Resolved Hard drives

I have a question (if this or any place is an appropriate place to ask this) but I was thinking of buying what looks like a nice hard drive but its packing is "bare" does the software and documentation it doesn't get since it's bare effect your ability to install an operating system?

here is the link to the Hard drive I was thinking of buying (you can look at it if you want)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

 

yeah I saw that but did you see the newer link? I changed the hard drive to a different one since open box sounds risky. Also thanks for the information, I think I might buy a bare drive now because I had the impression that if I try to install windows XP that it wouldn't work.

 

The only thing different is you'll be missing cables and possibly screws. Any utilities/diagnostic tools are normally freely available for download from the manufacturers website.

 

ALSO ... watch manufacture "Warranty ". Bare or OEM packaging generally carry a shorter coverage period. This can be multiple years when compared to "Retail" packaging.

 

Not with a hard drive. Current versions of Windows already know how to communicate with hard drives.

BUT WAIT!!! The drive you linked to is a SATA drive. If this drive is going in the system you list in your system specs, then understand your obsolete, legacy version of Windows does NOT natively support SATA drives and does not know how to communicate with them. SATA support MUST be manually installed during XP's installation.

Setting up SATA support in XP after XP has been installed is not a simple task - see Adding SATA to XP.

IF you don't already have SATA support installed in your installation of XP, that drive will NOT work!!!! And in that case you might do better getting an EIDE drive, or installing that SATA drive in an external enclosure that connects via USB, or the network.

Note too, your motherboard and power supply must support SATA as well. Again, if your system specs refer to this system, and you are running XP SP2, then that suggests to me this computer is not new. The motherboard may not have a SATA drive controller, and the PSU may not have the necessary power connectors. Power adapters are readily available, but to add hardware support requires either an add-in card, or an IDE to SATA adapter - then the drivers still need to be installed.

 

Why take the risk anyway? Amazon.com have it new, cheaper, and it will be properly boxed I would imagine.

 

It's still OEM luke, barebones does not mean no box

 

And it's still an SATA.

 

I'm aware of this, except this hard drive hasn't been sent back by someone, so there's less of a risk. And it is still cheaper.

 

What? You don't even know if niki's motherboard supports SATA!!!!!!! I call that a HUGE risk, and hardly cheaper if the supplier refuses to take it back, or charges a restocking fee since it is not damaged, or if an adapter needs to be purchased too.

If you are going to advise someone buy something, unless they are using your money, make sure it is compatible first!

 

There's less of a risk of the hard drive being DOA, that's what I meant. I never said there is no risk.

 

Nor did I say you said there was "no" risk. That said, if you buy from a reputable source, I don't see the risk of a DOA OEM (bare) drive being higher than a retail version. The only risk to OEM over retail that I see is what Dennis said earlier, the warranty may be different. Other than that, I see retail versions dumping more trash in landfills and retail versions cost MORE. I have bought 100s of OEM (bare) HDs, opticals, CPUs, even RAM with no problems. About the only thing I will not buy OEM is a generic power supply - well, I won't buy any generic PSU, OEM or retail.

And how do you know the drive from Amazon has not been returned? Or that the one from Newegg has? You don't! Sorry Luke, but you have no clue about any of that!!!

I find it odd you push retail, but your link is to a OEM. So what risks are you talking about? If you are suggesting Amazon is more trustworthy than Newegg, then you are sadly misinformed and mistaken about that too. Unless you work for Newegg.

Newegg, by the way, mark their re-sells with "open box ", "refurbished ", or "recertified" as they have done with this Seagate drive.

 

Well, I don't know so much about Newegg, hence why I'd trust Amazon more. I wasn't making any comment about OEM or retail.

 

Well, okay. But I don't understand why you would assume there is a greater risk of being ripped off with Newegg when you don't know much about them, but so be it. For the record, Newegg is a highly respected site with a hassle-free return policy - well worth the extra $1.68 for that drive.

I am still concerned about the suggested drive being SATA when it has not been established the motherboard supports it. Nevertheless, I notice the thread is marked resolved when the last thing the OP said was, "I think I might buy a bare drive ". I would not call it resolved until the new drive is installed and working, but that's not my call.

 

I've never had a problem with Amazon, but I wasn't debating the SATA issue, and I know full well what a mess that can become from experience, past and recent.

 

Bill,

I understand and agree with your concerns. It hadn't occurred to me (and I'm sure other posters) that nikixmina was looking at a drive which was perhaps incompatible with the system.

A good shout. Hopefully picked up by the original poster.

 

Ummm, aren't you supposed to learn from the past so there are no recents?

 

Another thought - when you buy from Newegg, you are buying from Newegg. When you buy from Amazon, you could be buying from anyone. Granted, Amazon does decent job of screening, but I find the affiliate approach less assuring than dealing directly with the retailer.

 

I hope so too. Whenever I see XP, I start thinking legacy hardware.