2.5" Notebook drive Ultra-Ata

[ufcrusher]

I am still trying to get a replacement drive for an old laptop workhorse that we have sitting around. The problem is....frankly the laptop is probably worth less than the new harddrive would cost me. Consequently, I am in a catch 22 situation. I want to try putting a new harddrive in to see if that allows me to get the computer operational. However, I dont want to BUY a new harddrive for an old computer.

Consequently...if anyone happens to have an old 2.5" Ultra ATA notebook hard drive that they dont use or want that they would be willing to part with, I would greatly appreciate it. I would be willing to pay for shipping of course.

Thanks.

[mechmike0034]

What do you want to do with the laptop?

Does it have a CD Drive? Boot up a Puppy Linux disc (http://www.puppylinux.com/cd-puppy.htm) to see if all of the other hardware/peripherals are working. It is easy to use and runs on damned near any PC with 128MB of RAM. Here's an old Lifehacker review (http://lifehacker.com/307542/taking-puppy-linux-for-a-walk). It runs in RAM so no hard drive is necessary.

I have seen failed hard drives with locked-up or shorted drive motors draw enough power to keep a desktop or notebook from booting, so be sure to disconnect the failed drive before trying to boot the Puppy disc from CD...

More info in these links:

http://www.ghacks.net/2010/02/01/puppy-linux-your-new-best-friend/

http://www.sysprobs.com/puppy-linux-recover-windows-7-files-boot

http://help.artaro.eu/index.php/windows-xp/troubleshooting-xp/recover-files-from-hard-disk-xp.html

http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2010/08/10/why-i-feel-keeping-a-live-cd-of-linux-in-your-cd-kit-is-essential/