Goofy SATA Connection In HP Laptops

[Ed Cordes]

A few weeks ago I posted that I was going to change the HD in my HP Laptop. Well, I learned something that may interest you guys.

After receiving the new drive from TigerDirect I found that the SATA contacts were not compatable. It was almost like they were a mirror image on the opposite side of the drive. TigerDirect was of no help. HP was of little help at first. Then I found a tech at HP who was going to sell me an adapter for $50 to make the drive compatable. So, I had the bright idea to see if said adapter was already on the original equip HD. Sure enough, after very gently and carefully pulling on the contacts of the old drive an adapter came off. Under the adapter of the old drive the SATA pattern was the one we are all familiar with. The adapter fit the new drive which is now installed and working just fine.

So, it seems that HP tries to make its drives appear to have propriatary contacts when, in fact the drives are exactly like any other but have an adapter that makes them look and act differently.

Maybe you all knew this, but it was frustrating to me to have to solve this myself with no direct help from HP -The tech could have told me this instead of trying to sell me another connector.

[Grady Weed]

Ed,

Almost all laptop hard drives have an adapter to remove and then re-install to the new replacement hd. Someone just did not tell you and assumed you needed one when you called back to ask. Now you know. Knowledge is power. Your now one step ahead of the game. However I do understand your frustration.

[Ed Cordes]

Thanks for the reply Grady. I find it interesting that most companies do this and yet none of the "experts" at 2 of the major big box computer supply stores in my area even had a clue! They spoke to me as if I had it all wrong. I would also have thought that a tech at tech support would have mentioned this first when I described the mismatch and queried why the original equipment Seagate drive would be different than a standard SATA.

So, this practice is not very well known even by the "Expert Squads".

[Chris Ober]

Yup, the drive cages vary between vendors and even between models from the same vendor. You can usually locate one for about $10 online if needed.

The guys you talked with are first level and usually don't know the answer unless it's in their documentation given to them about common inquiries.