This is frustrating. I know just enough to know I don't know enough!
The hard drive in my daughter's Inspiron 8600 just gave out. (It was a Toshiba MK6026GAX ATA-100.) So I checked the Dell site for a replacement, got the specs of the only compatible HD they sell for this laptop (Western Digital Scorpio ATA-100), and picked it up at a local store. The drive came with neither CD nor instructions, so I'm trying to sleuth this without any documentation or experience.
I easily swapped out the old for the new, inserted the XP reinstall CD that came with the pc, and went into setup. Setup doesn't see the HD.
I've tried researching the forums, but I'm just not clear what the problem is or how best to approach it. I'm not sure whether it's:
(a) A compatibility issue -- The drive fits fine, but the connectors don't look similar (not sure the terminology, but the old drive had a jumper-like strip that overlaid the pins and made a long flat connector edge, while the new one has a similar connector edge but not one long uninterrupted edge). Did the Dell website send me to the wrong hardware?
(b) A missing driver -- Is setup looking for the old hardware and needs the driver for the new one? If so, how do I get the correct driver and install it?
(c) a fundamental step I'm overlooking in my inexperience (e.g., formatting)?
I'm not adverse to paying someone to put in another HD, but having done enough of my own desktop repairs over the years, I'm hoping this is do-able for me and not over my head.
Any and all advice appreciated!
The hard drive in my daughter's Inspiron 8600 just gave out. (It was a Toshiba MK6026GAX ATA-100.) So I checked the Dell site for a replacement, got the specs of the only compatible HD they sell for this laptop (Western Digital Scorpio ATA-100), and picked it up at a local store. The drive came with neither CD nor instructions, so I'm trying to sleuth this without any documentation or experience.
I easily swapped out the old for the new, inserted the XP reinstall CD that came with the pc, and went into setup. Setup doesn't see the HD.
I've tried researching the forums, but I'm just not clear what the problem is or how best to approach it. I'm not sure whether it's:
(a) A compatibility issue -- The drive fits fine, but the connectors don't look similar (not sure the terminology, but the old drive had a jumper-like strip that overlaid the pins and made a long flat connector edge, while the new one has a similar connector edge but not one long uninterrupted edge). Did the Dell website send me to the wrong hardware?
(b) A missing driver -- Is setup looking for the old hardware and needs the driver for the new one? If so, how do I get the correct driver and install it?
(c) a fundamental step I'm overlooking in my inexperience (e.g., formatting)?
I'm not adverse to paying someone to put in another HD, but having done enough of my own desktop repairs over the years, I'm hoping this is do-able for me and not over my head.
Any and all advice appreciated!