Well today I started the install.

I got a panic on that the connector for the new HDD was completely different. Little did I know I had to remove the chip/converter from the old to the new :lol:

I think it might have the connection :look:

Parcelforce fail. Decided to send the PC Card to Bristol depot instead of Welwyn. HDD arrived though.

I've noticed they like to do that on their newer netbooks :)

Ahh, never checked one that old, any newer one I've seen has had it.

No John, I THINK what he's trying to say is one of Dell's favourite little tricks is not include the capability and not put the Mini PCI connector on the motherboard.

eBuyer are immense. I choose free delivery and it says it'll be delivered September 2nd.

It was dispatched today via Parcelforce so worst case is Friday :lol:

If there are wires there they'll have ends on the, would never need to solder anything like that, fair enough though.

iirc yesterday from when I took it apart the wires are there, but no connectors i.e. would need soldering. I'm not 100% sure though.

That and it was Dad's business so needed to come from one place for the VAT etc.

They'll work.

Any reason you went for the more expensive pcmcia card that sticks out the side instead of the cheaper mini pci card that's hidden away?

Anyway, I went for this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155940

And this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/46056

PDF user manual says it has a PC Card - I guess this is the same as PCMCIA?

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/ins5100/en/i5100-om.pdf

[Edited on 24-08-2010 by deano87]

quote:

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Originally posted by deano87
I think I did see wires/port for one of those when I took it apart.

I mean it has got one of the slots on the side that you can put all sorts of things in. I thought you could get a wireless card for that.

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I think I did see wires/port for one of those when I took it apart.

I mean it has got one of the slots on the side that you can put all sorts of things in. I thought you could get a wireless card for that.

Just seen the bottom bit, can't see anything about a pcmcia card in the manual?

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins5100/en/sm/upgrades.htm#1105550

It does take a mini pci card though, such as:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dell-Intel-Wifi-Link-5100-Half-Height-Mini-PCI-H006K-/120563330474?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PCMCIACards#ht_2404wt_1137

Open the cover and see if the antenna wires are there, they should be.

As usual, John is spot on the moneyz :D

Got the details off the amazon page with that hard drive btw if you want to double check yourself.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujitsu-Mobile-MHT2040AT-internal-ATA-100/dp/B0000ATDBI

:thumbs:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155940

Needs to be 2.5" IDE and 9.5mm.

My sister has given dad her old Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop. It all works fine except my sister has put loads of shit on the 40GB HDD. I want to replace, then use all the Dell CD's to reinstall Windows so it's like a fresh laptop for dad.

This is the current HDD:
http://www.fujitsu.com/global/services/computing/storage/hdd/mhdd/mht2xxx-catalog.html

I cannot decipher the connection type and speed to determine what I can replace it with.

Can anyone work it out then recommend a HDD and/or place?! I immediately went to eBuyer but got a bit confused as I'm not sure what HDD I need to look for.

Also, it needs an old skool plug in wireless card - what are these called again? PCMIA?

:wave: