New Hard Drive

[quandam]

My Seagate Barracuda 160 Gb HD has gone on the fritz Am going to have a go at replacing it (never done it before ) is there anything I should look out for when replacing? Do most HD's have the same or similar connections? Is it simple to install?

Amazon have a good deal on a Western Digital http://www.amazon.co.uk/Generic-Hard-Disk-Drive-500GB/dp/B000OUG69K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262956370&sr=8-10  Any comments welcome I am not looking for the best just something to tick over with.

Look forward to your replies, thanks

[Ray]

The main thing you need to watch, Q, is whether your Seagate drive is  an IDE or Sata one, and ensure the new one is the same, otherwise swapping an HD is fairly straighforward. 

[quandam]

Thanks Ray, how can I tell the difference?

[Tacitus]

I've just fitted a couple of Caviar drives in the Power Mac - a 500Gb (Caviar Blue) and a 640Gb.  One of them, not sure but I think it's the 640, has an annoying hum, but apart from that both seem fine.

Over the years I've found Western Digital pretty reliable, although I don't think they're always the fastest on the market.

[quandam]

Ray

Update, just found a small sticker saying IDE. Thanks again.

[quandam]

Tacitus

Is the Caviar Blue IDE?

[Steve]

Top one is IDE

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Glenn]

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=2&cat=4&subcat=379 are ebuyers selection of IDE drives, does your PC have sata conectors on it, as the drive will be cheaper?

Sata motherboard connector looks like this

[quandam]

Glenn

Nope, it does appear that it is IDE.

[Glenn]

Then something like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129413 will do depending on your budget

[quandam]

Any suggestions as to which IDE to go for. As I say, not wanting a Rolls Royce version just a simple mini or mondeo type. (apologies to any mini or mondeo owners) but you know what I mean

[quandam]

Then something like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129413 will do depending on your budget

Glenn

Thanks for the help is the one you mention definitely IDE version?

[Glenn]

Yes it is, or any from the post above http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=18076.msg435666#msg435666

[Tacitus]

Is the Caviar Blue IDE?

No, mine's SATA, but Dabs have the IDE/ATA version albeit at a price...

[quandam]

Thanks Tacitus

Have ordered one from Amazon for £59.03 with free delivery. So, it's  when I start fitting it 

[Glenn]

Fitting it the easy part, only 4 screws and 2 connectors. Do you need to istall an OS on it at all?

[Steve]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather) just set it the same as the existing one, to no jumper if it's the only drive on ribbon or if two to master or slave. (a CD/DVD drive may be attached as slave)

[Rik]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather)

[quandam]

Fitting it the easy part, only 4 screws and 2 connectors. Do you need to istall an OS on it at all?

Glenn

Yes I do need to install an OS.

[quandam]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather) just set it the same as the existing one, to no jumper if it's the only drive on ribbon or if two to master or slave. (a CD/DVD drive may be attached as slave)

Thanks Steve.

[Steve]

Glenn

Yes I do need to install an OS.

Can you image the old one before it dies although a new hdd  is a good reason to get rid of all the detritus.

[Simon]

I've always set my jumpers to cable select.  Is that not a good idea?  It always seems to work. 

[Rik]

If you've got the right cable, that's fine...

[Simon]

If it fits without a hammer... 

[Steve]

Look what I found

All newer IDE/EIDE hard drives can be jumpered as Cable Select (CS or CSEL). This is an alternate way to indicate which drive is master and which drive is slave (instead of jumpering one drive as master and one drive as slave). Cable Select jumpering requires a special IDE cable with wire 28 not connected to one of the drive connectors, which would configure the drive attached to that connector as the slave drive.