Dell Inspiron HDD

[Coyote]

Hi, I'm not sure I'm posting in the right forum (this is a hdd problem but for a laptop) so please move it if need be.

I have a Dell Inspiron 1100 that has failed the DST Short Test in the diagnostics and I'm told this means I need a new hdd.

My question is, do I need to buy from Dell or can I get a hdd somewhere else?

A friend told me that Dell puts part of the bios on the hdd so if I want full functionality I need to buy from Dell. Is this true?

Is there any other reason to buy from Dell? It seems a lot cheaper to buy from a supply house rather than Dell.

One other thing, I don't have a Dell restore disk but I do have an unopened XP setup disk. Do I need the Dell disk or will the new Windows XP disk work?

TIA

[EzyStvy]

A friend told me that Dell puts part of the bios on the hdd -> They quit doing this over Tens years ago...

Any 2½ drive should work...Keeping in mind it probably has a 4200 rpm drive..The faster drives will run faster BUT hotter and eat more battery life.

[pam123]

Yes you can use the XP disk, remember to select "Notebook Install" when asked, and since that notebook is 4 years old all the driver downloads are up on the Dell site : http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

[Coyote]

Thank you EzyStvy and pam123. I'll be trying this over the weekend.

I must admit, I've installed XP a couple of times but don't remember seeing an option for a notebook install. When do I get that choice?

[Hpro]

Hello
Also Dell Laptop User - You can use any HD for your Dell - as above someone posted have in mind that Dell USES 5400RPM's so get a equal one..

There is no option if you got the WINE-RED Dell Operating System CD and not the Recovery CD.

the only thing you loose is the Diagnotic Dell Partition - 39Mb but it doesn't matter as you can use the DELL DRIVER CD to run Diagnostics at startup.

USE your Dell ID NUMBER on the Bottom Side of the Laptop do download updatet Drives and other Software from Dell Website...

Regards
hpro

[Coyote]

I just wanted to thank EzyStvy, pam123 and Hpro for your help. It worked out great.

I added 512 MB of ram and upped the hdd to 120gb. Added a wireless network card and a USB wireless mouse.

It's now a very enjoyable machine.

Thanks again...:)

[pam123]

You're most welcome:)