[RESOLVED] Laptop hard drive upgrade

October 14th, 2000, 10:26 PM

I have a Sony PCG-F540 laptop, everything inside is intact. Which is my problem. The 6gig hd is way too restrictive with all the development tools I use on it, and I am constantly running out of space. I'm looking for ways to expand my storage but it's not looking good price-wise. Sony's upgrades are out of the question, their prices are absurd. I've looked at this one Acer external USB CDRW drive, but I'm reluctant to waste my money on it since my space problems are from installations, not data. Zip disks are too small for most of the programs (not to mention unwieldy and stupid to use for installations)... I'm considering a 10gig (best size for the buck) BUSLink USB drive. Anyone have any experience with this USB drive, USB drives in general, or could suggest an alternative?

October 16th, 2000, 07:40 AM

I would buy a PCMCIA external hard drive, or even a USB version. I believe you can get an empty external box for about £50.00 over here in the UK. I got one, but put a 3.5" SCSI drive in and stuck it in via an adaptec 1460 PCMCIA adaptor. Then with SCSI, you get the speed, and can use the cheaper and larger 3,5" drives.

October 16th, 2000, 09:34 AM

You say "cheaper and larger" yet I'm seeing $120 for the Adaptec PCMCIA card, $35 for the external SCSI box, and $150 for a 9gig drive... so this 9gig "kit" is going to be twice the price than the 10gig USB I was looking at... so the question is, is the SCSI PCMCIA stuff worth the extra cash/equipment? what about external IDE?

techs · October 16th, 2000, 10:29 AM

can you use a standard 2.5 inch hd?

October 16th, 2000, 11:50 AM

Like techs said, why not just buy a new, larger 2.5" HD? Just don't buy it from Sony !

------------------
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TODAY?......Not that it matters, because Micrsoft will crash on the way there!!!

October 16th, 2000, 04:56 PM

(a) Pain to get into the computer
(b) Pain to transfer data over network or whatever, then back.
(c) Time I've put into it so far.
(d) Not enough of a size bonus. I'd rather have a second drive for the extra stuff, rather than a marginally larger drive for all this stuff as well.

October 19th, 2000, 07:38 PM

Sounds like you've answered your own question. USB external.

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Sparky Mark
If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you.

October 14th, 2000, 10:26 PM	#1
formatc Guest Posts: n/a	Laptop hard drive upgrade I have a Sony PCG-F540 laptop, everything inside is intact. Which is my problem. The 6gig hd is way too restrictive with all the development tools I use on it, and I am constantly running out of space. I'm looking for ways to expand my storage but it's not looking good price-wise. Sony's upgrades are out of the question, their prices are absurd. I've looked at this one Acer external USB CDRW drive, but I'm reluctant to waste my money on it since my space problems are from installations, not data. Zip disks are too small for most of the programs (not to mention unwieldy and stupid to use for installations)... I'm considering a 10gig (best size for the buck) BUSLink USB drive. Anyone have any experience with this USB drive, USB drives in general, or could suggest an alternative?

October 16th, 2000, 10:29 AM	#4
techs Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: In one of the really, really Blue states. Posts: 5,157	can you use a standard 2.5 inch hd? __________________ "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." -Benjamin Franklin "I'm a hard worker." -George W. Bush

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October 16th, 2000, 07:40 AM	#2
Rudders Guest Posts: n/a	I would buy a PCMCIA external hard drive, or even a USB version. I believe you can get an empty external box for about £50.00 over here in the UK. I got one, but put a 3.5" SCSI drive in and stuck it in via an adaptec 1460 PCMCIA adaptor. Then with SCSI, you get the speed, and can use the cheaper and larger 3,5" drives.

October 16th, 2000, 09:34 AM	#3
formatc Guest Posts: n/a	You say "cheaper and larger" yet I'm seeing $120 for the Adaptec PCMCIA card, $35 for the external SCSI box, and $150 for a 9gig drive... so this 9gig "kit" is going to be twice the price than the 10gig USB I was looking at... so the question is, is the SCSI PCMCIA stuff worth the extra cash/equipment? what about external IDE?

October 16th, 2000, 11:50 AM	#5
3fingersalute Guest Posts: n/a	Like techs said, why not just buy a new, larger 2.5" HD? Just don't buy it from Sony ! ------------------ WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TODAY?......Not that it matters, because Micrsoft will crash on the way there!!!

October 16th, 2000, 04:56 PM	#6
formatc Guest Posts: n/a	(a) Pain to get into the computer (b) Pain to transfer data over network or whatever, then back. (c) Time I've put into it so far. (d) Not enough of a size bonus. I'd rather have a second drive for the extra stuff, rather than a marginally larger drive for all this stuff as well.

October 19th, 2000, 07:38 PM	#7
sprkymrk Guest Posts: n/a	Sounds like you've answered your own question. USB external. ------------------ Sparky Mark If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you.