using laptop HD w/barebones system

tacobandit · 04-17-2008, 11:04 AM

if i picked up a barebones system would i be able to use my compaq laptop Hard drive with it? I am getting pretty ****ed off because i try and wire up a button to turn the laptop on and off and it keeps breaking off, so i am looking at other routes.

FusionFanatic · 04-17-2008, 11:48 AM

as long as your "barebones system" uses the same HDD connector then it should plug right in. if it uses a different interface then you'll need an adapter or controller card, but you can still use it.

NOTE: you can't simply swap the HDD and use it as-is. your current windows installation matches your laptop hardware and will not work properly with your new "barebones system". after you connect the HDD in your new system you will need to format the HDD and install a clean (non-OEM) OS onto it so that it sets itself up for your new hardware (make sure you backup any important data first).

Grrrmachine · 04-17-2008, 12:29 PM

Odds are your laptop is an old 2.5" IDE drive. Even if your barebones motherboard is IDE (not SATA) you'll still need a converter, but they're a matter of pennies from eBay.

tacobandit · 04-17-2008, 01:20 PM

how would i format it?

the415 · 04-17-2008, 01:40 PM

i use one of these for my 2 2.5" hard drives in a 3.5" bay.

tacobandit · 04-17-2008, 02:37 PM

Okay so what would be the process to get it working? How would i format it? Would it format when i installed an OS? I only know the basics when it comes to computers so any information would be great.

the415 · 04-17-2008, 02:41 PM

yeah toss in the os and go from there.

Grrrmachine · 04-17-2008, 03:48 PM

Make sure you have a bootable OS install disc BEFORE you wipe the drive out of the laptop and mess around with it, otherwise you'll have two dead computers!

tacobandit · 04-17-2008, 04:43 PM

Okay i have been looking at getting Linux, since i dont want to spend another 100 bucks on getting XP, does anyone know anything about it? Will it be compatible with my lilliput and my gps software? Do i need a special front end or can i DL any? I looked thru the linux forum and theres not really a FAQ.

golfguy · 04-17-2008, 10:25 PM

If you don't yet know how to format a disk for Windows, I wouldn't recommend you make the leap to Linux. Many aspects of Linux are not very user friendly and can require some knowledge of the system to get properly configured. Stick with Windows and build up some experience before you try something like Linux.