Options - HDD - Articles about Computing

Replacing Your Old Hard Drive, Part 1: The Options

Your computer has run out of memory.

The first question to be answered is which memory has been filled. If it is the system memory (RAM) then a technician can replace certain memory chips with larger capacity chips. You may then be able to run certain programs that require greater memory resources. However, this solution doesn't always work with every program. Your technician will be the best one to advise you in this matter. In certain cases, it may be advisable to upgrade other parts, or even to use a more advanced computer.

Another possible problem could be the hard drive. It has a limited amount of storage space. When you run out of room, there's no way to stretch that old drive. This article will deal with ways of dealing with that possibility.

You can consider various options:

You can add external storage. A Zip disk holds the equivalent of 67 to 160 full regular diskettes. Jaz media holds as much as a small hard drive - and you can easily swap out that media for another one that will hold just as much.

You can add one of the many new storage options that are available.

You can add a rewritable CD or DVD drive, and add certain programs to it.

You can add a hard drive. The new hard drive can work together with the old one, and you'll be able to fill up the new drive with data.

You can replace the old hard drive with a large drive. You'll be swimming in data until you fill the new drive.

Which of these options is the feasible for your own needs? That's the purpose of the second installment in this series.