Hello all.

Thanks for looking into my little dilemma.

I want to install a bigger HDD. When I enquired about this the bloke asked if I knew the limit of my PC. Apparently some PCs only support HDD up to a certain size.

I have tried searching the HP UK web site but I can't find a thing. I was wondering if there was anyone out there who could help me find out the maximum size HDD that I can install in my PC.

Hewlett-Packard Vectra VL400
Pentium III, 800 MHz
Windows XP Pro
RAM 384 MB

At present I have two 10GB HD

Thanks in advance.
ATB Gary.

According to this link:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...06/ai_ziff1642

10GB, 20GB, or 40GB hard drive

You will note in this link:

http://review.zdnet.com/HP_Vectra_VL...-30056835.html

Hard drive interface ATA-66 (i.e. very slow).

I used to have a HP Vectra VLi8 and ran an 80GB ATA-133 by using an ATA-133 IDE PCI controller card.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...SeriesId=32861

Hi jephree.

Thanks for getting back to me.

I am pretty computer illiterate, but according to the info I have, my HDD's have an IDE interface. Would this make any difference?

If I needed any info about my PC, I used to look in HPs web site. This time when I looked I had no idea where to look. There site used to have the info that I am looking for, and probably still does. I just don't know where to look.

ATB Gary.

IDE/ATA is the (or was the) standard. The new interface is SATA. So just make sure you get an IDE/ATA drive and not SATA.

Again most new IDE/ATA drives will be ATA-133. Unless you use a PCI controller card (which fits a PCI slot on your motherboard) any hard drive will revert to ATA-66.

From my Vectra experience I would highly recommend a PCI controller card (and also load your latest BIOS if you do not have it).

Here is HP's page for the VL400:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...odTypeId=12454

Here is a Google of PCI IDE controller cards:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...ntroller+cards

Again you want ATA and not SATA.

Thanks jephree for all your help.

You have been most kind.

ATB Gary.

PS. I have been through this before, but I have forgoten. Can you please describe a PCI slot.

Thanks again. Gary.

You will see a series of probably white slots on the motherboard. HP has visual guides at that link above depending on the exact case type:

hp vectra vl400, upgrade and installation guide for desktop models

hp vectra vl400, upgrade and installation guide for monitower models

hp vectra vl400, upgrade and installation guide for small form factor models

Here is the example from the desktop link: Under Accessory boards:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/su...0/lpv06510.pdf