Gateway Notebook New Hard Drive

[dddave]

I have a Gateway Solo Notebook 2500 SE - 333 MHz Celeron, 64 MB RAM, 4 GB hard drive, running Windows 98 SE. I have an installed Matshita CD-ROM CR-175 drive, originally identified as D drive. I added an external USB HP CD-Writer 8200 and installed the driver using a HP file, usbver39.exe; the new external drive came in ID as E. The CD-Writer cannot functions at the same time as the Matshita CD-ROM.
I am looking for a Gateway internal drive, 40 GB or greater, that will properly interface with the motherboard or an external USB hard drive. I have a line on the latter from Gateway. However, I want to be able to mirror my existing hard drive (C) using Norton Ghost 9.0 (which contains Norton Ghost 2003), and this new external hard drive, if possible. I have a feeling that Norton Ghost 9.0 will not be able to mirror an external hard drive, as it will drop to DOS and disable the USB drive. (This is what Power Quest Drive Image 2002 did.)
Are there any other external hard drives that will properly interface with a Gateway Notebook PC, besdies a Gateway?
Any recommendations?
Thanks,
David

 

[micker377]

http://www.notebookdrivesoutlet.com/hahainsegu1.html

Interesting site on "How to".
Any harddrive should physically fit. The only problem is what MB your BIOS will accept. I just put a 30gig in my 2500 (266), with no problems. I already had the latest BIOS upgrade (due to some USB problems), so I know that will work. I don't even remember what brand it it (on sale at Fry's!). Some old BIOS cut-off points were 8gig and 32gig. So unless you can find a good return policy, I'd stick to 30gig.

 

[dddave]

The Gateway customer service rep is steering me to a 160 gb external USB hard drive for $129.99. Though he says it's compatible with my motherboard, how can I be sure?
Thanks,
David

 

[micker377]

Compatible - maybe, use full size without XP (137gig max) is questionable. They may ship the drive with an "overlay" to make it compatible, if you ever upgrade you will have to re-format and lose everything to get rid of the overlay. I'd contact Gateway and get the "compatible" guarantee in writing!