Thread: Help needed: laptop HDD replacement

The hard drive on my neighbors hard drive bit the dust and I'm trying to replace it for him. The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite P25-???? I don't know the exact model and neither does he. I can't find the serial number for the laptop either.

Anyways, I know desktops in and out but have never messed with a laptop. Physically swapping the hard drives is easy but how do I know what kind of hard drive to buy? I looked at the specs for all Toshiba P25 models and the hard drives are either ATA-5 or ATA-6. How do I know which interface to purchase? Or is ATA-6 backwards compatible and I can just buy that interface? Also what company makes quality laptop HDD? I usually buy WD for my desktop builds.

Thanks in advance.

Here are some photos of the current drive in its bay if that helps.

Take the drive out of the mounting kit, you should be able to see what kind it is.

Originally Posted by Cytoxan

Take the drive out of the mounting kit, you should be able to see what kind it is.

Toshiba MK8025GAS.

http://www.baber.com/drives/internal...5gas_specs.htm

Looks to be ATA-6. When I purchased the new drive should I wrap it in the foil from the current drive?

That’s not necessary, just mount it and try to find something fun to do while you’re waiting on the OS install.

Originally Posted by Cytoxan

That’s not necessary, just mount it and try to find something fun to do while you’re waiting on the OS install.

Like read "War and Peace."

Originally Posted by Unfiltered

Like read "War and Peace."

Or drink.

Did you get that drive in ok?

Originally Posted by Cytoxan

Did you get that drive in ok?

Ordered it from newegg today. I'm sure it won't be a problem but I'll post and let you know when it's done. Thanks again for the help.