[toonybrain]

I recently purchased a used Motion Computing LE1700 (tablet). It is a most excellent machine. But, I want to upgrade the HDD, but I'm not (yet) a "techno geek," so I need help.
The current HDD is a 30GB 4200RPM 2MB ata/zif (40 pin) 1.8 Hitachi (.3mm thickness).
QUESTION #1: Please explain the relevance of the 2MB and how it relates to what I can choose for an upgrade. For instance, can one put in an 80GB 4200RPM 4MB or a 120 GB 5400RPM 8MB? If not, why not (aside from the obvious like hard drive thickness)? Could one do so with other upgrades/modification?
QUESTION #2: These 1.8 hard drives made for Zunes and iPods - would any be compatible assuming I had the right connector adapter?
QUESTION #3: Are there any suggestions or recommendations for me?
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. I am most appreciative.

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I recently purchased a used Motion Computing LE1700 (tablet). It is a most excellent machine. But, I want to upgrade the HDD, but I'm not (yet) a "techno geek," so I need help.
The current HDD is a 30GB 4200RPM 2MB ata/zif (40 pin) 1.8 Hitachi (.3mm thickness).
QUESTION #1: Please explain the relevance of the 2MB and how it relates to what I can choose for an upgrade. For instance, can one put in an 80GB 4200RPM 4MB or a 120 GB 5400RPM 8MB? If not, why not (aside from the obvious like hard drive thickness)? Could one do so with other upgrades/modification?
QUESTION #2: These 1.8 hard drives made for Zunes and iPods - would any be compatible assuming I had the right connector adapter?
QUESTION #3: Are there any suggestions or recommendations for me?
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. I am most appreciative.

Hello Toony,

answer 1 the 2MB is the buffer
When the computer requests the hard drive to read a given sector, the hard drive reads the entire track and stores it in a RAM memory located on the hard disk drive logic board(the 2MB in your case). So if the computer requests the next sector, instead of having to read it from the disc surface, the hard disc drive logic delivers the copy that is stored on the HDD RAM memory.
this is done because the hdd unlike your other components in you tablet is a mechanical part and not a electronic part, witch means its much slower then the as a example your RAM
for more detailed info check: http://www.hardwares...m/article/177/3

answer 2 assuming you bought the right HDD it should work but i would advice to format the drive not with quick format but the normal one, so you are sure its in NTFS format I've never had a problem installing new 1.8" hdd in tablets

answer 3 Watch out with STATIC ELECTRICITY what can be very dangerous for your hdd

hope this answers your questions! if you have some more after this let us know we are happy to help you

[dennisK16]

I recently purchased a used Motion Computing LE1700 (tablet). It is a most excellent machine. But, I want to upgrade the HDD, but I'm not (yet) a "techno geek," so I need help.
The current HDD is a 30GB 4200RPM 2MB ata/zif (40 pin) 1.8 Hitachi (.3mm thickness).
QUESTION #1: Please explain the relevance of the 2MB and how it relates to what I can choose for an upgrade. For instance, can one put in an 80GB 4200RPM 4MB or a 120 GB 5400RPM 8MB? If not, why not (aside from the obvious like hard drive thickness)? Could one do so with other upgrades/modification?
QUESTION #2: These 1.8 hard drives made for Zunes and iPods - would any be compatible assuming I had the right connector adapter?
QUESTION #3: Are there any suggestions or recommendations for me?
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. I am most appreciative.

Hello Toony,

answer 1 the 2MB is the buffer
When the computer requests the hard drive to read a given sector, the hard drive reads the entire track and stores it in a RAM memory located on the hard disk drive logic board(the 2MB in your case). So if the computer requests the next sector, instead of having to read it from the disc surface, the hard disc drive logic delivers the copy that is stored on the HDD RAM memory.
this is done because the hdd unlike your other components in you tablet is a mechanical part and not a electronic part, witch means its much slower then the as a example your RAM
for more detailed info check: http://www.hardwares...m/article/177/3

answer 2 assuming you bought the right HDD it should work but i would advice to format the drive not with quick format but the normal one, so you are sure its in NTFS format I've never had a problem installing new 1.8" hdd in tablets

answer 3 Watch out with STATIC ELECTRICITY what can be very dangerous for your hdd

hope this answers your questions! if you have some more after this let us know we are happy to help you

[toonybrain]

THANK YOU, DennisK! Thank you for your in-depth explanation. Your detailed information will serve to expand my currently small base of knowledge about computer components and how they all work together.
I appreciate and will heed your advice re: static electricity. What steps can I take to prevent any such thing happening to my current or future disk drives?
Also, can you recommend a migration software that will transfer my entire hard drive - operating system, softwares, etc. I have not loaded up any of my personal softwares onto this "new" LE1700, not until I install the upgraded hard drive, so it is still quite "clean."
Cheers!

