Help! Hey computer guys...

Ok another question.
Apparently need to replace the hard drive.
I found a website with a reasonably priced unit. Is a Dell 5400rpm SATA3 1Tb drive.
The faulty one is identical except it's a 500GB.
Obviously the 1TB is the better drive but can I also upgrade the speed to the 7200rpm?
 
gtrjunior said:
Ok another question.
Apparently need to replace the hard drive.
I found a website with a reasonably priced unit. Is a Dell 5400rpm SATA3 1Tb drive.
The faulty one is identical except it's a 500GB.
Obviously the 1TB is the better drive but can I also upgrade the speed to the 7200rpm?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can.

Your system "should" be able to take advantage of the higher speed drive. Even if it doesn't, it will still run at least as fast as the old drive.
 
Ok next question...
I can't find my system recovery disks....can I follow the protocol GDSmithTx posted earlier and put it on my own disk ?
The only things I really need to save is my music software.
Cubase
Ozone
Virtual DJ
All 3 have software keys which I have registered on the websites. And I still have the installation disks for Cubase. The others were digital downloads.
 
you got me there. I only use Windows for work and work provides all the software. I use a Mac for my personal computer and back it up to a time capsule. All I have to do is replace a hard drive and then point the Mac to the time capsule on boot up and it restores the computer exactly like it was before the hard drive swap.
 
Chad said:
you got me there. I only use Windows for work and work provides all the software. I use a Mac for my personal computer and back it up to a time capsule. All I have to do is replace a hard drive and then point the Mac to the time capsule on boot up and it restores the computer exactly like it was before the hard drive swap.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the Mac backup to the "cloud". I just saw something from Dell saying that they no longer do that anymore.
 
And will creating a system recovery disk also save my OS software (I cant find the installation disks) or is it just a means to save various files etc?
 
The system recovery discs will reload the system back to the day you bought it.
It's not a backup.

So, backup any docs and files you want to keep.
Install the new drive.
Boot to the recovery disc. Do the recovery process to the new drive.
Reinstall all of your programs.
Restore your backed up data.


If it weren't for the chance of corruption, I'd suggest getting a program that moves the whole shebang from one drive to the other, then you just put the new drive in place of the old, and go.
 
dodgechargerfan said:
The system recovery discs will reload the system back to the day you bought it.
It's not a backup.

So, backup any docs and files you want to keep.
Install the new drive.
Boot to the recovery disc. Do the recovery process to the new drive.
Reinstall all of your programs.
Restore your backed up data.


If it weren't for the chance of corruption, I'd suggest getting a program that moves the whole shebang from one drive to the other, then you just put the new drive in place of the old, and go.
Click to expand...
This is the drive im thinking of getting.
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/s...nspiron N5110&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=satlu1

And there's this thing, which is what I think you're talking about:
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/s...&kind=accessory&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=a8.0

It is supposed to transfer all the programs/ files etc. when you upgrade you're hard drive. But it does say that it may have problems with damaged drives.

The thing with my laptop is that it seems to work just fine. It just takes forever to boot up and load the desktop etc.
Once it's all loaded it functions normally. All of the programs run, internet etc.
This device would make the whole process easier but I'd hate to spend the money for nothing.
 
gtrjunior said:
This is the drive im thinking of getting.
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/shop/uvstore.cgi?command=listitems&kind=dupgrdsata&comptype=dll249&cadname=Inspiron N5110&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=satlu1

And there's this thing, which is what I think you're talking about:
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/s...&kind=accessory&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=a8.0

It is supposed to transfer all the programs/ files etc. when you upgrade you're hard drive. But it does say that it may have problems with damaged drives.

The thing with my laptop is that it seems to work just fine. It just takes forever to boot up and load the desktop etc.
Once it's all loaded it functions normally. All of the programs run, internet etc.
This device would make the whole process easier but I'd hate to spend the money for nothing.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I was talking about.
If I were doing it for my own PC. I'd just give it a shot and see what happens.

The only downside to this approach is that if there is another problem that is software based, you will be replicating it on the new drive. Ie. bloatware gets transferred too.
That doesn't sound like it's the case for you, but that's the only thing I don't like about these kinds of transfer/upgrade programs.

As for the expense, I figure you'll have an external enclosure and some backup software when you're done. Pop another drive into it and you've got a decent backup solution.
I never complain about having extra hard drives kicking around.
 
Thanks...I'm going to run a malware detection program before any data transfer so I should be set there. The program I ran that detected the hard drive problem didn't find anything else wrong in the system and I did the extended test twice so I think the software is gtg.
The data transfer thing I posted is only $40 so yeah, seems like a no brainer.
I emailed them this morning and asked them similar questions. I just want to see what they say too, but I'm pretty sure I'll get the drive and transfer I posted above.
Do they look good to you?
 
You're barely going to notice the performance difference between 5400 and 7200 RPM.

Solid State Drives (SSD) are great if you're looking for a jump in drive performance. Boot times are faster, read write times are faster....people usually go "wow" when upgrading to an SSD. They cost 3 to 4 times more than a regular Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Here's an article talking about HDD vs SDD. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404258,00.asp

If I were you, I'd think about upgrading. A 5 year old laptop is old in terms of pc's, and you may have problems with other components.

