Is my hard drive ATA or S-ATA ?

[xpgeek]

Making this post for Cindi. She needs to know whether her computer's hard drive is an ATA or a Serial ATA hard drive before buying a new one.

A way to tell is by running a program that will identify all of the computer's hardware.

I recommend a small program named WinAudit these days. Its not as good as the more popular program Everest Home Edition, but Everest is no longer a free program.

WinAudit can be found here :
http://www.pxserver.com/WinAudit.htm

Its very simple to use, you open the program and let it scan your computer, and it will produce a list of all the computer's hardware. Under the section for the computer's hard drive, or maybe drive controller, it will say whether it is ATA 100 or S-ATA.

I would show a picture of it, but its not running on Windows Vista. Site says it will, but its just crashing during the scan.

If any members know of an even better or easier way feel free to reply with such.

[xpgeek]

Even easier way, easiest of all, is to just open the PC case and look. Is the cable connected to the back of the hard drive a big wide ribbon cable (on left in pic below), thats standard ATA, or a small thin cable (on right in pic), thats Serial ATA.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/370310091_721fb8732a_o.jpg

[AmericanWoman]

Thanks bunches Mike. You might want to check your links to the images because neither of them are showing up properly. I'll have a look inside the machine tomorrow. Looking in the hardware didn't tell me which one I have.

[xpgeek]

Neither image is showing? Hmm, odd they're both stored in my Flickr account and show fine for me here.

Removed first part and image as that was obviously bad information anyway. But should still be able to see image in second post.

[AmericanWoman]

After checking, I'm sure the drive is an ATA drive. Another question I have is do I have to install the same size drive or can I go with a larger one?

I'd like to upgrade it even if only a little bit to improve the performance if possible. I know it's an old beast, but still good enough for the kids to mess around on.

[xpgeek]

The size of the drive, and the speed, doesn't matter. Only the connection matters.

For example you can replace a 40 gig 7200rpm drive with a 160 gig 10,000rpm drive.

It doesn't matter, as long as it uses the same connection type.

[AmericanWoman]

I have another question on this. Since I've never ever had to repace a hard drive I'm lost on this one. Will I need to purchase XP again or will this have no effect on the operating system. I hadn't thought about this until my sister started having the same problems with her computer a few nights ago. She presented that question to me and I wasn't sure of an answer for her.

[xpgeek]

If the hard drive being replaced is the operating system hard drive, the drive that Windows is installed to, then Windows will have to be re-installed onto it. But no, you should not have to re-purchase Windows.

[AmericanWoman]

Everything came already installed on it. There is no recovery disk or anything else. Does all of that need to be transfered over to the new drive then? And if so, how do I do it. Sorry for all of the stupid questions, but like I said, I've never had to replace a hard drive.

[xpgeek]

What kind of computer is it? Dell, HP, Compaq, etc?

If you have no recovery disk for it, there is probly a hidden recovery partition on the drive, HP and Compaq love to do this. Like the windows cd just sitting on the hard drive. You can make a cd from it too.

I think I remember you telling me the PC is an HP too. So this is probly what you want.

HP PCs that ship with Microsoft Windows XP and Compaq Presario Desktop PCs made in spring of 2003 and later already come with a hidden preloaded recovery partition. This hidden partition can be used to recover all of the original software in the event of a major problem by pressing the F10 key repeatedly when the PC is first started. However, there may be times when recovery discs are needed to restore the PC, like when a virus destroys the recovery partition (or you need to replace the hard drive obviously). By using the Recovery CD-DVD Creator program, you can create a set of recovery discs to restore your PC back to its original condition.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=bph08097

[AmericanWoman]

Thanks loads Mike.

Yes the computer is an HP and the backup is on a hidden partition. I'm sure glad I didn't get this thing and just replace it like I was thinking I could lol. I think I've got it all now. I sure appreciate the help!

[xpgeek]

No problem. Let us know how it goes or if you have any more questions.

[NeilH]

XPGeek. I have an old HP Pavilion 740.UK - I think purchased around 2002. The hard disk occasionally retries many times during boot so I need to change it soon. The Pavilion has recovery information on a hidden partition on the HD but no program to create a Recovery set on CD or DVD.

HP want to charge 25 UK pounds for a set on CD.

Is there a program anywhere that I can download that will create my recovery CD or DVD set from the HD partition that you know of please?

Thanks very much

Neil

[xpgeek]

Not that I know of, and I kind of doubt it, as the recovery partition was designed by HP. And as it says on HP's site, it only lets you create one set too, because they don't want people making a dozen and handing them out or selling them, anti-piracy measure.