[dennisK16]

THANK YOU, DennisK! Thank you for your in-depth explanation. Your detailed information will serve to expand my currently small base of knowledge about computer components and how they all work together.
I appreciate and will heed your advice re: static electricity. What steps can I take to prevent any such thing happening to my current or future disk drives?
Also, can you recommend a migration software that will transfer my entire hard drive - operating system, softwares, etc. I have not loaded up any of my personal softwares onto this "new" LE1700, not until I install the upgraded hard drive, so it is still quite "clean."
Cheers!

what i normally do is touch (when i work on a desktop) the metal framing and when i work on a laptop or tablet i try to find a grounded surface and try to unload on that what you also can do is buy a wristband for it:
http://www.matdepot....CFQIHbAodmw8PcA
and your question about copying you hard drive (making a image)i use norton ghost for it easy in use and always does the job

[iammykyl]

Here is a link to your product page. http://www.motioncom...let_pc_le17.asp

When searching the site there does not appear to be any links for upgrading the tablet, so I would contact customer support to see if they can help you.

Edited by iammykyl, 29 September 2010 - 04:19 PM.

[dennisK16]

Here is a link to your product page. http://www.motioncom...let_pc_le17.asp

When searching the site there does not appear to be any links for upgrading the tablet, so I would contact customer support to see if they can help you.

or do that but i don't think they would be able to assist you to much

[toonybrain]

Thank you both. There is a terrific website for all issues regarding tablet pc's of all kinds. FYI, here is the link for the Motion Computing section specifically: http://www.tabletpcb...tion-Computing. I've read so many of the upgrade threads, etc., and even posted, but no one answered with the specifics that I requested in order to take the next step. Plus, many of the contributors talk way over my head; I'm not up to their speed, so it's like a foreign language at this point. I asked them to speak "down to me," but I don't think they have the patience for a nooby.
I found this wonderful illustrated website that shows how to remove the Hitachi hard drive from the LE1700.
http://www.gottabemo...ive-le1700.html
So, I followed the instructions carefully and actually removed my own hard drive completely, then put it back. And it actually booted up fine afterward. Phew! I was quite proud, if I may say so myself.
I'm on this forum to throw out the line to this techno-geek community because I know there's a lot of knowledge out there and I need guidance and help - not vague, but specific, so please keep it coming, okay?

[iammykyl]

This is the most comprehensive information I have been able to find, > http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/showthread.php?37502-MOTION-LE1700-TIPS-TRICKS-AND-FAQs-READ-THIS-FIRST!&highlight=replace+hard+drive

You will have to determine which make of drive you have.

This link may help, Say's something about being able to get a cable converter.
http://www.tabletpcb...rade hard drive

Good luck and if you find a solution, PLEASE post back so that others can learn.

Thanks.

[toonybrain]

I appreciate you continued input, iammykyl. I will check out the links you were so kind enough to post. Thanks again.
I will continue to update with my advancement through this unknown territory.

[123Runner]

Ok so you guys are posting like crazy while I look for info. I guess I am slow today.
I won't post the links I found because they had the same info as iammykyl found.

Here is the user manual.

It does look like you have Acronis true image on the drive. I do not know if you can use that to image to the new drive.
After you find a compatible drive you might want to consider a USB enclosure and the image to the "new" drive in that case.

[toonybrain]

Dear Techno-Geeks, after much information gleaning and increasing my knowledge base, I purchased a larger HDD and just installed it. (NOTE: This is where y'all come in, again... )

Miraculously, the Hitachi's ribbon worked just swell with the new Samsung HDD. I didn't need to fork over another $45 for an adapter ribbon as the TabletPC forum thought I would have to. (See http://www.alltp.com...?idproduct=4668 in case you ever need one).

I installed True Image 2011 onto the old Hitachi HDD and cloned the drive, saving it on a USB external hard drive.

BUT NOW WHAT??????

Once I boot up the LE1700 with the new HDD installed, what then? I dog-eared the True Image User Guide and it explains how to clone the drive, but not how to "unpack the clone."

Must I do something in DOS? If so, what? How do I let the tablet know that the clone is on the external HDD?

Please help!

[Troy]

Next you need to boot it up off the Acronis CD with the USB backup drive attached, and restore the image to the new drive.

[toonybrain]

Troy, I don't have an Acronis CD - it was a downloaded software. In the instructions on how to clone, Acronis said that one could clone the hard drive to an external HDD, so I did that. So now the clone of the old HDD is on the external and I don't know how to get the "empty" computer to see it.

[toonybrain]

Further investigation reveals that I cannot boot from an external USB drive. I will have to clone the clone to multiple DVD's or CD's.

[dennisK16]

Hello toony,

sorry to hear you having problems cloning your hard drive
here some information that might help you fix you problem!

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Disk_cloning

assuming you have access to another computer try to download a ISO or IMG file of Acronis CD assuming they have one on the site. burn that to a CD/DVD and you got your boot able CD.

if that doesn't work

maybe you can use this

http://www.makeuseof...our-hard-drive/
http://www.downloads...our-hard-drive/

if you have the access to a Desktop i would try to hookup the new hdd to the pc hookup the external too and try to clone the external to your new hdd.
it sounds like allot of work to just clone a hdd

i don't really have experience with any of those programs i always use NORTON GHOST to clone hard drives.
witch is pretty simple to use and never failed me and I've used it allot!
http://www.bay-wolf.com/ghostclone.htm


if nothing works i would, assuming you still have the original hdd, try to make another clone but clone it directly to the new hdd