How big a Hard drive

FuzzDuckie · Joined: Dec 13, 2002 Posts: 1003

I'm considering swapping out my 40 GB drive in the desktop for a new Hard drive so that I can either donate the computer or keep it as a "sandbox" computer.

Does it matter what size hard drive I can put in? In other words can I put in a HD that is larger than 40 GB?

This is a Dell Pentium 4 1.6 Ghz 512 RAM with XP Home on it.

thanks

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2378

Probably. It depends on the BIOS. Don't go too large if you don't want a possible headache.
Read this and get thoroughly confused
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/hard_drive_size_barriers.htm

XP itself didn't accept drives larger than 137GB but after adding service packs, this changed.

goretsky

Hello,

I would imagine you can find out the largest capacity hard disk drive the motherboad's BIOS will recognize by entering the service tag number into Dell's support web site. Given the age of the computer (around 2002 I suspect?) it may only recognize hard disk drives of up to 137GB in size, however, it may be possible to increase this by updating the BIOS for the motherboard. This information should be available on Dell's support web site. Be sure to read any instructions thoroughly and check with Dell's support staff as improper BIOS updating can lead to a non-working system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 995 Location: Central FL, USA

WHY?

Just clean off any personal info and that's all you need to do.
I do that all the time on computers that customers give me.
There's even a little script that allows you to change the computer name and the name of the owner. NO Biggie! Wink

If you put in a new drive, then you have to reinstall the OS and all that.

Do you have a factory RE-Install CD?

If you have a way to reinstall the OS and the old drive is failing, it's still possible to buy brand new 40 gig drives.

The last time I was in "Smart Guys Computers" in Orlando, a man was buying a new 40 gig drive. So I know they are still out there! Wink

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor Cool

goretsky

Hello,

The smallest capacity hard disk drive I saw the last time I was at my local computer store was an 120GB hard disk drive. They may have had smaller drives somewhere in a dusty corner, but many computer stores do not have.

It could be that the FuzzDuckie wants to install a larger hard disk drive so that more applications or data can be loaded onto the computer, and also accessed more quickly (it is likely any new hard disk drive will be much faster then the currently installed 40GB hard disk drive).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 995 Location: Central FL, USA

I seriously doubt that he wants to install more programs, since he's thinking of just giving the computer away! Ya think?

Forty gigs is a plenty for Windows 2k or XP.

If you're giving a PC away, you just want it to run, clean and efficiently, with NONE of your personal stuff on it.

And, that's easily do'able, with ZERO expense.

Doc

FuzzDuckie · Joined: Dec 13, 2002 Posts: 1003

There's pros and cons.

I have WAY too much stuff on here to easily just clear it all off in a weekend. I was kind of hoping to KEEP my 40G drive to use as a slave in whatever desktop I get.

I had wondered about the size precisely for the reason Goretsky mentioned... I haven't seen a 40 GB drive in a store in ages. Perhaps I could find one on Newegg or tiger direct but they're getting harder and harder to find.

I had also wanted to go a bit bigger because the friend in mind does do a lot of graphics stuff. The computer may wind up as an extra for his kids though so I'm not too worried.

worse comes to worse I'll clear it off...but even when you clean off and do a format... the data is still lurking in there somewhere. Hey where was that script about oh.. 5 years ago?! Wink

I needed something like that when a deaf friend complained that her laptop still had friend's name on it as owner (long story)

By the way.. yes I have the OS CD for this computer... I think I either asked for it or in 2002 they still came WITH the computer.

goretsky

Hello,

A large, fast hard disk drive will definitely help improve the speed of graphics activities, although a new video card might be a reasonable investment, too. It really depends on how much you (or your friend) would like to spend on getting the system ready for its new owner.

If you would like to recycle the existing 40GB hard disk drive, you can use a program such as Darik's Boot and Nuke to erase it.

Under Microsoft Windows 2000 and later (Windows XP, Windows Vista and probably server operating systems), you can change the owner and organization listed for the operating system under the "[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]" registry key. The values to edit are the "RegisteredOwner" and "RegisteredOrganization" string values, respectively.

After bringing the "new" computer up, you may wish to get all the latest service packs, updates, hotfixes and device drivers installed for it, as well as install any needed software (updates to manufacturer's software, free software and so forth) on the computer before handing it over to its new owner.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

FuzzDuckie · Joined: Dec 13, 2002 Posts: 1003

Thanks Aryeh..

As it turns out.. a group of people from one of my forums that he is a member of got together and donated money to get a computer for him (refurbished). Far better...and has excellent graphics cards (not onboard...good for th 3d games and art he loves to do).

I'm still planning on trading him my computer for some stuff I had him make for me...he can use it for his kids or as a backup.

will have to figure out a plan of attack...the amount of stuff on there currently is daunting...