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SOLO P3C
HARD DRIVE UPGRADE PROCEDURE

***PLEASE READ BEFORE CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE***

Before starting, please note your BIOS version. BIOS version 1.11 is acceptable for hard drives 1.4 Gigabytes and smaller. If you are installing a hard drive larger than 1.4Gig, upgrade to BIOS version 1.12 before starting the hard drive installation. The BIOS upgrade is available on Gateway's BBS (Bulletin Board Service) at 1-800-846-7562 and at http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?ref=undefined&id=13532.

Procedures

  • Turn off all power to your system by unplugging the wall cord AND removing the battery.
  • Turn the laptop over and pull up on the plastic retaining tab on the hard drive.
  • Pull the hard drive casing (sled) out of the notebook. Remove any screws from the base of the hard drive sled.
  • Take the existing hard drive out of its sled. If the connector covering the male pins on the hard drive is still attached, remove it.
  • Place the new hard drive's male pins into the connector. There will be 4 pins that do not plug into the connector.
  • Place the hard drive back into the sled.
  • Replace screws in the hard drive sled (see Notes below).
  • Replace hard drive sled in the notebook along with the retaining tab.
  • Reattach the AC adapter.
  • Place a bootable floppy disk in the floppy drive.
  • Power on the computer.
  • Partition and format the hard drive by running fdisk and format. Do this step exactly as you would on a new hard drive.
  • Copy system files to the new hard drive.
  • Load BIOS on the hard drive if necessary.
  • Reinstall the battery pack.

Please Note:  Your P3C may have originally been manufactured with a thicker hard drive than the current thin hard drives. In addition, two types of hard drive sleds were manufactured: one accommodating the thin hard drive and one for the thicker drive. This makes absolutely no difference in the operation of the hard drive! The only difference is the fit of the drive into the sled (the screws may not line up since the drive is smaller). You may put in a spacer (cardboard, etc.) or just run a piece of tape around the sled. Again, this will not affect the operation of your hard drive.

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