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Marie Napoleone Posted on May 20, 2012
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I just bought a Dell DHS computer without a harddrive at a yard sale, how do I install a hard drive for it

I bought a new one at Staples and I need instructions on how to install it

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  • Master 5,051 Answers
  • Posted on May 21, 2012
General Systems Consulting
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First you have to make sure you bought the right kind of hard drive (IDE or SATA) to make the installation and connection easier. IDE drives have a set of prongs or pins that stick out. SATA is the later type and does not have prongs or pins sticking out. You just turn the laptop over and remove the cover where the hard drive will be housed. Usually it will have an icon of 3 circular discs on it. Most laptops will also require a Caddy that the drive sits in before it goes into the laptop. And some might require a interface.

I suggest you look on ebay and see if your computer's make and model requires a hard drive caddy or interface.

http://www.ebay.com

In the search box just type your computer's make and model followed by hard drive caddy. Example: Dell Latitude D610 Hard Drive Caddy

In the search box type this is see if it requires an interface: Example: Dell Latitude D610 Hard Drive Interface

5 Related Answers

Suraido

Gilbert Labont?

  • 195 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 08, 2009

SOURCE: Windows xp pro will not boot with new hard drive

Its hard to tell just like this without having the computer in hand to check and test the jumpers and connection and all, but quick like this i think it might be a trojan virus that corrupted the boot sectors of the old hard drive, and when you copied the stuff from the old to the new, the virus followed and infected the boot sectors of the new one too. Try to reformat completely using the original windows install disk, and not the system restore/reinstall disk and reinstall windows after the format with the original windows disk again. If I was right, it should boot up OK with a fresh format and reinstall with the real windows CD, then install a virus scan and a spyware scan and scan and clean the old drive completely 2 or 3 times to be sure theres nothing bad left on it, then try to copy the whole disc, but skip the Windows repertory, the Program Files one too and the Documents and settings one also, cause those 3 are the ones most prone to corrupting a fresh install even if there is not any viruses in them. If it does not boot up OK after formating and reinstalling Windows though and says it's unbootable, then either there is a config error in the BIOS of the laptop, or the IDE controller that drives the disk is defective. If it's the BIOS settings, it's gonna be easy enough just changing the settings and won't cost you too much, and if its the IDE controller... then that's another story cause it's integrated in the motherboard like any other computer, so basically another computer will cost less than a new motherboard for a laptop. So if that is the case and the IDE controller is shot, you can still try to use an external USB drive to run the computer but not all computers support booting from the USB though, so before buying a brand new external drive, check the BIOS first to see if it does support USB booting.

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Anonymous

  • 10 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 12, 2009

SOURCE: TRYING TO INSTALL WINDOWS XP ON ACER ASPIER 3680

Ok, this will be a little tricky. First, you need to download device drivers for Windows XP for your Acer laptop. Do this on another machine, and burn them to a CD because you will need them later. You can do this on a friend's PC, and it will not harm their PC at all. Now for the hard part.

  1. You will have to download the "32-bit Floppy Configuration Utility" from Intel's website.
  2. Run that program, and create a floppy disk. You will obviously need to do this on a PC that has a floppy drive.
  3. You will also need a USB floppy drive for the Acer laptop. You can find one here. Be sure to connect USB floppy drive to the Acer laptop, put the floppy disk you created in the USB floppy drive, and then turn on the laptop.
  4. Now, boot from the Windows XP CD just like you have previously.
  5. Once you do this, it will show a blue screen and writing at the bottom of the screen will say "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver...." Make sure you press F6 here, and tap it a few times just for good measure. It will initially look like your pressing F6 did nothing, but do not worry about that.
  6. You will soon see a screen asking if you want to "To specify additional SCSI adapters, CD-ROM drives..." Press the "S" key at this point. Windows will search the floppy disk for the drivers. It may give you several choices.
  7. Choose the AHCI ICH7-M option and press enter, (you navigate with the arrow keys on your keyboard), and press enter.
  8. The setup should proceed normally and you'll enter your Windows XP product key (you did purchase one, right? Your Windows Vista product key on the bottom of your laptop WILL NOT WORK).
  9. At the very end of the installation, you'll get to the desktop. This is when you need to insert the CD you created earlier and begin installing the drivers. Once that is complete, you should be all set.

I have done this several times, but it is not the easiest thing when you have never done it. Good luck!

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Aug 22, 2009

SOURCE: computer not reading the hard drive

i have formatted the hard drive and put in all three recovery discs and it still won't load windows xp home edition.. i thought that was what the recovery discs were for.. maybe the hard drive is bad i don't know but if someone is having the same problem i could sure use some help here..

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Nov 04, 2009

SOURCE: Problem with Network driver (Dell Inspiron 1525)

I might be a bit late on this but I had the exact same problem just a couple of days ago. What I did was download the drivers needed fromhere (download the two drivers in the Network section). I downloaded these from a different computer then you have to copy and save them to a flash drive and transfer them to your computer and install from there. Your wireless should work after doing this.

Anonymous

  • 89 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 26, 2009

SOURCE: My dell 610 laptop has started running slow

No
you have a few options.
1. download and install CCleaner and Defraggler run these cleaning tools to get rid of unwanted data.
2. upgrading your RAM will help.
3. Reinstall windows remembering to backup all your data first.

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Can I format the harddrive on my dell inspiron 1464 and reinstallation win 7 with the DVD... If Yes how can format the harddrive from at the command prompt. please help thanks.

Hi
To set you computer back to factory fresh settings you will need to format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system and the drivers.
You will need your NEW Operating System disc or you will need to have the CD's that either you made when you got your computer or if your lucky you got the CD's that the factory furnished with the computer at the time you bought it.
If you do not have those CDs/DVDs then go the website of the computer manufacturer and search the website for "Recovery Discs", if they are not available
there you might locate them on Ebay.
1.Format the hard drive:
You do this by double left clicking on "My Computer",then double left click the main drive (normally C drive).
When the window pops open, you will choose "Format"
Keep in mind that once you format your hard drive you will loose all your files,programs,pictures,etc that you installed since the computer was new.
So make your back up on a portable hard drive,thumb drive,etc.
2. Once the formatting of the hard drive is complete you will need to reinstall the operating system along with the drivers.
Install the first disc and start the program.
That will bring your computer back to factory new condition as far as operating is concerned.
Please take time to rate me
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you might have to Debug and then format the hard drive heres the link for debuging the harddrive and then try to format..hope this helps.

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19020652.aspx?c=uk&l=en&cs=ukdhs1&s=dhs

Regards,
Khushroo
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It sounds like you bought the computer without an operating system, if you just bought it you need to install an OS (Windows or linux).

You might be able to get recovery discs from Dell if this sytem is entitled to a windows install. Does it have a Windows OEM sticker on the bottom?

In short, You need to install an Operating System.

You can submit a form to request replacement CDs at https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

You may need to do a ownership transfer with Dell before they will send this there is a form for this as well or you could call customer care http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/change_order/tag_transfer?~ck=ln&c=us&cs=19&l=en&lnki=0&s=dhs

Note forms are all for US customers
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