Which hard drive do I need for my old dell computer

[mikeb222]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm looking for some help with my dell computer.

I need a new hard drive for it but i'm unsure as to which one to pick.

 

My old hard drive was a western digital model no- WD1600JS-75NCB1

DCM: HSACACTJAA

7200 RPM

 

I have tried to google all that but nothing came up.

Do I need the same model numbers and does it have to be a western digital one?

[Jelly Bean]

Hello and welcome.

 

What size in gig is the origonal hard drive?

 

If this is a realy old computer that came with around a 10 gig HDD then I would only recommend upto an 80 gig HDD....If the computer was lets say origonaly fitted with a 40 gig HDD then upto a 160 gig would be fine.....

 

http://www.wdc.com/en/library/sata/2879-001146.pdf

 

No you do not have to buy the exact same make and model.....You can buy a generic HDD wich are cheap enough to purchase....The above link states your HDD is an EIDE

[KenB]

Could you let us know which Operating System and specifically, which Service Pack ( SP 1 ?? ) you are using.

XP for instance, should now be running SP3.

Early systems could not recognise above 128GB.

[Jelly Bean]

KenB,I have fitted a 160 gig HDD in a Dell pIII with no issues.....Do you mean an older PC than a PIII?

[KenB]

Hi J-B

 

I was refering to the OS.

XP when it was originally released did not recognise 48bit LBA.

 

This was addressed with the release of SP1.

 

It also assumes that the bios is compatible with 48bit LBA.

 

I must correct my previous statement - 128GB should read 137GB :)

[RandyL]

I belive you have:

Windows 7

SATA hard drive

160 Gb.

The service tag number would help verify this.

That is a pretty small drive for a preinstalled Windows 7 but not unheard of.

 

Windows 7 will recognize large drives. So any SATA drive will do.

 

In the past old motherboards or Operating systems could not utilize the full drive size over 128/137 as noted but would see it up to that point. KenB and Jelly Bean are correct on that.

 

However based on what you have supplied (without the Dell service tag number) I think you are ok with any SATA drive.

 

Keep in mind that you will need to reinstall Windows from the disks. So make sure you have a set first. Not just the utility disks which is drivers and such.