Are laptop hard drives exchangeable?

[Grandpa]

I did a quick search couldn't find the answer.  My daughter has a Dell laptop.  She thinks the hard drive is bad.  So the question is, Do I need to only buy one for a Dell?  Thanks for any replies.   

[The Chief]

You should be able to get one most anywhere. 

Just make sure it is the right physical size (laptops usually have 2 1/2 inch drives) for physical compatibility.  And that it has the correct interface (IDE, SATA) for electrical compatibility.   Then you should be fine.

Checking specs on the model number at the Dell site should allow you find out what the drive actually is.

You can also replace it with a drive that has more storage capacity.  For example, a 320gb rather than a 160 gb.  As long as it will fit, the computer won't care.

[Grandpa]

Thanks "The Chief"

[µT6]

yes, buy the same connector, if it is old ide, buy ide but if it is sata you will need that

if it is a old sata and you buy a sata II, it will work, i have done that

sometimes if the hard disk is 200gbs(for example) you shouldn't buy a much larger one than 500gbs, in laptops is not uncommon to see that there only will be support for certain sizes

about brands, samsung is what is easier to find and usually the cheapest but if you can find a toshiba, it really is a good investment

does that dell laptop has a direct access bay to remove the hard disk?

if it has, all you have to do is unplug laptop, remove battery and remove the 2 or 4 screws in place

many models has a tray that has to be pulled gently in a specific direction, some others have a small screw holding in place that tray so remove it first

once you have removed the tary, remove the screws in the tray and remove the hard disk, put the new one and put everything back in place and then boot the machine, enter in the bios and see if the hard disk is detected correctly

the old one, you can put it on a external case, some really nice samsung models, you put the old hard disk, connect the case as a usb hard drive and recover the files if you couldn't do it before removing it with a recovery tool

if you format the old hard disk and doesn't make weird noises or doesn't show errors when formating, you have a new external storage device 

[Just17]

I did a quick search couldn't find the answer.  My daughter has a Dell laptop.  She thinks the hard drive is bad.  So the question is, Do I need to only buy one for a Dell?  Thanks for any replies.   

Has she tested the HDD?

Why does she think it is faulty?

Is it possible the fault is not the HDD?  It might be ....  but it would be of benefit to be sure, would it not?

[µT6]

i was going to make all those questions you made Just17 but if i have learned something is that most people when doesn't trust on something in their pc, it is simpler to change the part, doesn't matter if it is good or bad

this could represent more time fixing the problem and money wasted on a part that was working good but sometimes things end being done this way

[Grandpa]

This is the second time in about 6 months it has crashed.  When she got it a few years ago she had the video and sound upgraded by Dell with an Intel CPU.  I have not been able to get Linux on it.  I think because of the upgrades.  Plus there is one place she just has to go.  It only does Windows.  It was a bear to get Vista installed the other time.  Having the same trouble now.  But I am beginning to think there are other problems.  I can't even get "d-ban" to run on it.  Goes as far as "PCI (sysfs) and stops.  That is why I asked about hard drives.  Thanks for all the replies.  I know we don't do Windows problems here.  Thanks again!!

[µT6]

well, we do but not every windows problem     

[ThirdOfSix]

I don't know how old the laptop is. Just in case it is an older one, you should know that there used to be three different thicknesses of 2 1/2 in hard drives.

You could put a thin one in place of a thick one using spacers but you could not go the other way.

One other thing, many laptops use a proprietary adapter connector between the  hard drive and the computer. be sure to check for it and don't lose it.

Frequently, when you remove the drive, the adapter will come out with the drive making it look like a non-standard interface which would require you to buy an overpriced replacement from an authorized service center. I am always suspicious of the motives of the companies that did this. The point being that if the connector looks odd, check for the adapter.

If you have a desk top computer with the same electrical interface available and a cable to match, you should temporarily connect her drive to your computer and run some diagnostics on it. Also take that time to clone it while it still works.

[sammy2fish]

If you got the coin... an SSD drive will rock that laptop.  Providing it is not a ide-hook-up.

[wedgetail]

Grandpa
What about giving the model number of that Dell as well?  From memory they make a a fair few different ones  

With the model number a bit of googling can sometimes reveal interesting problems for a particular model.

[Grandpa]

I am sorry!  I should have gotten back to this.  I purchased a new drive and installed it. My daughter now has it back.  Thanks for all the help.