adding a hard drive to pavilion 430-034

[frank_r]

I have a pavilion 400-034 slimline...product number H5P63AA#ABA.  I have run out of disk space (1TB original). I need to add a data drive.  My wife heard me talking and ordered me a drive, a Seagate 2TB 3.5 inch.  Can I install it,  or do I need a 2.5 inch?  Or, would converting it to an external usb drive be the better option?

Also, if I need to make it external, how do I make it always appear as drive "E", as drive "D" already exists (back up internal drive).

[wb2001]

@frank_r,

I am linking the Upgrade and Service manual, shown here.

The motherboard has 4 SATA data headers, 2 being used for the hard drive and DVD drive. What I do not see is any place a second hard drive would install. If the existing hard drive mounts into a tray.  Hard drives can be 3/4 to 1 inch thick.

IMHO, what you need is dual 2.5"  to 3.5" tray.  like this one.   Now we get to the other issue(s).  The original HD is 1TB. You could clone the original to a new Samsung 2.5" of the same size. That is the faster method.

Now there are options.

1) Add a second 2.5" drive for storage.

2) Use the original and or new 3.5" drive(s) as external drives.  I use this model.

[frank_r]

thank you wb2001 for the info.  I did see somewhere that the existing drive is 2.5 inch. and another drive can be added, but not the size.  I don't want to open the new drive nor the machine until I am sure I can mount another drive.  Awaiting more info. thank you.

[wb2001]

@frank_r,

Read above, I always add to my comments.

[frank_r]

That adapter goes the wrong way......I have a 2.5" now and want to go to 3.5"..I guess I could exchange this 3.5 for a 2.5, if two drives will fit in my machine.