Replace IDE drive

D

divv

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2004
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South Africa.
Hey computer boffs please lend me your screens and your brains.

I have an old Acer laptop (Travelmate 4050 LCi). Despite its age it is still working and although it is not my main machine I use it to run downloads overnight - rather use an old machine than wear out my good machine for this!) Every morning I transfer any files off the old machine onto newer machines.
Now my problem is that in the last few days I have had a few files give me CRC errors so I couldn't copy them off the old machine. I suspect this means the drive is going?
Since IDE drives are hard to come by is there any way I can use some sort of converter to make the machine take a SATA instead?
Or do I just get an IDE - there are some places which have them advertised.

I know another option is to retire the machine but for this limited use I don't really want to spend over R2000 (which is what the cheapest new laptop costs).

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
You can still get IDE hard drives new, but they are expensive.
R 699 HD-WD-N160 W.D 160GB 2.5" IDE 5400RPM HARD DRIVE - NOTEBOOK
That's from Cafe Viva.

Look in classifieds or you could order one from eBay.
 
Fme, considering a low power Atom PC can be built for R1.5K new I'm not sure paying anything more than R500 for a hard-drive is worth it.
 
I agree that around R500 feel like the max I'd like to pay - a large drive on this setup would be a waste!
Gnome - would that be a desktop you have in mind? Downside there is more power consumption?
 
auriga1000 - that's maybe not a bad idea because it means zero waste - the external could be used anywhere even if the lappy dies from other causes! :-)
Question - would speed be an issue (i.e. would saving to an ext via USB potentially cause more hassles for the downloads) compared to an internal drive?
 
+1 to auriga's idea. If you're just using it to download the speed of USB2 is still a LOT faster than even the fastest internet connection available :D
 
Cool!!!!!
Thanks guys - a cost-effective, no waste solution - this is why I LOVE forums like these!!!
 
Just a follow up: the last 2 nights I have used an external I had handy and its working well, in fact to transfer off it takes about 1/4 the time so overall it must be a faster drive. The only downside is its a bit noisy but that could be because of the Matrix enclosure its in.
Thanks again!
 
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