Can laptops use any2.5" sata HDD ?

Apart from compatible sata interface issues, can they be put into any laptop that supports a sata HDD ?

Yes.

What is it with you and all these computer bits you are buying, you seem to buy enough stuff to keep a small shop in business!

I wasn't aware that buying computer parts or asking questions was an issue !

There's more than a dozen computers owned by my kin folk and all need service and updates.

thanks for answering my question by the way!

DIYspanner said:

I wasn't aware that buying computer parts or asking questions was an issue !

Click to expand...

Happy to answer questions

Just suprised by how much bits you seem to buy.

I help the economy tick over when I buy parts and I thoroughly enjoy working with computers.

I'm not a pro with IT kit so where my knowledge is deficient, I do research and ask questions.

Not an expert on laptops, but the odd old ones I have looked at, seems they are generally compatible.

What I would suggest you also look at when doing such an upgrade / repair is fitting a SSD drive instead of a HDD.
The old laptop will seem like a new modern machine with all the extra speed the SSD provides.
The best upgrade I have ever done since my XT days.

Many thanks - I'll give some thought to a SSD drives.

I didn't realize until I've looked at one on ebay that they are a sata interface. May be worth considering for my PC tower.

It was my tower desktop that I first used one, making the SSD my C drive and the old HDD C drive becoming the D drive for data files.
The speed difference was really dramatic , far better than any cpu or memory upgrade etc.
It initially used this 60gb drive which still holds all my W 8.1 programs.
http://www.cclonline.com/product/17...GB-SATA-3-2-5-inch-Solid-State-Drive/SSD0206/

It also depends on what your existing cpu and mobo are as to how fast the SSD can run; an old Athlon or early Penitium might not allow the SSD to run at full speed. My old Pentium E5700/ mobo did restrict it, but still a gave that dramatic increase.

I recently bought a bigger 250gb one as well for another machine, equally as good.
http://www.cclonline.com/product/16...lid-State-Drive-SATA-6Gb/s-Internal-/SSD0125/

Both get good write ups, the 60gb one now half the price I paid , and the 250gb is still a decent price compared to the slower sata HDDs.

Do not get tied up with the masses of old web info about SSDs wearing out etc; the latest ones as said to be as long lived as HDDs; most of the big brands come with 3 or 5 years warranty.

The only thing to note is that you do not use Defrag on a SSD, it has its own TRIM instruction to clean it up, part of windows / supplied from the manufacturers software.