Help! need much more disk space for laptop

[gooduser1]

Hello again, group.

I have a laptop (IBM thinkpad x31) that I just bought off a relative a few months ago. It's really great because it's *silent*(!!!). (1.4 gHz processor, and 768mb ram, running xp).

Downside is - it only has 15.4 gig to its hard drive!!

Question is,
1) what are my options for getting more disk space - replacing the disk, getting an external disk, etc.
2) what are the pros and cons?
3) what would you guys recommend?

(I'd heard that to open a laptop and start replacing things is bad for the laptop).

Thanks so much,
gooduser

[Vipersfate]

Just to replace a Hard Drive isn't that bad for a laptop. You're best and most cost efficient way to fix your space problem would be to replace the drive with a larger one. The only downsides to that, for a normal user, would be the reinstall of the OS on the new drive, and buying the harddrive.

also:welcome:

[tom_ozahoski]

X2 above post. Usually there is 1 or 2 screws to a cover for replacing a HD, and just pop out the old one and pop in the new one. You will need to reinstall the OS but then you can use your old drive for a external backup drive for important stuff with a usb adapter ofcourse.

[neonblingbling]

Luckily, replacing the hard drive on your laptop is very easy. Look at this manual (ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/39t6189.pdf), page 81.

After a quick google, it seems that your laptop uses IDE hard drives, which is unfortunate, since it seems companies are slowly decreasing the amount of hard drives that are not SATA.