Help needed with a hard drive compatibility

[kxm9976]

Hello,
I have a Gateway MX6920 laptop with has WD1200BEVS 120GIG 1.5Gb/s 5400 RPM hard drive.
It broke and I need to get a new hard drive.
I want to get the WD3200BEVT 320 GIG 3GB/s 5400 RPM hard drive.
Will I have any compatibility issues (I don't care if I don't get 3Gb/s transfer rate?

WD helpdesk told me that I should not have an issue but I need to contact Gateway to make sure.
A Gateway chat rep (perheps a computer) told me that the system will not allow anything over 120GIG (that is really questionable I think).

To be honest, I trust this forum much much more and that's why I am hearing asking for your help.

Thank you

 

[SKORPI0]

You can upgrade to a 2.5" 500GB SATA drive (highest 2.5" SATA available far IIRC) with no problem.

You'll need to be using at least Windows XP SP1 to recognize hdds >137GB (48-bit LBA support).

http://www.google.com/products?q=Gateway+MX6920+hard+drive+upgrades&hl=en&aq=f

 

[kxm9976]

You can upgrade to a 2.5" 500GB SATA drive (highest 2.5" SATA available far IIRC) with no problem.

You'll need to be using at least Windows XP SP1 to recognize hdds >137GB (48-bit LBA support).

http://www.google.com/products?q=Gateway+MX6920+hard+drive+upgrades&hl=en&aq=f

I will install XP Professional SP2 and then upgrade to SP3, so that ought to take care of the >137GB issue.
However, will the motherboard recognize the 3Gb/s Sata drive, if the laptop(about 3yrs old) came with 1.5Gb/s drive?

thanks

 

[bruceb]

You should be ok with the larger hard drive. Just be sure you have the latest BIOS and the latest Hard Drive Controller software installed from the Gateway site

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Q106/BladeC/1009030nv.shtml

 

[bobross419]

Wow... talk about reading comprehension...

He was referring to Sata1:Sata2 compatibility...

Most HDDs have jumpers to allow backwards compatibility. Might want to check documentation. I've ran sata 2 HDDs on sata 1 ports without needing jumpers, but some folks have to use the jumpers.

 

[bruceb]

WD helpdesk told me that I should not have an issue but I need to contact Gateway to make sure. A Gateway chat rep (perheps a computer) told me that the system will not allow anything over 120GIG (that is really questionable I think).

Yes, he did ask about Sata speeds ... but he was also concerbed that his Gateway would not be able to see the larger size hard drive. And unless I am in error, a Sata 2 drive should work ok on earlier Sata 1 specs, just at the lower speed.

 

[piasabird]

Why ask us if you dont want to listen to the gateway rep? You can try whatever you want. Maybe it will work and maybe you will waste your money. This might be just an OS limitation. You might be better off getting a new laptop after you spend the money for a new operating system and a new hard drive. Remember next week your motherboard might need to be replaced. You could be just digging a big money pit. You might want to think about this and buy a laptop on sale for Christmas.

 

[RebateMonger]

There were very few motherboards that had problems with SATA2 disks. Those had non-Intel chipsets. Microsoft has a KB on this.

The "won't recognize disks larger than 137 GB" is a completely separate issue and is usually fixed by making sure the PC's BIOS is the latest offered and by installing Windows XP using an Install CD that's been slipstreamed to Service Pack 1 or higher.

 

[kxm9976]

Why ask us if you dont want to listen to the gateway rep? You can try whatever you want. Maybe it will work and maybe you will waste your money. This might be just an OS limitation. You might be better off getting a new laptop after you spend the money for a new operating system and a new hard drive. Remember next week your motherboard might need to be replaced. You could be just digging a big money pit. You might want to think about this and buy a laptop on sale for Christmas.

It is the human nature to question. I don't take one person's answer and live with it. I spent over $1000 on the laptop and I think I should try to see if I can fix her for $60.