Conference akocoa::decpc_portables

    Unless I missed something, all these notes refer to the ULTRA models. 
    My CT475 doesn't say ULTRA anywhere on it and the models physically
    look different.  Are they the same internally?  Would the disk
    replacement procedures be the same?
    
    Rgds,
    Tom

    re: .2 by ODIXIE::SIMPSONT
    
    >> My CT475 doesn't say ULTRA anywhere on it and the models physically
    >> look different.  Are they the same internally?  Would the disk
    >> replacement procedures be the same?
    
    Hi Tom,
    
    No, my understanding is that the HiNote Ultra (I) and HiNote use
    different disks.  The latter should actually be easier to work on
    and the disk is not part of the ultra thin structure or frame.
    
    Someone will correct me if I got that wrong...
    
    /Bill

   If you have a HiNote non-Ultra, you likely have a HiNote VP 5-hundred
   (Intel Pentium) or VP 5-thousand (Intel i486).  These two series HiNote
   systems have disk drives that are user-swappable for larger drives...

   I'm sure upgrading a VP has been discussed before...

     Actually, if you have a CT475, and it's not an Ultra, 
then you have a Hinote (code name "Cashew"), and not a
HiNote VP - series machine.  Replacing the hard drive in a
HiNote is a whole lot easier than doing so in a HiNote
Ultra.  Lifting the keyboard deck exposes the hard drive
compartment at the lower left corner.

    Great!  Sounds like I can do the swap myself, since I have a plain
    old HiNote (exactly as .-1 described).  Any suggestions as to which
    drive(s) should be considered? 
    
    Can the disk be ordered internally?
    
    Thanks for the responses!
    
    Regards,
    Tom

    A few of us in my group have replaced the drives in our Hinotes
    (non-Ultra, non-VP).  I found Universal Computer Distributing
    (www.ucdweb.com) to have about the best prices. The are in Irwindale,
    CA.  They have an 800 number listed on there web page.
    
    Not sure about their support if you have any problems.  I think they
    would rather have you talk to the manufacturer then talk with them.
    
    The Toshiba MK2103 (2.16 GB) that I paid $450 for about
    a month ago is now $395. This drive is the same physical size of the
    320 MB drive that came with the Hinote.
    
    I see they now have the MK3003 (3.10 GB) for $589.
    
    They will ship it overnite so you can get it the next day you order it.
    
    Jim Chapman
    
    
    
    

    Thanks!!  That's the info I needed.  Did you replacement yourself?  I
    looked at it carefully this morning and *appears* to be fairly easy to
    replace.  Any surprises/gotchas?
    
    fwiw - The old drive is a Toshiba MK2326FCH. 
    
    Regards,
    Tom

>    Thanks!!  That's the info I needed.  Did you replacement yourself?  I
>    looked at it carefully this morning and *appears* to be fairly easy to
>    replace.  Any surprises/gotchas?

Just so long as you have the field service manual, the right tools, and some
patience, its fairly easy. Just don't force anything!

    To finish up this thread...
    
    I did the upgrade last weekend.  Everything went smoothly.  The part
    that I was least sure of, was the easiest part - r&r the disk drive. 
    In this model HiNote, there are NO TOOLS required and it took less than
    5 minutes (I was being very careful).  I bought the Toshiba MK2103 drive 
    from UCD as mentioned in a previous reply. The price was $385+shipping.
    I ran FDISK and created 2 partitions, formatted and reloaded the OS.
    
    I thought that a full backup would save a lot of time, so I restored
    from an backup that I did to an external SCSI drive.  Silly me. 
    Microsoft backup SUCKS.  I still ended up reinstalling a lot of
    software that should have been restored by backup.  I still have a few
    minor quirks that I haven't been able to resolve yet...
    
    Regards,
    Tom
    

Just to add my $.02 worth - I've successfully added the Toshiba MK3003 (3.1 gByte disk) to my 
HINOTE CT475. 

My first experiment was to verify that the BIOS supports LBA and can access the entire disk. 
I did this by partitioning the disk to the maximum supported by FAT16 (2.1 gByte) and then 
copying files until both partitions wre full. SCANDISK ran fine, without any problems 
reported. 