You're current Dell Inspiron N5110 specs
  1. i3 2nd gen processor, 2.2 Ghz
  2. memory DDR3 1333 Mhz
  3. display resolution of 1366 x 768
A Lenovo Flex 4, 15"
  1. i5 6th generation cpu, 2.3 Ghz
  2. 8 gigs of DDR4 2133 Mhz memory
  3. 1920 x 1080 resolution
  4. 256 GB SSD
Price is $629

You could swap the SSD for an HDD and save money. Or upgrade the SSD to a larger size.

This unit doesn't come with a CD/DVD drive. I'm sure you could upgrade and get one, or buy an external one if you needed.
 
gtrjunior said:
This is the drive im thinking of getting.
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/shop/uvstore.cgi?command=listitems&kind=dupgrdsata&comptype=dll249&cadname=Inspiron N5110&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=satlu1

And there's this thing, which is what I think you're talking about:
http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/s...&kind=accessory&pos=0&type=itemid&itemid=a8.0

It is supposed to transfer all the programs/ files etc. when you upgrade you're hard drive. But it does say that it may have problems with damaged drives.

The thing with my laptop is that it seems to work just fine. It just takes forever to boot up and load the desktop etc.
Once it's all loaded it functions normally. All of the programs run, internet etc.
This device would make the whole process easier but I'd hate to spend the money for nothing.
Click to expand...

You've got a N5110?
I had one of those that I picked up at Staples during a holiday sale for $250. TBH, I wouldn't drop much coin on that box, it's fairly low and slow and the money is probably better directed towards a new cheap laptop. I replaced the drive on mine last year around this time of the year and then sold it for $75.

if you are going to patch this one up, you just need a 2.5" SATA hard disk...it's a fairly generic part you can buy for less than that websites' price.
I'd also suggest not cloning your bad hard drive to the new drive; that's often a recipe for issues w/ either the data copied or probs w/ the clone process and the bad blocks. A fresh windows install is the way to go.
 
Put an SSD in your laptop. You won't be sorry. If you need more storage, look at a USB auxiliary disk or a NAS.

The good news is that from Windows 7 on, Microsoft got their shit together and have only one install media (per windows version) so you no longer need an OEM specific install disk. If you can still read the license key on the Windows sticker on your laptop (it will probably be underneath the battery), you can download the appropriate ISO image from Microsoft (home, pro, 32 bit , 64 bit, etc), burn it to a DVD (or use the USB creator) and install.

After you install, Windows 7 will probably not have all the drivers it needs for your system. You can download the appropriate drivers from Dell and install (if your wifi adapter driver is missing, you'll have to download the driver for it using another PC and transfer it using a USB stick).

Or, you can go here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade and upgrade to Windows 10 for free*, which will most likely have all the drivers built in.

*Although Microsoft has officially ended the free WIndows 10 upgrade program, they still offer a free upgrade if you use Windows assistive technologies. You don't have to show that you in fact use them.
 
Lerxst said:
You've got a N5110?
I had one of those that I picked up at Staples during a holiday sale for $250. TBH, I wouldn't drop much coin on that box, it's fairly low and slow and the money is probably better directed towards a new cheap laptop. I replaced the drive on mine last year around this time of the year and then sold it for $75.

if you are going to patch this one up, you just need a 2.5" SATA hard disk...it's a fairly generic part you can buy for less than that websites' price.
I'd also suggest not cloning your bad hard drive to the new drive; that's often a recipe for issues w/ either the data copied or probs w/ the clone process and the bad blocks. A fresh windows install is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Right now I don't have the money for a new one so fixing this is my cheapest option I would think. For $85 (on that site) I'm back in business.
Unless you can recommend me a laptop for home recording...?
 
GomezAddams said:
Put an SSD in your laptop. You won't be sorry. If you need more storage, look at a USB auxiliary disk or a NAS.

The good news is that from Windows 7 on, Microsoft got their shit together and have only one install media (per windows version) so you no longer need an OEM specific install disk. If you can still read the license key on the Windows sticker on your laptop (it will probably be underneath the battery), you can download the appropriate ISO image from Microsoft (home, pro, 32 bit , 64 bit, etc), burn it to a DVD (or use the USB creator) and install.

After you install, Windows 7 will probably not have all the drivers it needs for your system. You can download the appropriate drivers from Dell and install (if your wifi adapter driver is missing, you'll have to download the driver for it using another PC and transfer it using a USB stick).

Or, you can go here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade and upgrade to Windows 10 for free*, which will most likely have all the drivers built in.

*Although Microsoft has officially ended the free WIndows 10 upgrade program, they still offer a free upgrade if you use Windows assistive technologies. You don't have to show that you in fact use them.
Click to expand...
We have Win 10 on our desktop...I hate it. Probably because I don't yet know how to navigate it as easily as 7. But I'm sure I could easily figure it out. It's probably my best option to upgrade. Especially if it saves me the hassle of DL-ing drivers etc to make it work.
 
gtrjunior said:
We have Win 10 on our desktop...I hate it. Probably because I don't yet know how to navigate it as easily as 7. But I'm sure I could easily figure it out. It's probably my best option to upgrade. Especially if it saves me the hassle of DL-ing drivers etc to make it work.
Click to expand...

I really, REALLY recommend that you go with an SSD and a fresh windows install. An i3 and 8GB of RAM should keep you happy for a few more years. If you really want the old user interface, check out http://www.classicshell.net/

A 120GB SSD is plenty of space for a Windows 10 install, but won't leave much room for applications. I'd go with a 240GB.
 
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