Harddiscs... Options

[Siegfried]

I need a bit of a recommendation as I'm taking my first steps into computer upgrading. I feel the need for a new hard disc. My faihful old one is knocking on for 10 years old and, while it is still running really well and keeping my Windows install happy, I cannot help but feel that it's on borrowed time and I could do with a bit more space.

So, can anyone recommend a good make / model to go for please ? Size isn't that important, price isn't really either as long as it's not ridiculous, I have no need to be running the space shuttle or anything but I prefer to pay for quality now and hopefully get another long living disc rather than have the problems of HD failure.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Mentawl]

I'm rather partial to Western Digital disks, myself. The Caviar Black series is their performance/quality line, and comes with a 5-year warranty - one of the few consumer drives that still does. Their Velociraptor series is really nice if you're willing to pay for the extra performance, although it's questionable whether it's worth it with SSDs dropping in price all the time.

The thought occurs that, with a drive that old, you're likely running it on a PATA interface (ye old ribbon cables). Does your current motherboard support SATA, which is the new standard? If not, your options are gonna be substantially limited.

[Siegfried]

Yep, it does SATA I and II. Here's what I've got.

[Mentawl]

Sorted then, any SATA HDD should work without issue. =)

[Freelancer_TEMP]

Sorted then, any SATA HDD should work without issue. =)

Word to the wise. IF you keep a backup drive of all your important information and the normal drive you stored that information fails DONT drop the @#$@#$ing backup down a flight of stairs....

....as of right now I'm royallly screwed and lost all my music, original sigs and images, banzai material going back since 03, and worst of all my master password files. I have a hard copy printed out that I hid so well I probably wont find it until my sone goes to high school

[Rat]

Hey Free, check your PM.

[Mentawl]

Owch =/. Sound advice there Free.

[Freelancer]

Owch =/. Sound advice there Free.

I've just managed to get just about all the passwords I wanted recovered back without resorting to tearing the house appart to find that little USB drive or the paper copy I hid in a book somewhere....

As far as the backed up programs and music go, I can still pull all that stuff of the net with relative ease. The only thing that really hurt was the pictures, screen shots and sig artwork going back a decade. Its a head problem with the drive and I *could* get the information recovered but I just don't think its worth it. I have all the stuff that really matters back now, the rest can be replaced over time and I have an excuse to make some new material.

[Freelancer]

Hey Free, check your PM.

You're the man Rat

[Thunderbolt]

Rat is the man. Saved my butt more times than I care to remember. Like just about every time I log on and forget my PW cuzz I'm gettin old.