Anyone with an HP notebook or notebook knowledge help!

[Matt2]

I'm trying to replace a busted hard drive in my HP N5000 notebook.

My question is, will a universal hard drive work or do I have to buy a hard drive from HP???

I opened up the notebook and the connecter faces upward from the motherboard and the hard drive sits flat on the motherboard with the pins of the hard drive facing straight down.

Thanks for any help

 

[imported_Kensai]

Any same sized hard drive should work.

 

[akugami]

HP's should use a standard 2.5" HD. However, they may use an adapter on the HD to fit their notebook design (which sounds like what's happening in your case). I have made the mistake of installing notebook HD's in the past without replacing the pin adapter. Can we get a snapshot of the HD and the pin area you're talking about with the downward facing pins?

 

[mehmetmunur]

HP n5125 Manual

Turn to page 121 and 130 about information in how to change the hard-drive. It looks pretty standard to me.

Actually.. You can also look at the drive specifications and code numbers on the hard-drive and doo a search on google to see if it is anything strange, though I doubt it.

Do not buy a harddrive from HP, online retailers such as Newegg are usually cheaper.

Do not hesitate to buy a 5400, or 7200 rpm hard-drive if yours is a 4200rpm hard-drive.
Increased power consumption is not an issue, and increased heat from the hard-drive is negligible, while the performance gains from the 7200rpm Hitachis are incredible.

This HP pdf does say something about updating your BIOS, so you may want to look into that. Good luck.

 

[Matt2]

Here are the pics of the hard drive. As you can see, it definately uses an adapter. Can I buy these adapters online?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/tpiazza02/P5250232.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/tpiazza02/P5250233.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/tpiazza02/P5250235.jpg

 

[mehmetmunur]

That adapter will fit the next hard-drive you are going to buy. The pin-outs of the hard-drive you are using are the same as the ones I have seen on other laptop hard-drives. Have no worries.

If you do not believe me, I could dismantle my laptop and take pictures if you really really wanted.

(And the look of your fingernails and your female friend's are a great contrast. Bite them enough?)

 

[Matt2]

Unfortunately, I think there are some pins missing on the adapter so I think I'm gonna wanna buy a new one just in case. Where can I get one from?

 

[corkyg]

I just got a new HP dv1000, and wanted a second hard drive adapter. To get the adapter, I had to by the whole enchilada from H-P. They do not sell the adapters separately.

The dv1000 is still to new to find much on E-Bay - but I had a lot of luck finding the HDD caddy/adapter for my old laptop on EBay. I two spares loaded and ready to go.

If your current HDD is kaput, simply remove it from the H-P adapter/caddy and replace it with any 2.5" HDD of the same thickness. It's almost a no-brainer.

Here it is illustrated in 6 steps.

1
2
3
4
5
6

After you remove the connector adapter, there are 4 side screws to remove the drive from the H-P caddy. That's all there is to it - reverse the process.

 

[Matt2]

I know how to switch out the hard drive, but my point is, I think the adapter is broken, there are two pins that are broken off. Can I find the adapter on EBAY?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Matt2
I know how to switch out the hard drive, but my point is, I think the adapter is broken, there are two pins that are broken off. Can I find the adapter on EBAY?

That's not possible in the 90 degree change adapter I have. It has no pins that can be broken. It has a set of holes that slip onto the hard drive leaving the left two pins of the drive exposed.

I will post another photo close up of just the adapter.

7

What you see are tiny pairs of wires that are actually sockets that embrace the pins that face up in the bottom of the drive bay. (Picture 3) The adapter sockets receive the pins in the laptop HDD bay just by sitting on them, and then held down by 2 screws as shown in picture 2.

Picture 4 shows it in place pushed down over the HDD pins.

I don't think you'll find this on E-Bay. H-P will not sell it as a part, but if you are under warranty, and it is broken, they will replace the entire drive assembly.

 

[kitkat22]

Did they break you pulled the hard drive? If you pulled the hard drive and they were as they are now and no one touched them before you shouldn't have an issue. I don't know of the adaptors on eBay. Sorry!

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi Matt, If the adaptor worked with the old drive chances are excelent that it will work with the new drive. Unused pins are often left out. One near the middle acts as a key to keep you from plugging the connectors in wrong. Luck, Jim