Upgrading Compaq notebook

Hi group,

Well after 3 years of trouble free operation my Compaq 2267AP is running out of disk space, and since I have no need for something better and faster an upgrade to the HDD seemed to be in order.

Some research shows the HDD is a 4200RPM 40GB 2.5" PATA drive (Seagate ST94019A), and I can get a PATA 160GB drive for about $90 plus shipping. Here is the problem.

The current drive has a connector that consists of a molded surround carrying about 44 sliding contacts in two rows rather than either pin or socket connections. My experience is limited to the 3.5 series of drives which have the traditional pin and socket IDE type connector.

Drawings from seagate and photos from sales outlets suggest that current 2.5"drives have the 3.5" type header connector, so I'm loath to part with $100 and find that it won't connect to the laptop connector. I guess the simple question is "Is the 2.5" PATA connector a 'standard" that has always been used, or have some maufacturers used a "non-standard" connector from time to time?".

I'm interested in upgrading to a Samsung HM160JC.

I can post a photo of the connector if that will assist.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Alien2843

 

It's an industry standard connection. Any old PATA hard drive should work.

 

Thanks Admlam,

The attached photos might illustrate my concern more clearly.

I figured I could put the existing drive into an external HDD case and found the ebay photo which shows an IDE type connector to attach the drive to (Lower left). This assembly then slides into the case, I presume. Note the seller of the case claims it will accept any IDE drive of any capacity!

The other photo is the connector on the Compaq's Seagate HDD. And this isn't an IDE type connector. So If the HDD case connector is "Industry Standard" then the connector on my HDD is "Non Standard" and I will have to be careful about the drive I buy to replace the existing one, if one is to be found.

On the other hand, if the Seagate's connector is the standard, then I need to be careful about the variety of case I purchase. But this is less of a concern.

Can someone confirm if the connector on the Seagate HDD is the standard?

Cheers,

Alien

 

Hmm I think it's an additional socket/converter. Could you remove it?
On the HDD mustn't be any additional connector/socket before you put your HD into the external case.

 

It's on my sister's compaq v2000 too, you can remove it, and place it on the new hard drive otherwise you won't be able to use it.

 

HI Skywalker, Hi Ayle,

Thanks for this. You are correct, it is remaovable and the pin connector on the HDD circuit card then conforms to the IDE type standard.

I guess HP/Compaq decided that the sliding connection format would make for a less tricky mating process by allowing for some misalignment. I got fooled into thinking it was a "new" type of connector as the inboard edge is hidden beneath the PCC and this edge can't be seen.

Alls well that ends well - I can now order the new drive and an external case to make use of the old one.

Thanks again.

alien2843