Hey guys my desktop hard drive is fried and its a 5 year old HP that still works very well(minus the hard drive issue of course).

Can I just buy any hard drive and install it or do I have to go back and find one that's only compatible with that model? I saw something on the old one that said SATA whatever the hell that means

TIA

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Posted by mr. penguin

Member since Jun 2009

7467 posts

Posted on 5/6/14 at 8:34 am to dallastiger55

The hd must be compatible, but most are. You should be able to plug in you compute model # and find a replacement easily online.

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Posted by Displaced

Member since Dec 2011

32714 posts

Posted on 5/6/14 at 8:35 am to dallastiger55

quote:
I saw something on the old one that said SATA whatever the hell that means

it is the type of connection to the motherbaord.

quote:
Can I just buy any hard drive and install it or do I have to go back and find one that's only compatible with that model?

most any hard drive should work, but you will have to format the drive using your OS discs.

This post was edited on 5/6/14 at 8:36 am

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Posted by NYCAuburn

TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff

Member since Feb 2011

57002 posts

Posted on 5/6/14 at 8:36 am to dallastiger55

compatible is pretty much just the connectors.

if the old one was SATA, you are good to go

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Posted by Hopeful Doc

Member since Sep 2010

14965 posts

Posted on 5/6/14 at 8:40 am to dallastiger55

quote:
Can I just buy any hard drive and install it or do I have to go back and find one that's only compatible with that model?

SATA III, 2.5" for a laptop. Not 3.5". Odds are it isn't a 1.8". Those are pretty uncommon. Buy an SSD and your mind will be blown by how fast your "old" computer is.

Otherwise, I know that benchmarks don't show a difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm drives, but I find 5400rpm drives to be noticeably slower when used on the same system (a MacBook, actually).

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