M17x - Adding a second hard drive

Question

I bought an M17x with a 2.5 SATA 640gb 7200rpm HDD.  Now, I know there is a second bay to install an additional HDD.  I opened my laptop and I I saw that HDD0 is connected to the motherboard differently than the second hard drive bay. I looked at the service manual and it seems like there is that connector called INTERPOSER.  Now, my question is, can I just go to say, Fry and get the same HDD and will it come with that Interposer connector?  Will the new drive comes with the right connector so I can just plug it in the 2nd drive bay?  or do I need to order a part from Dell? Then, after I add the 2nd HDD, my goal is just to increase storage.  Is this something Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit will automatically recognize and then I will have a new drive letter which is for this 2nd physical drive? What happens if this 640gb is not available and I put in an equivalent drive but 750gb? thanks

Cenobitez · Answer

Give Chris-M the moderator here a nudge and see if he can hook you up with a interposer, there was a few people recently he was able to elp.

Once you have the interposer, you pretty much just plug it in and go, its only with Raid where you have issue, however adding a 2nd Drive should be easy peasy.

vipersl65 · Answer

Thanks. It seems like what I need is only the interposer and I can buy the 640gb HDD from anywhere, right? Now, regarding that other question I have after putting in the 2nd HDD. I am not after RAID but what I want is a second HDD that I can connect to say Drive D: and store data. I don't need RAID for it, right?

Assuming I need RAID, what do I need?

Cenobitez · Answer

Nope, you don't need raid at all for that :)

I assume you can buy any size hard drive a 750gb or 1tb, it doesn't need to be of equal size.

I know for the primary drive it has some preperation to be done, but for the secondary drive, I believe you can just drop it in, no raid needed.

When you contact Chris about the Interposer ask him about any special requirements :)

vipersl65 · Answer

Still waiting for Chris reply.  It seems like Dell has no 640gb 2.5 SATA 7200rpm

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