WD 2 TB caviar green drive on Windows XP 86

[Lynn McGuire]

Hi,

One of our backup drives is failing so I am going to replace it
with a WD Caviar Green 2 TB drive. This is on a Windows XP x86
box. Should we get an EARS drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136514
WD20EARS $99.99 with free shipping

Since this is one the new advanced format drives, should I go with
one of the old 512 byte drives for Windows XP x86 ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136772
WDBAAY0020HNC-NRSN $129.99 plus $7.86 shipping

If I was running Windows 7 on this pc then I would not have a
problem buying the advanced format 2K drives. However, I am
worried about compatibility.

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Rod Speed]

One of our backup drives is failing so I am going to replace it with a WD Caviar Green 2 TB drive. This is on a
Windows XP x86 box. Should we get an EARS drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136514
WD20EARS $99.99 with free shipping

Since this is one the new advanced format drives, should I go with one of the old 512 byte drives for Windows XP x86 ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136772
WDBAAY0020HNC-NRSN $129.99 plus $7.86 shipping

If I was running Windows 7 on this pc then I would not have a problem buying the advanced format 2K drives. However,
I am worried about compatibility.

It works fine with XP, it just fakes up the 512 byte sectors and XP doesnt even notice.

I prefer Samsungs over WDs myself tho.

 

[Rod Speed]

Jim wrote

It will be a bit slower if you use XP to format and don't run WD align.

Bet you couldnt even pick it in a double blind trial without being allowed
to use a benchmark and you might as well run WD align anyway.