Computer geeks. Need help please.

[Wilber_Stool]

I have a five year old Compaq that needs a new hard drive. I am sure it uses an IDE controller. If a drive is listed as IDE and ATA:

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM :

does that mean that either will work. Remember, it's five years old.
Thanks in advance.

[Wilber_Stool]

1. Shameless kick........n/t

[necso]

2. I have installed this

drive on a number of older computers.

BIOS/OS limitations can be an issue, but the WD tools should take care of this (you can make a utility floppy).

I had to use an unusual (but documented at WD) jumping setting on one drive for an older computer to get the drive recognized at all. But with that and the tools I managed to get the drive working.

I am using that drive on a computer that it is 4 or 5 years old (in design -- I buy cheaper, somewhat out of date HW for myself).

But I make no promises... and "geeks" seems somewhat limiting.

[Wilber_Stool]

4. I had had hoped that

I could upgrade at my leisure but I ran a benchmark with Fresh Devices and the mark was so low that I think it's getting ready to give up the ghost. Need to replace it before the crash.

[necso]

6. WD tools also have a copy utility.

Better deal with it now.

[Kellanved]

3. old computers might have problems with big HDs

PCs made prior to 2000 might have problems with disks larger than 32GB (some with 64GB).

Also, 7200RPM disks tend to produce more heat than slower spinning disks; depending on the airflow in the case, additional cooling might be in order.

That all aside: ATA100 is compatible with older ATA(IDE) specifications - that disk should work in your computer.

[Wilber_Stool]

5. I'll give it a try.

I think I'll still try 80 gigs though. I's just my luck that it will go up in a puff of smoke. And you know, if you let the magic smoke out, it will never work again.