hard drive install question

[radio51]

I want to install a second hard drive in my HP dv7-6c95dx. the main drive that is in it now is a,

750GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

I want to put in a second drive (the one above) for a total of 1.5TB of hard drive storage. ok now my question,

is the "HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection" a gimmick or does it really work? should i just get a drive of the same brand and forget about the "HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection"? I want to get the exact matching drive but HP wants $256 for it (ouch!),

and that does not include the cable. is it worth the extra $130 or so for the matching "HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection"?

Or should i just get a matching brand hard drive and forget about the "HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection"? 

[DavidPK]

Hi,

HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection is software - not a hardware component of the HDD - that interacts with an accelerometer on the Motherboard to detect if the notebook has gone into 'freefall' and if detected, send an instruction the the Hard Drive(s) to park the drive heads - this minimizes the chance of damage to the platters on the HDD, so even if the notebook is damaged in the fall, the data on the drive(s) has a better chance of surviving.

You're absolutely free to buy the HDD from wherever you want - an example of which is Here.

After installing the second HDD, you may need to uninstall and then reinstall HP ProtectSmart - the latest version of the software is on the following link.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-105047-1&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en...

Regards,

DP-K

[radio51]

wow ok cool, i thought it was a sensor or something that hp had built into their drives. do you know off hand what brand of hard drive they use in the dv7-6c95dx? is it seagate? i want to have the two drives be exactly the same brand, specs etc. thanks

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Most of the dv7 range I've seen use Seagate HDDs, but I would recommend checking - see Page 51 of your Maintenance & Service Guide.

A good source for secondary HDD caddies and cables for the dv7 range is Here.

Regards,

DP-K

[radio51]

the service manual doesn't say what brand of HDD just the specs, oh well. but thanks for all the help. i really appreaciate it

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Sorry, I should have been clearer on this, I meant that you should physically check the drive currently installed in your notebook.

Best regards,

DP-K

[radio51]

ah ok gotcha. ok i will do that. thanks again for the help and links.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

You're more than welcome

All the best,

DP-K