old pc needs new HD

hello,
I have an old dell dimension 4100
windows keeps reporting bad sectors on the 40GB IDE hard drive.
so im gonna order a replacment seagate one today.
i just wanted to ask if the hard drive in the link below would be compatible with my old dell dimension 4100?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=95537
once i get my new pc i intend on sticking this HD in to a caddy and using it for backup of my new pc.
thanks in advance
lodore

 

It should be. Any standard 3.5" IDE/EIDE/PATA drive should be fine.

Blue

 

The link doesn't open in my browser, so I can't see what you are looking at.
The BIOS of your Dell probably doesn't support large disks, but you would be able to overcome this small issue.
Depending on the operating system that you want to install, you need a tiny driver installed in the MBR.

 

i will be installing windows 2000 pro on that pc.
the HD i ordered is 120gb IDE
the HD is a seagate burricuda
where do i get the little driver for the MBR?
lodore

 

The size of your drive is probably supported by Windows 2000 SP4.
The driver comes on the cd with software that you get with the drive. And you could probably download it from the manufacturers website.

Information to read here.

 

thanks.
i created a nlited windows sk pro cd with Sp4 and all the updates on it as well as my drivers.
i found this link
http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/tp/137gb.pdf
it tells me that windows 2k pro sp3 onwards supports over 137gb.
lodore

 

Hello lodore.

Win2k (and XP) is supporting up to 137 GB for a SINGLE partition. If you want to install a larger partition on your OS, you will have to install a 48bit driver, but only if your mb (BIOS) supports 48bit transfer. I presume that this driver is included in SP3, but again, you must take care that your hardware is supported also. Conclusion: for your 120 GB Seagate, you won't have any problems.

My regards,

 

ye i had the thought while was on my way home that hang on a minute 120gb is less than 137gb
so i wont hav any problems.
the only reason i went for the 120gb drive is so that later on i can stick it in a caddy and use it as an external drive for my new pc
lodore

 

Be aware that under 2k the 120gig will show up as only 111gig. You are`t cheated out of any storage space. It has to do with the way MS does the math versus how the hdd manufacturers do the math. Just do not remember all the details right now.