HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive upgrade ?

Abbeydale wrote:
>
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>> McGregor wrote:
>>>
>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard
>>>>> drive or memory?
>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install 2x250
>>>>> GB HDrives.
>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>> TIA
>>>> .
>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>> finding
>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>
>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>
>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>
>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>
>>>
>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>
>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish.
>> If another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the
>> exact same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at
>> least HP no longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use
>> HP-branded memory, with an inflated price to go with the little HP
>> sticker glued onto commodity memory... Ben Myers
>
>
> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>

If the memory specs do not match exactly what the manufacturer requires,
then memory diagnostics will fail, if the computer even boots at all.
If "Crucial Memory Scan" is a Windows-based program, I would not trust
it. No offense to Crucial, but I do not trust ANY diagnostic that runs
under Windows. I do trust Memtest86+ and Memtest86 (but not Version 3.4).

Neither HP nor any other peddler of laptop/notebook/netbook computers
can afford to use anything but garden variety plain vanilla memory that
conforms to JEDEC industry standards.

The only advantage of buying vendor-branded memory is that you know for
sure it will work (in theory, at least). For chipheads like me who read
stickers and markings on chips, this is no advantage at all... Ben Myers

Abbeydale wrote:
>
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:gqlg7t$ni3$...
>> McGregor wrote:
>>>
>>> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>>> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>>>> McGregor wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard
>>>>>>> drive or memory?
>>>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install
>>>>>>> 2x250 GB HDrives.
>>>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>>>> TIA
>>>>>> .
>>>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>>>> finding
>>>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>>>
>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish.
>>>> If another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the
>>>> exact same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at
>>>> least HP no longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use
>>>> HP-branded memory, with an inflated price to go with the little HP
>>>> sticker glued onto commodity memory... Ben Myers
>>>
>>> It's nice to know that "another REPUTABLE brand of memory " works
>>> on HP laptop. I presume the same applies to HDD which HP recommends
>>> Toshiba only....-
>>
>> Laptop drives have industry-standard form factors, connectors, screw
>> holes, just like the memory is highly commoditized. The only thing
>> one needs to know to replace or upgrade a laptop drive is whether it
>> is SATA or PATA/IDE. And, of course, some drives spin faster and
>> slower, with more or less noise and power consumption.
>>
>> Personally, I CANNOT recommend Toshiba. I repair a lot of laptops and
>> Toshiba drives seem to have the highest failure rate. Toshiba is also
>> the only one of the major drive manufacturers that does not provide a
>> free diagnostic and recertification software to run on its drives.
>> But Toshiba probably gives HP a good price to buy thousands of drives.
>>
>> HP recommendations seem to be a large pile of stinking horse manure.
>>
>> ... Ben Myers
>
>
> I wouldn't so drastic in vocabulary but you have a point here.
> Toshiba & HP have a good deal on components and this is
> essential for both. This restriction are not legal if technically not
> justified.

Nope. My emphasis is spot on, at least where I've been sitting for a
number of years. My catch phrase could be "Give me your tired, your
poor, your huddled laptops...", with apologies to Emma Lazarus. I see a
lot of broken ones.

I'll guess that HP's recommendation of Toshiba drives is baked into the
contract between the two for supplying HP with Toshiba drives. It's a
shame that Fujitsu got out of the hard drive business by selling it to
Toshiba. Fujitsu drives were/are among the most reliable, going back
even to the early days of 50-pin SCSI. On the other hand, if Toshiba's
buy of the Fujitsu drive business eventually improves the quality and
reliability of Toshiba drives, this may end up being a plus for computer
owners everywhere... Ben Myers

