I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.

I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am

not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
details are given. I am not able to find that info on
"www.toshiba.com".


Help needed.

In general you can use any 2.5" hard drive that has the same interface
(there are only two, IDE and SATA), and that will physically fit (e.g.
not too thick ... all other dimensions are standardized, but there are
several thicknesses).

Theoretically, the laptop might support a maximum size (gigabytes), but
this model is new enough that I don't think drive capacity will be an
issue. Also, most laptops will take a 12.5mm drive, even if they come
with thinner drives (and 12.5mm (1/2") is the thickest size in current
or recent past production). So the biggest issue is to make sure that
you have the right interface, and I'm pretty sure that the A15 was IDE.
You don't have to stick with the same brand, and in fact if the drives
that you mentioned are 4200rpm, I'd definitely take the chance to
upgrade to a 5400rpm drive.



ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:

> I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
> MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
> hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
>
> I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
>
> not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
> am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
> details are given. I am not able to find that info on
> "www.toshiba.com".
>
>
> Help needed.
>

Thanks for the info.
Yes it is 2.5" hard drive with 4200 rpm. Also when I see the specs for
MK6021GAS (60GB) one, it shows the interface as ATA-2/3/4/5.
So hopefully it is the right interface.
Barry Watzman wrote:
> In general you can use any 2.5" hard drive that has the same interface
> (there are only two, IDE and SATA), and that will physically fit (e.g.
> not too thick ... all other dimensions are standardized, but there are
> several thicknesses).
>
> Theoretically, the laptop might support a maximum size (gigabytes), but
> this model is new enough that I don't think drive capacity will be an
> issue. Also, most laptops will take a 12.5mm drive, even if they come
> with thinner drives (and 12.5mm (1/2") is the thickest size in current
> or recent past production). So the biggest issue is to make sure that
> you have the right interface, and I'm pretty sure that the A15 was IDE.
> You don't have to stick with the same brand, and in fact if the drives
> that you mentioned are 4200rpm, I'd definitely take the chance to
> upgrade to a 5400rpm drive.
>
>
>
> ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
>
> > I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
> > MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
> > hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
> >
> > I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
> >
> > not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
> > am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
> > details are given. I am not able to find that info on
> > "www.toshiba.com".
> >
> >
> > Help needed.
> >

I was comparing the 60GB disk specifications and 30 GB one. There is
one difference with respect to "Data Storage Physical" key feature. It
shows for
60GB -- Number of disks= 2 and Data heads =4 and for
30GB -- Number of disks= 1 and Data heads =2 .

Does the number of disks or data heads have any significance on
upgrading the disk from 30GB to 60GB?



Balu wrote:
> Thanks for the info.
> Yes it is 2.5" hard drive with 4200 rpm. Also when I see the specs for
> MK6021GAS (60GB) one, it shows the interface as ATA-2/3/4/5.
> So hopefully it is the right interface.
> Barry Watzman wrote:
> > In general you can use any 2.5" hard drive that has the same interface
> > (there are only two, IDE and SATA), and that will physically fit (e.g.
> > not too thick ... all other dimensions are standardized, but there are
> > several thicknesses).
> >
> > Theoretically, the laptop might support a maximum size (gigabytes), but
> > this model is new enough that I don't think drive capacity will be an
> > issue. Also, most laptops will take a 12.5mm drive, even if they come
> > with thinner drives (and 12.5mm (1/2") is the thickest size in current
> > or recent past production). So the biggest issue is to make sure that
> > you have the right interface, and I'm pretty sure that the A15 was IDE.
> > You don't have to stick with the same brand, and in fact if the drives
> > that you mentioned are 4200rpm, I'd definitely take the chance to
> > upgrade to a 5400rpm drive.
> >
> >
> >
> > ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
> >
> > > I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
> > > MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
> > > hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
> > >
> > > I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
> > >
> > > not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
> > > am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
> > > details are given. I am not able to find that info on
> > > "www.toshiba.com".
> > >
> > >
> > > Help needed.
> > >

