Compaq/HP Hard Drives

Buy a hard drive for your Compaq or HP desktop or laptop computer right here, right now. Every day someone's harddrive go out for some reason or another. Some may crash, burn or fry due to an electrical surge. Some will die simply because they get worn out. In some cases a hard drive will warn you when it's coming to an end, other times it will simply die, never to be resurrected. If you feel your hard drive is failing, or it's been longer than 5 years, you should get it replaced as soon as possible.

You should always keep backups of your important documents and files just in case you decide to replace that drive too late. There are many ways to backup files; CD, DVD, flash drives, memory sticks, external hard drive, floppy disk and online storage facilities. Don't be left without a backup if/when your hard drive fails.

For those of you unaware, replacement hard drives can be any size of your choosing. If you have a 20GB hard drive you can replace it with another 20GB if you want. You could also replace that hard drive with a 40GB, or 160GB or even a 250GB! Choosing a hard drive for your computer is relatively easy, the only thing you need to know is if it's SATA or not. Older computers will only accept ATA (aka IDE) drives while the newer ones can accept SATA. This all depends on the manufacturer. Check your drive to see if it is ATA or SATA, then all you need to do is to pick out the size of drive you want. A bigger size means you can hold more files including pictures, movies, music and so on.

Prevention of hard drive failure consists mainly of keeping it cool. Heat is the worst enemy of hard drive and hard drive components. Make sure to dust regularly and keep fresh air flowing through the system. If you have a laptop, try not to place the laptop on soft surfaces (i.e. pillow, blanket, carpet) where heat can build up while it's running. If you have a desktop, be sure to keep the area well ventilated and try not to stick it inside a cabinet where it can heat up in a hurry. Another prevention tip is keeping your hard drive from working constantly. Defragment your hard drive at least once a month and keep your system free from spy ware and viruses. When your computer has spy ware or a virus the hard drive takes the brunt of the punishment because it is constantly being accessed 24 hours a day.