PC hardware forum: Problem with new hard drive for laptop

Was the layout of the new drive the same as the one shown at page 53 of the manual ? I'm thinking the adapter serves to jumper the drive for use with the system.

Was it the case you weren't using the adapter or you were but just hadn't pushed it in far enough ?

VAPCMD

When I removed the old hard drive the adapter did not come out with it and since it was not actually part of the hard drive, I was unaware that there was an adapter. This not like working on a desktop where you can see everything. Just a slot with a tray that the hard drive is fastened to. Everything was pushed in because I had to have it in as far as it would go in order to fasten the screws on the back of the laptop.
Unfortunately, things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. There was no problem with the installation of the OS or other software. The problem is related to missing drivers. Upon checking Device Manager under Other Device the drivers for these "devices are not installed (Code 28)": Ethernet Controller, Multimedia Audio Controller, Network Controller, PCI Modem, Video Controller, and Video Controller (VGA Compatible). I am still working on this issue

It's a Dell so I'm off to dell.com, put in my service tag to fetch then install motherboard and then the other drivers.

Don't forget QuickSet or you may learn why it's needed.
Bob

There was that well meaning advice to put your files on another partition for safety or you could reinstall the OS but that advice turned out to be not that good.

Later folk discover they need to resize partitions and lose it all. One big partition and your files in some folder works just as well it turns out.

And this is not "storage." Most have discovered that over the years but your new owners or those that didn't lose it all continue to have their last copy of what they can't lose on "storage."
Bob

I know that data on any partition is at risk of loss almost anytime and if you partition your PRIMARY HDD to separate OS/APPs and DATA, the drive and the partitions have to be large enough to accommodate the space needed plus some extra for each.

That said . . . I always install and partition my primary HDD so that I can put my OS and APPS APPs on C and my data, my downloads, my e-mails, etc., on D. I intentionally separate my data from the OS and APPs to make backup simpler and easier (it's on a separate partition I can image and store elsewhere) and second, it makes it possible to clean up or restore a corrupted system on C with less risk of losing data on D. I've got backup images of both C and D on other HDDs that I can restore on the same drive or another HDD almost anytime.

The extra partition and separation of OS/APPs provides a measure of security and simplicity that really makes sense to me and right wrong or otherwise, has served me well over many years.

Merry Christmas to all !

VAPCMD

That a folder versus a partition here, well, user choice.

Most users get PCs with the preinstalled OS so the partition option is not there. And today's pests show no respect to stuff being on another partition.

The moderators have a saying. "We only lose what we don't backup."
Bob

I just want to make getting back up and running as easy as I can possibly make it if/when it becomes necessary.

And as indicated, this method isn't for everyone because they don't start with on new systems with any partition options. Guess that's just another reason I build my own...endless configuration options.

VAPCMD

I like to keep my own data on "D" drive, OS and Apps on C Drive. Because this laptop is only used occasionally, there is little of my own data on it, and that is backed up to a thumb drive which in turn is downloaded to my main desktop where there are various backup methods in play.

on the Inspiron 6100 ?

VAPCMD