Re: Compaq Presario 1700T hard drive problem/replacement

It is most likely a bad hard drive.

You don't need an identical hard drive, just the same form factor (2.5" IDE, no thicker than the laptop drive compartment will allow).

You should repartition and reformat the hard drive, then reinstall Windows from scratch no matter what. A previously installed version of Windows will likely cause problems (if it works at all).

As for the physical issue, laptops vary. However, it is very possible that what you will "remove" will not be the bare hard drive, but rather the hard drive installed into a carrier or "caddy". You may need to swap the hard drives inside the caddy, then reinstall the caddy (now containing the new hard drive).

If $120 includes the hard drive itself, it may not be such a bad price.



nut wrote:

Good evening,
I have an older compaq presario 1700T which is now having the error "no
operating system found" I am not very computer savy but with some help
can figure things out. I don't want to spend to much to fix it since
you can get a new one for $500.
Anyway, I have done some fiddling with ultimate boot up disk and the
restore cd and still could not get it working.
I found an identical hard drive on ebay in working condition with
windows me already installed. My question is whether or not swapping
out the hard drive on this model is as simple as removing the screw and
pulling it out and putting in the replacement? Is there anythign else I
would have to do or should it theoretically just boot up? my other
option is to take it to a professional and spend $120 for replacing the
hard drive and installing windows.
Any thought or help would be great.

Thanks
Nut

.

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