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:gr2fb0$t0t$...
> Abbeydale wrote:
>>
>> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>>> McGregor wrote:
>>>>
>>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive
>>>>>> or memory?
>>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install 2x250 GB
>>>>>> HDrives.
>>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>>> TIA
>>>>> .
>>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>>> finding
>>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>>
>>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>>
>>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>>
>>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>>
>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
>>> another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
>>> same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
>>> longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
>>> with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
>>> commodity memory... Ben Myers
>>
>>
>> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
>> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
>> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
>> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>>
>
> If the memory specs do not match exactly what the manufacturer requires,
> then memory diagnostics will fail, if the computer even boots at all. If
> "Crucial Memory Scan" is a Windows-based program, I would not trust it.
> No offense to Crucial, but I do not trust ANY diagnostic that runs under
> Windows. I do trust Memtest86+ and Memtest86 (but not Version 3.4).

I'm still confused a bit...-
You've also said / wrote: "REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc)"

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Myers" <>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hardware
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive upgrade ?

HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
commodity memory... Ben Myers

>
> Neither HP nor any other peddler of laptop/notebook/netbook computers can
> afford to use anything but garden variety plain vanilla memory that
> conforms to JEDEC industry standards.
>
> The only advantage of buying vendor-branded memory is that you know for
> sure it will work (in theory, at least). For chipheads like me who read
> stickers and markings on chips, this is no advantage at all... Ben Myers

McGregor wrote:
>
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:gr2fb0$t0t$...
>> Abbeydale wrote:
>>>
>>> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>>> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>>>> McGregor wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard
>>>>>>> drive or memory?
>>>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install
>>>>>>> 2x250 GB HDrives.
>>>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>>>> TIA
>>>>>> .
>>>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>>>> finding
>>>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>>>
>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish.
>>>> If another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the
>>>> exact same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at
>>>> least HP no longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use
>>>> HP-branded memory, with an inflated price to go with the little HP
>>>> sticker glued onto commodity memory... Ben Myers
>>>
>>>
>>> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
>>> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
>>> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
>>> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>>>
>>
>> If the memory specs do not match exactly what the manufacturer
>> requires, then memory diagnostics will fail, if the computer even
>> boots at all. If "Crucial Memory Scan" is a Windows-based program, I
>> would not trust it. No offense to Crucial, but I do not trust ANY
>> diagnostic that runs under Windows. I do trust Memtest86+ and
>> Memtest86 (but not Version 3.4).
>
> I'm still confused a bit...-
> You've also said / wrote: "REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc)"
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Myers" <>
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hardware
> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 10:49 PM
> Subject: Re: HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive upgrade ?
>
> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
> another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
> same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
> longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
> with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
> commodity memory... Ben Myers
>
>>
>> Neither HP nor any other peddler of laptop/notebook/netbook computers
>> can afford to use anything but garden variety plain vanilla memory
>> that conforms to JEDEC industry standards.
>>
>> The only advantage of buying vendor-branded memory is that you know
>> for sure it will work (in theory, at least). For chipheads like me
>> who read stickers and markings on chips, this is no advantage at
>> all... Ben Myers
>

REPUTABLE brands of memory (Samsung, Hynix, Crucial/Micron, Infineon)
can be depended upon to conform to JEDEC specs. That's what industry
standard specs are about. To get companies to meet the specs thereby
creating a competitive market for commodity hardware.

I have sometimes tried more obscure brands of memory and encountered
issues, evidently because the memory does not meet exact specs for
whatever reason. And yet it looks just like the memory that does work,
right down to circuit traces on the memory board, the memory chips, and
the other electronic bits... Ben Myers

"Abbeydale" <> wrote in message
news:gr1mk5$345$...
>
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>> McGregor wrote:
>>>
>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive
>>>>> or memory?
>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install 2x250 GB
>>>>> HDrives.
>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>> TIA
>>>> .
>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>> finding
>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>
>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>
>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>
>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>
>>>
>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>
>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
>> another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
>> same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
>> longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
>> with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
>> commodity memory... Ben Myers
>
>
> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>

"Abbeydale" <> wrote in message
news:gr1mk5$345$...
>
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>> McGregor wrote:
>>>
>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive
>>>>> or memory?
>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install 2x250 GB
>>>>> HDrives.
>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>> TIA
>>>> .
>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>> finding
>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>
>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>
>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>
>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>
>>>
>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>
>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
>> another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
>> same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
>> longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
>> with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
>> commodity memory... Ben Myers
>
>
> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>

Crucial has recently gotten a number of complaints that their Crucial
Memory Scan program does not run correctly under 64-bit Vista, and
often generates a blue screen instead.

