Hard drive upgrade for Dell laptop

[sergiu]

hi all,
lately my laptop dell vostro1700 gave some weird erro messages as "Fatal Error System" and when running preboot tests, it gives hard-drive error message
so i decided to change the hard, however there are 2 x 160Gb hdd, model hm320hi
thought of replacing with one of above 320Gb; the specs coincide, but in the model number i get last two digits different for example JI
can anyone guide me through please
need to specify also that the connection is not through wires, but through connecter mounted on bracket

thank you so much

 

[tipstir]

Update the BIOS to the latest version.

DELL site reports this unit:

Single Drive:

5400 RPM hard drives up to 250GB or optional 7200 RPM Free Fall Sensor hard drive at 160GB56.

Dual Drive:
Up to 320GB configured with (2 x 160GB) 5400 RPM hard drives.

Okay so you can do the same thing with the 320GB or just leave it as a full partition. Download the latest BIOS for the unit. If not then you're might be stuck with 2 partition on 320GB new drive. Since a single can support 250GB you might get away with 320GB. Odd configuration. Even 500GB with 2x partitions of 250GB should also work. Just have to test it and see.