Thanks for the info. This should be enough to go for a new drive.
Balu wrote:
> I was comparing the 60GB disk specifications and 30 GB one. There is
> one difference with respect to "Data Storage Physical" key feature. It
> shows for
> 60GB -- Number of disks= 2 and Data heads =4 and for
> 30GB -- Number of disks= 1 and Data heads =2 .
>
> Does the number of disks or data heads have any significance on
> upgrading the disk from 30GB to 60GB?
>
>
>
> Balu wrote:
> > Thanks for the info.
> > Yes it is 2.5" hard drive with 4200 rpm. Also when I see the specs for
> > MK6021GAS (60GB) one, it shows the interface as ATA-2/3/4/5.
> > So hopefully it is the right interface.
> > Barry Watzman wrote:
> > > In general you can use any 2.5" hard drive that has the same interface
> > > (there are only two, IDE and SATA), and that will physically fit (e.g.
> > > not too thick ... all other dimensions are standardized, but there are
> > > several thicknesses).
> > >
> > > Theoretically, the laptop might support a maximum size (gigabytes), but
> > > this model is new enough that I don't think drive capacity will be an
> > > issue. Also, most laptops will take a 12.5mm drive, even if they come
> > > with thinner drives (and 12.5mm (1/2") is the thickest size in current
> > > or recent past production). So the biggest issue is to make sure that
> > > you have the right interface, and I'm pretty sure that the A15 was IDE.
> > > You don't have to stick with the same brand, and in fact if the drives
> > > that you mentioned are 4200rpm, I'd definitely take the chance to
> > > upgrade to a 5400rpm drive.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
> > > > MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
> > > > hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
> > > >
> > > > I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
> > > >
> > > > not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
> > > > am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
> > > > details are given. I am not able to find that info on
> > > > "www.toshiba.com".
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Help needed.
> > > >

ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
> I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
> MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
> hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
>
> I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
>
> not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
> am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
> details are given. I am not able to find that info on
> "www.toshiba.com".

That drive is fine, but you aren't limited to Toshiba. For 2.5" drives,
you need to be careful. You want to avoid Hitachi, Seagate, Maxtor and
Western Digital.

Toshiba is fine, as is Fujitsu, i.e.
"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822153022"

No, the number of heads and platters is totally transparent to both you
and everything external to the drive (the bios, windows, etc.).


Balu wrote:
> I was comparing the 60GB disk specifications and 30 GB one. There is
> one difference with respect to "Data Storage Physical" key feature. It
> shows for
> 60GB -- Number of disks= 2 and Data heads =4 and for
> 30GB -- Number of disks= 1 and Data heads =2 .
>
> Does the number of disks or data heads have any significance on
> upgrading the disk from 30GB to 60GB?
>
>
>
> Balu wrote:
>
>>Thanks for the info.
>>Yes it is 2.5" hard drive with 4200 rpm. Also when I see the specs for
>>MK6021GAS (60GB) one, it shows the interface as ATA-2/3/4/5.
>>So hopefully it is the right interface.
>>Barry Watzman wrote:
>>
>>>In general you can use any 2.5" hard drive that has the same interface
>>>(there are only two, IDE and SATA), and that will physically fit (e.g.
>>>not too thick ... all other dimensions are standardized, but there are
>>>several thicknesses).
>>>
>>>Theoretically, the laptop might support a maximum size (gigabytes), but
>>>this model is new enough that I don't think drive capacity will be an
>>>issue. Also, most laptops will take a 12.5mm drive, even if they come
>>>with thinner drives (and 12.5mm (1/2") is the thickest size in current
>>>or recent past production). So the biggest issue is to make sure that
>>>you have the right interface, and I'm pretty sure that the A15 was IDE.
>>> You don't have to stick with the same brand, and in fact if the drives
>>>that you mentioned are 4200rpm, I'd definitely take the chance to
>>>upgrade to a 5400rpm drive.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
>>>>MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
>>>>hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
>>>>
>>>>I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
>>>>
>>>>not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
>>>>am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
>>>>details are given. I am not able to find that info on
>>>>"www.toshiba.com".
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Help needed.
>>>>
>
>

There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives, WD
almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and I know
of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist]. Nor do I
know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.