They've updated to a newer version that at least does not generate a
blue screen. However, they still have problems with their web page
for deciding which version to send when you download it. Therefore,
you may need to download it more than once, on separate days.
If you get a 218 kb version, DON'T run it on a 64-bit Vista
computer; you need to wait until you get a 208 kb version instead.
And even then, you may want to have a full backup ready to reload
in case they haven't fixed all the problems and it corrupts the contents
of your hard drive.

My Pavilion will run the 208 kb version without a blue screen,
but the 218 kb version gives it a blue screen; apparantly no hard
drive corruption, though.

Robert Miles

Robert Miles wrote:
> "Abbeydale" <> wrote in message
> news:gr1mk5$345$...
>> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>> news:gqjhku$le3$...
>>> McGregor wrote:
>>>> "Robert Miles" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:65Dvl.16804$.. .
>>>>> "zandvoort" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:gnes64$gqi$...
>>>>>> Has any one tried to upgrade HP Pavilion HDX9430EA Laptop hard drive
>>>>>> or memory?
>>>>>> 2x160 GB is a bit smallish for my need and I want to install 2x250 GB
>>>>>> HDrives.
>>>>>> I'd appreciate any information on this topic.
>>>>>> TIA
>>>>> .
>>>>> For upgrading memory, I've found that this website is useful for
>>>>> finding
>>>>> out how much memory your computer can handle.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.crucial.com/
>>>>>
>>>>> Have your computer's full model number (often shown on the back or
>>>>> bottom) ready before you try it.
>>>> This is it : HDX9430EA
>>>>> Afterwards, they'll usually offer to sell you that memory.
>>>>>
>>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory.
>>> HP recommends / insists on Samsung memory, which is pretty foolish. If
>>> another REPUTABLE brand of memory (Hynix, Crucial, etc) has the exact
>>> same specs as Samsung, it will work just as well. Well, at least HP no
>>> longer goes on and on and on about how you MUST use HP-branded memory,
>>> with an inflated price to go with the little HP sticker glued onto
>>> commodity memory... Ben Myers
>>
>> This Crucial Memory Scan brings a blue screen on my HP Pavilion
>> HDX9430EA. So, HP Pavilion and Crucial are not "friends"...
>> You're right about the "brad pricing" and that goes not only with HP but
>> Mac, Dell and Microsoft products too.
>>
>
> Crucial has recently gotten a number of complaints that their Crucial
> Memory Scan program does not run correctly under 64-bit Vista, and
> often generates a blue screen instead.
>
> They've updated to a newer version that at least does not generate a
> blue screen. However, they still have problems with their web page
> for deciding which version to send when you download it. Therefore,
> you may need to download it more than once, on separate days.
> If you get a 218 kb version, DON'T run it on a 64-bit Vista
> computer; you need to wait until you get a 208 kb version instead.
> And even then, you may want to have a full backup ready to reload
> in case they haven't fixed all the problems and it corrupts the contents
> of your hard drive.
>
> My Pavilion will run the 208 kb version without a blue screen,
> but the 218 kb version gives it a blue screen; apparantly no hard
> drive corruption, though.
>
> Robert Miles
>
>
Personally, I place little value on ANY memory testing program that runs
under Windows. Too damned many layers of software.

Use MEMTEST-86 or MEMTEST-86+ . Either one is a comprehensive
self-booting memory test under wither Linux or DOS... Ben Myers