Can I use a generic ATA or must it be ATA-5 again?

[starbrighter]

Hi all, my laptop won't boot, it says non system disk/disk error so I want to buy a new hdd. Specs state it's an IDE ATA-5. My question is does the replacement I buy have to also be ATA-5 or can I use a generic ATA?
Thanks in advance.

[Huffer]

ATA-5 is also called IDE-100 and ATA-6 is IDE-133. The slowest thing you are likely to find out there is ATA-4 or IDE-66. You can use any 2.5 inch laptop hard drive with the brass pins (old school, pre-SATA design) called PATA, IDE or ATA (all the same thing) and 9.5 mm thick. 

Ths would work, for example. 

https://www.amazon.com/160GB-HTS541616J9AT00-Inch-Laptop-Drive/dp/B017HJ2LNU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=...

They are not making new ones. If you can, try to find a 7200 rpm spin speed. Again, getting very hard to find and try to be sure you are getting new old stock and not a used drive. 

[starbrighter]

Thanks for the clear explanation ... So a new drive needs the brass pins or it won't fit at all ?

[starbrighter]

I've been looking for a budget hdd as I only want to boot it up to check its ok then sell it and they really are hard to find in the uk with those pins. It really is a lovely machine, I changed the screen, fan and heat sink - hopefully will get a decent price for it once it has a new HDD as well.
Is there anything in the online descriptions that would set it apart from others as having the brass pins? Just to make searching easier ?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

The most common description used now is PATA, not IDE or ATA so if you search for laptop PATA hard drive you will find what there is. I refurbish vintage laptops as a hobby so I buy a fair number of PATA drives and they are hard, but not impossible to find. You are in UK? Should find them on ebay UK I would think. 

[starbrighter]

Ok will search for PATA, thanks so much, youve been very helpful.