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Replacing DV6000 Hard Drive

post #1 of 10
8/1/08 at 12:35am
Thread Starter 
Greetings,

I used these forums extensively when I was looking for a laptop and found the reviews and discussions to be most helpful. I am hoping that someone out there can be just as helpful now that I have encountered some problems. Forgive me if I ramble – I don't use forums that often.

According to HP tech support, my DV6000's hard drive is dying and needs to be replaced. They base this on the fact that I was not able to complete chkdsk scans and the results from their “Advanced Diagnostic” tests on HP's website. And that is not even mentioning the scratching sound I hear from time to time.

HP's suggestion was that I buy a new hard drive (Part Number: 431407-001 Part Description: 120GB SATA 1.5Gb/s hard drive - 5,400 RPM, 2.5inch form factor, 9.5mm thick - With mounting bracket) and use my rescue discs to install Windows XP (I have all my files backed up on an external drive, so there are no worries about losing anything).

HP wants well over $300 for that drive, but I have found it online – without the brackets – for around $100. I've never done this before, so I don't know what I am talking about, but couldn't I just buy the cheaper (bracketless) drive and use the brackets from the defective hard drive?

If this sounds absurd, does anyone have a better suggestion to save me from the full expense? I've been several rounds with HP tech support and think I would get a more robust answer from the people in this forum.

Thanks in advance.

LR
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post #2 of 10
8/1/08 at 2:46am
I don't know what the heck mounting brackets are. For me, I simply unscrew the hdd cover on the bottom of my laptop, pull REALLY hard on the tab straight out, and the hdd comes out. To put it back in I just push it back in (pivoting on the non-connector end).

You know what, just uscrew the hdd cover on your laptop (it is labeled in the plastic with 3 circles on top of each other), and you should only see the silvery hdd and nothing else (except for the connector and the tab). Obviously do this with the computer off and on a solid surface.

Hold on, let me edit my post once i get the manual for your computer which should tell you how to replace the hdd.

I think there is some silver "rails" that run beneath the hdd but I don't remember for sure and you shouldn't need to replace those anyways.

Here's your manual: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...Fc01035677.pdf
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post #3 of 10
8/1/08 at 2:08pm
Yes, you certainly can replace your own hard drive a heck of a lot cheaper than $300 for a 120gb drive!

As long as you have already made a set of recovery disks, this should pose no problesm at all. The only "advantage" to paying HP, is that I assume they would re-install your OEM software on the new drive for you...that is about it.
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post #4 of 10
8/1/08 at 4:12pm
Thread Starter 
Great. Thanks a lot guys -- that makes the decision much easier (Especially seeing the manual again. I have no idea what I did with that ).

LR
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post #5 of 10
8/1/08 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lode runner View Post
Great. Thanks a lot guys -- that makes the decision much easier (Especially seeing the manual again. I have no idea what I did with that ).

LR
Unless it is pretty old, you probably never did have a manual in the first place...not counting the flimsy little "How to set up and get started" pamphlet that they ship with. Fortunately it is so simple to get in depth manuals on line now days...
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post #6 of 10
8/1/08 at 6:23pm
^ Assuming the manufacturer isn't a bunch of lazy jerks that insist all repairs should be done by a "authorized professional" aka a 16 year old with less computer experience than a chimp. But I digress....*cough* geek squad *cough*.

Logically the smart people who should answer the phone or repair the computer have higher paying jobs *because* they are smarter and naturally don't pick up the phone or repair computers for a living.
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post #7 of 10
8/4/08 at 8:40pm
BTW lode runner, another consideration? That drive may, or really may not be quite at "death's door"...you might want to pick up a 2.5" drive enclosue, and turn it into an external drive...if it does die eventually, you can still utilize it with another drive...and, if the current drive does hold up, then switching hard drives and installing all of your current files/settings/programs becomes even easier!
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post #8 of 10
8/5/08 at 11:27am
There is a caddy that the hard drive mounts in to. There are two screws on each side of the hard drive holding in the caddy. There is also a connector on the end on the hard drive so it can make a connection with the motherboard.

So I do not know what you other guys are talking about.


***Make sure you created your restoration dvd's before your hard drive dies***

You do not want to have to purchase those from HP when you could of made them yourself for the cost of 2-3 dvd discs.

To create them, click Start, Programs, then select HP Recovery folder. The option to create discs is there.

I would not buy the hard drive from HP. You can go bigger then what came with the system for less then $300 that HP is trying to charge you.
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post #9 of 10
8/7/08 at 5:49pm
$100? Still too expensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145222

something like that even.

or if you wanted 7200rpm, something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136278


edit: as for the usb 2.5" sata enclosure, something like http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-SATA-2-5...QQcmdZViewItem
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post #10 of 10
9/17/08 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lode runner View Post
Greetings,

I used these forums extensively when I was looking for a laptop and found the reviews and discussions to be most helpful. I am hoping that someone out there can be just as helpful now that I have encountered some problems. Forgive me if I ramble – I don't use forums that often.

According to HP tech support, my DV6000's hard drive is dying and needs to be replaced. They base this on the fact that I was not able to complete chkdsk scans and the results from their “Advanced Diagnostic” tests on HP's website. And that is not even mentioning the scratching sound I hear from time to time.

HP's suggestion was that I buy a new hard drive (Part Number: 431407-001 Part Description: 120GB SATA 1.5Gb/s hard drive - 5,400 RPM, 2.5inch form factor, 9.5mm thick - With mounting bracket) and use my rescue discs to install Windows XP (I have all my files backed up on an external drive, so there are no worries about losing anything).

HP wants well over $300 for that drive, but I have found it online – without the brackets – for around $100. I've never done this before, so I don't know what I am talking about, but couldn't I just buy the cheaper (bracketless) drive and use the brackets from the defective hard drive?

If this sounds absurd, does anyone have a better suggestion to save me from the full expense? I've been several rounds with HP tech support and think I would get a more robust answer from the people in this forum.

Thanks in advance.

LR
if i were you, i would use drive cloning software and an external enclosure and make a clone of the original drive. There are manufacturers/suppliers that bundle a USB2.0 Enclosure+Cloning software kit (around $30+). Once you are done cloning your original, you can swap the new drive for the original and boot.

This is what the drive caddy for your laptop looks like...
http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?...roducts_id=184

..
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