I then installed WIN95 OSR2, and created a floppy disk with the new version of FDISK. Booting 
from the floppy, FDISK reported that the hard disk was larger than 2.1 gBytes and asked if I 
wanted 32 bit FAT support. I chose yes, and was able to format the entire 3.1 gByte disk. 
(Choosing NO restricts a disk partition to a maximum of 2.1 gBytes).

Finally, I installed NT workstation 4.0. In order to create an NTFS disk at the full size 
(3.1 gBytes), I discovered (after 3-4 installations) that the only way to do this is to 
install using the boot floppies. (Running WINNT or WINNT32 will create a 16 bit FAT 
partition, limited to 2.1 gBytes. If you specify NTFS, this install method creates FAT16 in 
order to copy the "hidden" files for install, and schedules CONVERT.EXE to rn after the 
install is completed).

(For those who have the Panasonic KXL-D720 CDROM, its KLXC001 controller is no longer 
supported by NT 4.0. I had to use the ADAPTEC Slim-SCSI PCMCIA controller).

My analysis of the larger (>2.1 gByte) disks is that if you want to multi-boot between 
WINDOWS95 and NT4.0, you cannot choose FAT32 support, since NT 4.0 does not support this disk 
structure. (Obviously, WIN95 does not support the NTFS file structure, which forces you to 
give up NT security if NT and WIN95 want to see each other's disks). I chose not to 
multi-boot, and implemented NTFS to support the entire disk so I'll have enough room for the 
new wave of development products and applications (Developer's Studio, Office 97). 

<<< Note 2346.11 by ALFSS1::oro_dial2_port2.oro.dec.com::GARABO "CyberNeuroSurgeon General" >>>
                          -< Added a 3.1 gByte disk >-

Just to add my $.02 worth - I've successfully added the Toshiba MK3003 (3.1
gByte disk) to my  HINOTE CT475. 

My first experiment was to verify that the BIOS supports LBA and can access
the entire disk.  I did this by partitioning the disk to the maximum supported
by FAT16 (2.1 gByte) and then  copying files until both partitions wre full.
SCANDISK ran fine, without any problems  reported. 

I then installed WIN95 OSR2, and created a floppy disk with the new version of
FDISK. Booting  from the floppy, FDISK reported that the hard disk was larger
than 2.1 gBytes and asked if I  wanted 32 bit FAT support. I chose yes, and
was able to format the entire 3.1 gByte disk.  (Choosing NO restricts a disk
partition to a maximum of 2.1 gBytes).

Finally, I installed NT workstation 4.0. In order to create an NTFS disk at
the full size  (3.1 gBytes), I discovered (after 3-4 installations) that the
only way to do this is to  install using the boot floppies. (Running WINNT or
WINNT32 will create a 16 bit FAT  partition, limited to 2.1 gBytes. If you
specify NTFS, this install method creates FAT16 in  order to copy the "hidden"
files for install, and schedules CONVERT.EXE to rn after the  install is
completed).

(For those who have the Panasonic KXL-D720 CDROM, its KLXC001 controller is no
longer  supported by NT 4.0. I had to use the ADAPTEC Slim-SCSI PCMCIA
controller).

My analysis of the larger (>2.1 gByte) disks is that if you want to multi-boot
between  WINDOWS95 and NT4.0, you cannot choose FAT32 support, since NT 4.0
does not support this disk  structure. (Obviously, WIN95 does not support the
NTFS file structure, which forces you to  give up NT security if NT and WIN95
want to see each other's disks). I chose not to  multi-boot, and implemented
NTFS to support the entire disk so I'll have enough room for the  new wave of
development products and applications (Developer's Studio, Office 97). 

    Wonder if the author of .11 would indicate the cost and source of his
    BIG disk.... this would be interesting to share, especially if it is
    cost effective....
    
    jff

The 3.1 gByte disk was purchased from UCD (Universal Computer 
Distributing in Irwindale, CA (http://www.ucdweb.com or 800-960-1688) 
for $589 in April (Price of DEC upgrade for 1.3 gByte disk is 
$795!!!) One of my co-workers called recently and the price 
apparently dropped $20 to make the 3.1 gByte $569.

Other prices from April: 
 1.3 Gbyte $215
 1.7 Gbyte $245
 2.16 Gbyte $395