SMS wrote:

> ramachandran.balu******.com wrote:
>
>> I have a Toshiba A15 S1292 laptop. Its hard disk is 30 GB and model
>> MK3021GAS. I would like to replace the 30GB hard disk with new 60 GB
>> hard disk, as the 30GB hard disk crashed.
>>
>> I am planning to go for Toshiba hard drive model MK6021GAS( 60GB). I am
>>
>> not sure whether this hard drive is compatible for A15 s1292 laptop. I
>> am not able to find any document or web site where the compatibility
>> details are given. I am not able to find that info on
>> "www.toshiba.com".
>
>
> That drive is fine, but you aren't limited to Toshiba. For 2.5" drives,
> you need to be careful. You want to avoid Hitachi, Seagate, Maxtor and
> Western Digital.
>
> Toshiba is fine, as is Fujitsu, i.e.
> "http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822153022"

On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:14:32 -0400, I waved a wand and this message
magically appears in front of Barry Watzman:

> There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives,
> WD almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and
> I know of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist].
> Nor do I know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.

I've always bought Fujitsu hard disks; their quality is exceptional.
--
http://www.munted.org.uk

You've been eating the cat food again, haven't you?

The truth is that I don't think you can argue that over the long term,
any major brand of hard drive is inferior to or superior to the others.
Almost every brand has had a particular model that was a problem, the
most notable case being some of the IBM models which were so bad that
they were reportedly a factor in IBM getting out of the disk drive
business (sold it to Hitachi)(those were the models that were only
half-jokingly called "deathstar" drives). But, overall, drives with the
same specs and selling for about the same price are pretty comparable.


Alex Buell wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:14:32 -0400, I waved a wand and this message
> magically appears in front of Barry Watzman:
>
>
>>There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives,
>>WD almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and
>>I know of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist].
>>Nor do I know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.
>
>
> I've always bought Fujitsu hard disks; their quality is exceptional.

Barry Watzman wrote:
> There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives, WD
> almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and I know
> of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist]. Nor do I
> know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.

Maxtor (now part of Seagate) does have a new low-end line of notebook
drives that are targeted at the white-box notebook market. It's called
MobileMax. They only go up to 80GB.

As to the others, my view is based on what two friends that work for
major disk drive companies tell me (one for WD, one for Maxtor) about
their own and other brands of drives. IBM drives used to be excellent,
but went downhill even before they were purchased by Hitachi.

Alex Buell wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:14:32 -0400, I waved a wand and this message
> magically appears in front of Barry Watzman:
>
>> There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives,
>> WD almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and
>> I know of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist].
>> Nor do I know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.
>
> I've always bought Fujitsu hard disks; their quality is exceptional.

They are the top tier of drives. They are marginally more expensive than
the lower quality drives, and worth the extra money.

SMS wrote:
> As to the others, my view is based on what two friends that work for
> major disk drive companies tell me (one for WD, one for Maxtor) about
> their own and other brands of drives.

That's called FUD!

Hitachi are the number one selling brand of laptop HDs. That's because of
their longevity, not a cheap price point.
--
James

Visit the Thinkpad Forums
http://forum.thinkpads.com

SMS wrote:
> They are the top tier of drives. They are marginally more expensive
> than the lower quality drives, and worth the extra money.

Nonsense. They're good HDs, but they're not worth paying extra for them.
--
James

Visit the Thinkpad Forums
http://forum.thinkpads.com

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:06:15 +0100, Alex Buell
<alex.buell@munted.org.uk> wrote:

:>On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:14:32 -0400, I waved a wand and this message
:>magically appears in front of Barry Watzman:
:>
:>> There is nothing wrong with Hitachi, Maxtor doesn't make 2.5" drives,
:>> WD almost doesn't make them (just a few and relatively scarce ) [and
:>> I know of no history that suggests to avoid those that do exist].
:>> Nor do I know of any reason to avoid Seagate 2.5" drives.
:>
:>I've always bought Fujitsu hard disks; their quality is exceptional.

Not the ones used by Toshiba the last couple of years in their
notebooks. At the Toshiba ASP where I used to work we found the
failure rate on the Fujitsu drives to be extremely high. Well over
half of the drives we replaced in the last few years were Fujitsu with
the balance being Toshiba, IBM, Hitachi and Seagate. Prior to Toshiba
using the Fujitsu drives the highest failure rate was in Tohiba
drives. :-)

me/2