packard bell hdd upgrade

Hi i was wondering if anybody could help i have a
PACKARD BELL ICONNECT 1700RW

And my hdd(quantum fireballlct15 10 10gig) is on its way out as i have been having major issues with it well heres my question i wanna upgrade the hdd to this model:-

WD Caviar WD800JB Special Edition - hard drive - 80 GB - ATA-100

Will this be ok for my pc and will my bios be able to pick it up and it wont out burn my system will it as i need some directions here as i only have 40quid to spend on a new hdd so if someone culd just put me in the rite direction if this hdd would be ok i would be more than greatfull

Thanks very much for all your time and help AD rules

Roachie

 

That old PC should pick up the 80GB just fine....but if it doesn't, you don't have that many options. There isn't much left over from PB's support site for that machine.

However...a new 80GB drive will have an ATA100/133 interface. That old 10G'r is most likely only ATA66...or worse, ATA33. So you'll not gain any performance updating the drive. Make sure you use an 80pin IDE cable, and not an old 40 pin (which you normally see connect to older CD drives).

If it doesn't recognize more than a certain amount, or not at all....you could use the new drive's CD that it comes with, to partition the drive into two 40's, or four 20's.

 

Hi thanks alot for your help i know this system is old but its been a good runner it in its 9th year of running with only lil changes like ram and new dvd drives installed and a new nic card.80gig will be fine?and will i be able to just install it with the cables inside the machine what the old hdd is connected up to?.This will be my first ever hdd change over.thanks ever so much for your help already just need tht lil more advice before spending out on it.

as im quiet new to the internal side of pcs i know some knowlesge of a pc but not a great deal the internal side of things anyway

Thanks again Roachie

 

Unfortunately, most retail hard drives from the stores don't come with new 80 pin ribbon cables. Motherboards on the other hand do. You can get an 80 pin ribbon cable from just about any computer shop. You'll be able to tell the difference right away. The wiring on an 80 pin is thinner and more compact.

As shown here:

http://www.lostcircuits.com/advice/atafaq/2.shtml

 

Thanks again for your help and sorry if im being a pain but heres what i really wanna know My system is old as you know lol can i put a ATA100 on a ATA66 cable as i recently took my system apart and had a look.Thata what is installed in my system at the moment and to be honest i dont really care bout the performance as i dont wanna spend out too much as i am recently saving up for a new system so will a ATA100 go on to a ATA66 cable and if not How do i swap from ATA66 to ATA100 as my mother board is the orginal mother board what came with the system and i have no problems what so ever so if you could be of any help once again sorry for being a pain and thank you ever so much for helping me Roachie

 

To help avoid any confustion:

40 pin IDE cable = ATA33 specifications.

80 pin IDE cable = ATA66/100/133/150 specifications.

 

Thanks very much to all tht have helped me out here i am very greatfull for all the help recived i use afterdawn alot nd always find the people here very friendly nd very helpfull thank you ever so much Roachie