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Alternative for harddisk?
Hi,
My laptop harddisk died (2G in an Acer Extensa 367T), and a replacement seems to be quite expensive. Someone hinted that there is a way to connect a CF card using a CF-IDE converter. I wonder if there is a similar converter that makes it possible to connect an USB 2.0 key drive to an 2.5" IDE connection inside my laptop. I think USB 2 is more useful to me, since I can connect the "harddisk" to my other computer and transfer files easily. I have no idea how workable this idea is, basically I need a "harddisk" of about 1G, as cheap as possible. The advantage of the USB (or if not possible CF) set up, is that if the laptop really dies I have at least a part left that I can use for other things (especially the USB drive). Also, the CF/USB set up makes it possible to have swapable HDs, although a bit small, but sufficient to run Windows or Linux (the machine is a 200MMX with 32MB, so I am mainly going to use it for browsing, and small office stuff). The laptop has also a bi-directional parallel port (can connect a floppy drive to it). I have no idea if I can boot from a HD connected to it. The laptop has an USB 1 connection, but I am sure it doesn't support booting from in in the BIOS. And I doubt it if I can upgrade the BIOS to do so. Any ideas, suggestions etc. are welcome. TIA, John -- John MexIT: http://johnbokma.com/mexit/ personal page: http://johnbokma.com/ Experienced programmer available: http://castleamber.com/ Happy Customers: http://castleamber.com/testimonials.html |
#2
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John Bokma wrote:
My laptop harddisk died (2G in an Acer Extensa 367T), and a replacement seems to be quite expensive. Someone hinted that there is a way to connect a CF card using a CF-IDE converter. Yes, they are available and quite cheap. All flash cards have a limited write cycles, so don't put a swap file on it. I wonder if there is a similar converter that makes it possible to connect an USB 2.0 key drive to an 2.5" IDE connection inside my laptop. No. I think USB 2 is more useful to me, since I can connect the "harddisk" to my other computer and transfer files easily. Use a usb CF card reader in your other pc. -- Mike |
#3
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"Mike Redrobe" wrote in news:7pP6d.167132$hZ3.13125
@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk: John Bokma wrote: My laptop harddisk died (2G in an Acer Extensa 367T), and a replacement seems to be quite expensive. Someone hinted that there is a way to connect a CF card using a CF-IDE converter. Yes, they are available and quite cheap. All flash cards have a limited write cycles, so don't put a swap file on it. That was what I thought, until I saw ones sold with "life time warranty". Hmmm... probably with somewhere a note that it doesn't include the write cycle limit. Also, I understand that there are actual harddisks in a CF card. (I recall a story of someone hacking open a recent MP3 player in order to put the 5G harddisk-as-CF inside his digital camera. I wonder if there is a similar converter that makes it possible to connect an USB 2.0 key drive to an 2.5" IDE connection inside my laptop. No. I think USB 2 is more useful to me, since I can connect the "harddisk" to my other computer and transfer files easily. Use a usb CF card reader in your other pc. Thanks! -- John MexIT: http://johnbokma.com/mexit/ personal page: http://johnbokma.com/ Experienced programmer available: http://castleamber.com/ Happy Customers: http://castleamber.com/testimonials.html |
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