What Hard Drive Do I Have?

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 1:10 pm

Is there anywhere I can click on to see if my computer uses a Sata drive or Ata eide ??

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 28 Sep 2010 4:00 pm

The Device Manager will tell you. You can right click on the Computer icon on the desktop and select Properties/Device Manager/Disk Drives.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 28 Sep 2010 4:34 pm

Be careful!!

I have 2 SATA hard drives.

Here is a picture of what I see in Device Manager. Notice that each drive is identified only as an "ATA device".

I don't recall exactly how EIDE drives are identified in Device Manager.

I didn't see anywhere on my PC that SATA or the phrase "Serial ATA" was used in reference to my hard drives.

I even looked at 2 system reports I have--one from Belarc and another from Everest. Neither mentioned SATA hard drives.

You can do one of two things:

1: Open your case and look at the cables connected to your hard drive. If one of them is flat and wide like a man's belt, you have an IDE drive. If the cables are much narrower, no wider than a man's finger, you have a SATA drive.

2: Get the exact model number of your hard drive from device manager as shown in the first picture above. Put that model number into Google and search. Then read the results looking for a reference to SATA. The problem with this approach is that some drives were available with your choice of an IDE or a SATA interface. They SHOULD have different model numbers, but I am not quite positive of that.

I'd open the case.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 28 Sep 2010 5:27 pm

You didn't say what kind of a computer you're on, so I'm assuming it's Windows. But here's what you get on a Mac in System Profiler. Below are a laptop and a desktop. Just a wild guess, but I'd deem the Mac info a little more accurate and informative.

But, yeah, open the case and take a squint at it.

laptop

desktop

Michael Barone · Post by **Michael Barone** » 28 Sep 2010 7:11 pm

Go into your BIOS setup instead of booting your OS.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 8:31 pm

Sorry I forgot to post my OS.. Windows XP Home. The ribbons are flat wide ones..
This is what it says,
WDC WD1000BB-00CAA0
WDC WD2000JB-00GVA0
further down it says

ATA/ATAPI controllers

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 8:51 pm

I just found this on Google. does this mean it's an ATA IDE ???

WD1000-00CAA0 Western Digital WD1000-00CAA0 Western Digital 100GB IDE
Part: WD1000-00CAA0
Brand: Western Digital

I see where there are cables for sale to go from ATA IDE to SATA.. Is this recommended?? What are the pros & cons of doing this?? I am now ready to clone my C drive & put in a bigger 7200 drive..

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Sep 2010 9:21 pm

jolynyk wrote:I just found this on Google. does this mean it's an ATA IDE ???

WD1000-00CAA0 Western Digital WD1000-00CAA0 Western Digital 100GB IDE
Part: WD1000-00CAA0
Brand: Western Digital

I see where there are cables for sale to go from ATA IDE to SATA.. Is this recommended?? What are the pros & cons of doing this?? I am now ready to clone my C drive & put in a bigger 7200 drive..

I would recommend sticking with the same interface you already have; P-IDE (PATA). Putting a SATA drive in the case and using a converter cable set will not enhance your performance one iota. Buy the best quality WD hard drive you can afford. Black is the preferable line.

Get one that is larger than the existing drive and have the clone software expand the C partition to fill all available space on the blank drive.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 9:25 pm

Thanks Wiz, will do..

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 9:47 pm

I tried to Google a Western Digital HD , hoping for a 500 to 600 gig, but seems they're only available for Sata.. I did find a 500 gig Hitachi, are they any good??

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Sep 2010 10:11 pm

Jolynyk;
Here is a 250 GB Western Digital Caviar drive, at Tiger Direct, for ~ $60 US.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 10:15 pm

Thanks Wiz, will this one work?? also at Tiger Direct.

Hard Drive > Internal Serial ATA > 400 - 1000 GB

Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gbs

More Western Digital Products

Customer Reviews: ( 1 reviews)
Read reviews or Write a review

Item Number: TSD-1000FAEX

Model: WD1002FAEX

Availability: Order Today, Ships Today

Price: $89.99

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Sep 2010 10:27 pm

Here is a link to a two page listing of SATA to IDE converters, at Tiger Direct. Some allow one SATA, others allow 2 to be connected. They are used to replace failing IDE/PATA hard drives with new, larger SATA drives. Read the reviews before you purchase one of these converters.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Sep 2010 10:32 pm

You'll also need to buy a power converter cable, that goes from an IDE/PATA DC power plug to a SATA power plug. Get one for each drive, or look for a 1 to 2 power cable converter.

OEM hard drives don't come with screws to mount them to the cages inside the case. Buy a set when you buy a new OEM drive. They're about a buck for 5 screws.

If you buy an adapter to mount SATA drives, make sure they include SATA signal cables. Otherwise, buy the signal cables at the same time.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 28 Sep 2010 10:35 pm

I'm gonna go with the 250 gig you suggested..
thanks..

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Sep 2010 10:43 pm

jolynyk wrote:I'm gonna go with the 250 gig you suggested..
thanks..

Get me one while you're at it! LOL

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 29 Sep 2010 6:45 am

Tried, but they only had one in stock LOL...