Determining hard disk type- SATA or PATA in existing system - how to tell?

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Smithz
  • Start date Start date
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David Smithz

I have to buy a hard drive for a distant associate and install it when they
are there. I am assuming they have a IDE (PATA) hard drive as the system is
about over a year old.

But how can I be sure that I do not need to get a SATA one?

The person is not technical at all and they have an unbranded PC. They do
not know any details of the motherboard.

Is there a simple tool I can tell them to install of from the information in
system info, can I find out if they have SATA or PATA drive and if necessary
any other details that will help me determine what type of hard drive to
buy?

Thanks in advance.
 
Bel Arc free download www.belarc.com



|I have to buy a hard drive for a distant associate and
install it when they
| are there. I am assuming they have a IDE (PATA) hard drive
as the system is
| about over a year old.
|
| But how can I be sure that I do not need to get a SATA
one?
|
| The person is not technical at all and they have an
unbranded PC. They do
| not know any details of the motherboard.
|
| Is there a simple tool I can tell them to install of from
the information in
| system info, can I find out if they have SATA or PATA
drive and if necessary
| any other details that will help me determine what type of
hard drive to
| buy?
|
| Thanks in advance.
|
|
 
David said:
I have to buy a hard drive for a distant associate and install it when they
are there. I am assuming they have a IDE (PATA) hard drive as the system is
about over a year old.

But how can I be sure that I do not need to get a SATA one?

The person is not technical at all and they have an unbranded PC. They do
not know any details of the motherboard.

Is there a simple tool I can tell them to install of from the information in
system info, can I find out if they have SATA or PATA drive and if necessary
any other details that will help me determine what type of hard drive to
buy?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

There has to be a computer store nearby from which one can buy
a hard drive. Why do it now? Just bring your diagnostics discs
or apps with you, e.g., Belarc, Everest, etc.
 
Jaymon said:
http://aumha.net/downloads/aida32.zip
Other than looking in device manager the above links for Everest Free
Edition & or Aida32 should provide you scads of useful info.. Create
system
reports, etc..
Click to expand...

If I were to look in the device manager, would it be easy to determine if it
was SATA or PATA. I could talk the person through on the telephone before I
buy to be sure. In a sense this would be a lot better then asking them to
install something.

Cheers
 
David, the easiest solution would be to ask the client for the Make & model
of their computer or how long they have owned the computer, or how old/new it
is..
With the make & model you could Google to the OEM's site yourself and get
the specs even a manual or Faq's or How to's, from PSU replacement to CMOS
battery replacement, not to mention HD R&R..
Looking in device manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, they should see
"ultra ATA storage controller" (or similar may vary), primary & secondary IDE
channels (may vary 2 primary & 1 secondary [newer, dells])..
Hope this can help..
j;-j
 
If I were to look in the device manager, would it be easy to determine if it
was SATA or PATA. I could talk the person through on the telephone before I
buy to be sure. In a sense this would be a lot better then asking them to
install something.
Click to expand...

Tell them to tell you the model number of the disk drive.
 
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