maximum amount available to me at the time when purchased this computer, but times change, I know. I attempted to download a diagnostic tool for my HDD. The only information as far as make/model I could find was the string IC25N060ATMR04-0. When I searched for this I found that it is an IBM Hitachi HDD, but I can't tell if it's dekstar, ultrastar or something else. I installed the only diagnostic tool Hitachi has to offer on their website ("OGT diagnostic tool") but when I ran the program it gave me a message "File not found : scsioat.dll". Maybe this is not the correct diagnostic tool? What advice do you have from this point? Thanks David

03-03-2009, 03:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: getting a new hard drive Well, the answer is simple, get more ram. 384MB is the equivalent of almost nothing. What type of RAM does your computer take DDR1 or DDR2 and what's the speed of it. __________________ Tosh

03-03-2009, 04:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: getting a new hard drive Ok, so I picked up this program SIW to check out all this information, maybe you can now help me decifer what it all means. Maximum Capacity: 1024 MBytes Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MBytes Memory Slots: 2 Memory type: DDR (PC2700) Speed: 166 MHz Supported frequencies: 133 MHz, 166 MHz Of course there's much more information that I can see about my system that I haven't taken the time to write here... It seems that with a maximum capacity of 1024 MB, I could add 640 MB of RAM (I already have 384MB) to my computer, is that correct? Is that enough to make my computer at least satisfactory? What is the significance of the maximum memory module size? Thanks DAvid

03-03-2009, 04:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: getting a new hard drive what's the model number for your notebook __________________ Tosh

03-03-2009, 04:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: getting a new hard drive It's a compaq presario r3000.

03-03-2009, 04:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: getting a new hard drive "The notebook contains 2 memory slots, one of which is accessible for an optional 128-MB, 256-MB, 512-MB, or 1024-MB memory module upgrade." __________________ Tosh

03-03-2009, 04:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: getting a new hard drive I'd recommend upgrading your computer to 2 GB (1 X 1024MB). Currently, I don't see any special sales. You can get this for $25 AR, but there are times when I've seen it around $10: http://shop3.frys.com/product/405465...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG __________________ Tosh

03-03-2009, 04:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: getting a new hard drive I see. I'm guessing that I might as well get the 1024 MB upgrade. From what I can tell, it's not that much more expensive than a 512 MB anyway. So to be clear, all I do is buy a compatible DDR PC2700 memory upgrade, open up my computer and snap it in place? Is there a catch it this? Or will my computer just suddenly be much faster?

03-03-2009, 04:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: getting a new hard drive I couldn't find R3000 listed on here, but I did find R3000T: http://www.corsair.com/compatible_list.html __________________ Tosh

03-03-2009, 05:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: getting a new hard drive You can use MHDD to test your HDD: http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2005.10.02-MHDD/ You will find info how to use this tool in the link above... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

03-03-2009, 05:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
davidp6 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 OS: xp	Re: getting a new hard drive Thanks, from what I can tell everything in the R3000 series is compatible. This site doesn't seem to differentiate. http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat= do you think there's any reason this one: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...%20Compaq&cat= is less expensive than the one above? david