Best best is to just search around, but I do doubt it.

[NeilH]

Thanks for the advice XPGeek

I was wondering if the Recovery CD Creator program on the page below would work on my Pavilion or if there is a different Recovery Creator program for each system.

http://tinyurl.com/ypkru

Neil

[xpgeek]

Should be the same for all HP systems, in theory. But I wonder if thats a full install of it or just an update.

[NeilH]

Yes, I wondered whether this might just be an update too. I guess running it will soon tell me, if it's an update and doesn't find the original app it won't complete. Otherwise, I guess I'll either have to shell out for the recovery disks or just go for purchasing a WinXP licence and downloading all drivers etc from HP.

[xpgeek]

Hmm. Yea not leaving ya much choice. Odd tho that the rescue disk create thing, whatever its called, wasn't included on your system. Maybe call HP again and ask them how you can get it so that you can create a disk from the recovery partition you have. Or, ask them, since you want to reformat it anyway, or change the drive was it, but ask them if you use the recovery partition to reinstall Windows from it, will it then include the disk create thing?

[NeilH]

From what I've read on the HP site, some systems shipped without restore disks and without the utility to create them from the hidden partition. Their site does say that if your HD fails in this case, you must purchase the restore disks. This goes against the grain for me - I've never had a system before that didn't ship with a restore disk!

[xpgeek]

Yea, I hate those stupid recovery partitions too. I had a Compaq before that had the same thing, and came with no disks. It saves them money, cheap (bad word)'s, lol, a whole what, 10 cents a disk it saves them?

[jbloggs]

For those interested Everest Home is still available:

Here (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml)

[AmericanWoman]

Welcome to the group NeilH. I'm currently in the process of searching for a program that will allow me to back up that partition too. If I find one I will let you know. I would rather pay a small amount for a program instead of spending a whole lot for a new license for XP. I'll let you know if i find one.

[AmericanWoman]

Not sure if THIS PROGRAM (http://www.drive-image.com/) is what I need, but it's the closest thing I've found and also has a 15 day fully functioning free trial. Could you take a look Mike and tell me what you think?

[NeilH]

Cindi. Thanks for the welcome, this sure looks like a good group and I'll be chipping in wherever I can with advice for others. I'm going to need to do something with my PC pretty quick - it took about 15 reboots yesterday before I could get the thing up. I've got a new disk on its way to me so I'm hoping to find time over the weekend.
That drive image program sure looks hopeful, I'll watch out for Mike's reply with bated breath.
Neil :)

[xpgeek]

Yes, that could work. I do not know if it would properly copy the recovery partition into the backup image, but yes you could just do an image of the Windows partition and apply it to the new drive.

If want an even better disk imaging program, also with a free trial, Acronis True Image is considered the very best of the best.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

[AmericanWoman]

I'm going to give the acronis a try and see if it works. Will let you all know when I get the new drive installed and hopefully running.

[AmericanWoman]

The new hard drive is installed and running perfectly. Acronis did the job exactly as I wanted. It made an exact duplicate of the OS, the recovery partition, and all programs as well as files. All I had to do after the copy was change the drive and boot it up using the new one. The old drive hadn't completey failed so I just reformatted it for now as a slave drive.

Thanks a load for the help Mike, and I hope it helps you too Neil. If you have any questions about how I did it just post here or IM me on one of my messengers (listed in the row below my signature).

[jbloggs]

The new hard drive is installed and running perfectly. Acronis did the job exactly as I wanted. It made an exact duplicate of the OS, the recovery partition, and all programs as well as files. All I had to do after the copy was change the drive and boot it up using the new one. The old drive hadn't completey failed so I just reformatted it for now as a slave drive.

Thanks a load for the help Mike, and I hope it helps you too Neil. If you have any questions about how I did it just post here or IM me on one of my messengers (listed in the row below my signature).

Really glad you got the new HDD installed and running.

I have used Acronis True Image for a few years now, always for backing up my Windows XP partition (C:\), it never occurred to me that you could "clone" a hidden (recovery) partition onto another (new) HDD. It is great to know that ATI will do this, as hidden partitions can give so many problems and be a real pain. :up:

[FisionChips]

Hi ! I use Acronis too - recommend it!

[Neo, Knock, Knock]

Silly question, but I will ask. How long did it take you to backup your OS?

[AmericanWoman]

I didn't do a backup of it, I just made an exact duplicate of it on the new drive, but it took me about 3 hours, including the time to install and switch drives. Not sure how long it would take for just a backup.