HDD with XP Home accept new hardware?

[Aaflac]

See if you can find it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkCentre-...23153003r34459

There are some pictures if you scroll down a bit.

There is a picture that shows the ribbon connected to the mainboard, but not to the FDD.

I'll see if I can find another...

Here goes another one showing the white ribbon to the FDD:
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI....m=120414610098

Nothing shows the actual connector on the FDD...

[jintan]

Small form, and using some laptop methods to keep it small. Check the steps under #4 here for a Gateway Profile (another part laptop/part desktop pc). Laptops cabling often uses small clamps the flip up or slide straight up and down. You need to check the connection area closely to see if there are small tabs that can be moved upwards (depending on the angle which way is "up"). Then slide the cable into the slot, being sure the pin facing on the cable connects to the open pin facing on the drive, so that you have metal to metal contact.

[Aaflac]

Thank you!!!!!

Got it fixed.

The pictures really helped.

It has been several years since I've opened up a computer and connected anything. The connectors I remember were different. This was just a ribbon with no plastic 'thingie' containing pins or pin slots at the ends.

Guess it takes a computer repair person to know where to go to find info on what was needed.

The thing that puzzles me is, why does the original OS and software that came with the machine get erased, and the reseller create a Courtesy OEM Installation Disk CD?

If I get a Rescue CD from IBM, is that going to do any good, or does it need the extra partition that IBM creates for it to work?

[jintan]

Very good. Those units are typically "off lease", where a lease ends for a large firm with multiple units. So of course the drives have to be wiped of all data. The unit does have a COA, and is authorized to have a copy of XP installed, so the reseller then creates their own slipstream install, that includes the necessary drivers. And as a courtesy provides a backup XP install CD as well. Given all that, no, the original Recovery CD that may have come with the unit is no longer relevant once the drive is reformatted and installed with a non-branded OEM install. And really would not be needed anyway.

[Aaflac]

What I was thinking about is that the computer probably had Microsoft Works, and stuff of that nature installed, and now, it does not.

[jintan]

If you do not own a copy of Works, and do not have the resources to purchase it, you can consider using OpenOffice instead.

[Aaflac]

Yes!! That is what I did.