This is my first post and forgive me for not looking for the answer to my question in a previous thread (there are too many!)

I am trying to upgrade my old compaq desktop and the first thing on my to do list is a new internal hard drive. While looking for hard drives I came across 2 different types; IDE and SCSI.

I was wondering what the difference between the 2 of these were. Thanks for your help.

Hi and welcome to D-A-L

I should imagine your hard drive is IDE

this site may explain a bit better than I can the difference between the 2

http://www.rhebus.com/refernce.htm

Thank you. That site helped a bunch!

I fully concur with brain_damage; IDE it will be if it's a straight replacement.

Keep in mind that older Compaq's had setup information on a "hidden" partition on the original hard disk. If your system is in this catagory, before you switch hard disks go to the HP site (Hewlett Packard now owns Compaq) and download the appropriate setup files (which you put on a floppy) to get the hard disk/system running. You won't get far without it. Check before you change hardware.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

(The above is a United States link)

Just enter into the appropriate links on the site and you'll get there. If you have problems or get lost, post back with your full model number. (The serial number of the system is sometimes required. Both model and serial numbers should be on a plate/sticker somewhere on the outside of the enclosure.)

EDIT:
Just found this other link in my bookmarks.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/