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Computer Hard Disk Hardware UpgradesOne of the worst things about buying a new computer is that it starts to become obsolete as soon as it gets plugged into the wall for the first time. The good news is that with computers and laptops getting cheaper and cheaper, it is not quite as painful, but we would all like to see our PC purchases last as long as possible. This is where computer upgrades, hardware upgrades, and memory upgrades come into the picture. Although computer hard disks have increased in capacity and dropped dramatically in price (we are talking about improvements on the scale of 3000x) over the years, we still find ways to fill all that disk space, first with text documents and sounds, then with pictures, then with MP3 music files, now with video clips, DVDs, and more.
Adding new hard diskOnce you know what kind of hard drive your computer will accept, you need to select and buy your new drive. You can readily find inexpensive drives in 200GB, 300GB and larger capacities. Your goal should be to find an inexpensive hard drive at about 75% of the maximum available capacity - this will save you some money and still get you a massive storage drive. Most computer stores sell internal hard drive packages. Check Circuit City or CompUSA. Many online stores also carry even larger selections of hard disk drives. NewEgg.com and TigerDirect.com. For example, you can pick up a $300GB 3.5" IDE Ultra ATA133 drive for $115. Or a Samsung SpinPoint 200GB 3.5" SATA drive for just $90. Once you get your drive, you need to open your computer case. Again, consult your user manual for pictures and instructions, but there are normally a few screws to remove and the back or side of the case should then slide open. Using the small screws that came with your hard drive, you will attach it to an open drive bay somewhere near your primary hard drive, since you will need to also connect both a power supply cable and the ATA thin ribbon cable to the new upgrade drive. Also, since you are keeping your original drive, you will set the switch or jumpers on your new drive to the slave position, NOT master. Check the pictures and documentation that came with your system, and follow the instructions for connecting the above mentioned items. When you close and power up your system, it should automatically recognize the new drive, assign it a drive letter, and you will see it listed as drive D: or whatever.External Hard DrivesAn easier alternative to adding a new internal hard drive to upgrade your computer is to add an EXTERNAL drive. These are small plastic-encased boxes that you plug in and connect to your PC via a 1394 Fireware cable or a USB cable. To be honest, for most people, this is the better alternative to upgrading your PC. While external drives may be $40-$75 more expensive than comparable internal hard drives, the advantages of ease of use, convenience, and portability far outweigh the cost factor. With an external hard drive, you can backup and carry data with you from location to location, store a safe backup at some other location, or just keep it connected and running and use it as additional storage, same as you would an internal drive. So our advice - shop for external drives first. If you fine one at a price you like - you are done, take it home and plug it in. If you are set on an internal hard drive upgrade, consider it only if your goal is to REPLACE your existing master drive with a larger, faster drive. If extra storage is you goal, external drives are the way to go.
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