Replacing Laptop HD

Shrimp

Hi,

I have got a Samsung NV5000 Laptop, just recently the Hard Disk has stopped working, on start up it doesn't recognise the HD and even in the bios it doesn't. It gives the message "Operating System Not Available".

I have most definitely come to the conclusion that the Hard disk has gone bust. What I need help with is, Finding and Installing a new HD. If anyone has had any experience changing the HD on a laptop, I would be very greatful if they could post there advise here.

Thank You!

Youssef.

robbie1876

Also, if you don't mind me piggybacking your question, Youssef, I'd like to know if it is possible to install a second hard drive in a laptop? (Compaq Pressario 2100) Or am I into external hard drives?

RicardoSmith

In the last two weeks I've removed about 30 drives from laptops. Most of them were easy, only abut 5 or so were tricky. They are generally accessible from the bottom of the laptop. Your manual for the laptop should have instructions. Generally they have odd little ways of fitting them, so you have to be careful not to force anything, and use the right screwdriver, you'll need a jewellers screwdriver. Usually they are mounted in a caddy, and you have to careful not to bend any pins as you pull the drive out. But really its not hard.

On most latops you can replace the CD/floppy drive module with either a second HD or a second battery. You'll need to get a bay that can take a HD though.

You can get new laptop drives in sizes from 40gb to 80gb and in speeds of 4,200 to 7,200rpm. The bigger and faster the drive the more expensive it will be. It depends what you are using the drive for, but you might like to put a bigger drive in the laptop and use the old one as an external one. Which is handy. Most external 2.5 USB drives can be powered from the USB cable so don't need a power cable. If all you need is lots of storage and its doesn't need to as portable as a 2.5 drive, then buying a external 3.5/5.25 USB case/enclosure and putting a desktop drive of 7,200 drive in it is a lot cheaper. You'll be able to get a 3.5 160gb fast drive and enclosure for the price of a 60gb 2.5 one.

I have a 60gb (4,200rpm) drive in my laptop and two external 3.5 (7,200rpm) drives. The internal drive only has work stuff apps, files and projects. One external I use for running my games, music, movies and archiving software, photos graphics etc. It also has a backup of everything from my internal drive. The second external drive has a second back up of the internal drive and a backup of the 1st external drive. I got fed up of archiving everyhting on CD's and DVD's so now I just use the drives. Its a lot easier. The 7,200 drives are noticeably faster than the 4,200 drive when loading games and working with large files.

If you need a hand replacing the laptop drive, I can do it for you. Will only take 5 mins. If you buying a new drive komplett seem to be have a decent prices. You can see them here. I bought a few replacement drives for people from there. I wouldn't bother getting anything smaller than a 40gb drive.

whosurpaddy

Y o u s s e f wrote:

Hi,

I have got a Samsung NV5000 Laptop, just recently the Hard Disk has stopped working, on start up it doesn't recognise the HD and even in the bios it doesn't. It gives the message "Operating System Not Available".

I have most definitely come to the conclusion that the Hard disk has gone bust. What I need help with is, Finding and Installing a new HD. If anyone has had any experience changing the HD on a laptop, I would be very greatful if they could post there advise here.

Thank You!

Youssef.

OS not found can just mean the hdd cable is not plugged in securely. could have come loose during transport if its a laptop. id check that out before you go buying another one.

RicardoSmith

whosurpaddy wrote:

OS not found can just mean the hdd cable is not plugged in securely. could have come loose during transport if its a laptop. id check that out before you go buying another one.

Thats a good point and you should check that. Though I've never seen a laptop that used a cable. All the ones I've seen have a caddy, or a direct fitting thats impossible to shake loose. That said, you never know.

Shrimp

Hi,

Thanks for all relpies, I managed to get the HDD out this morning. What I now need is to buy a 2.5" Laptop HDD. If anyone is selling one, I would be intersted.

Thanks!

Shrimp

Found.

Bought.

Installed The Hard Disk.

RicardoSmith

Good stuff!