The Problem
For security reasons it is sometimes necessary to put important data on an easily removable hard disk. Another reason might be to put different operating systems on different disks. Though Linux can easily live together with other systems on the same disks.
Single Disk
Some laptops are equipped with a removable main disk. Usually it is fixed in a tray.
COMPAQ LTE Elite 4/75CX
This model was manufactured in 1996 and has a detachable hard disk. The hard disk is therefore fixed in a removable tray. You may find further information about Linux on these machines at:
COMPAQ LTE 5xxx Series
".. has a removable hard disk (not hot swappable, but it has a little slide-in tray)." [BMK] You may find further information about Linux on these machines at:
- COMPAQ LTE 5000
![[archived link]](/pics/archived.png "archived link")
- COMPAQ LTE 5100(http://www.schou.dk/linux/compaq5100.html)
Dell: Inspiron 7000 and 7500
DELL
: Inspiron 7000 and 7500
" (three-spindle; you can have 75GB in this one!)"
[Bill Ball <bball_AT_tux.org>]
" .. it takes me about a minute to swap hard disks in my
Dell Inspiron 7000 (which is last year's model,
no longer made; the 7500 is its replacement)."
[IW]
FOSA
"I have two FOSA laptops (are they still in business?), the latest a 100Mhz
Pentium with 40Mb RAM. I have two removable HD's for each and have Linux
on one of each."
[RA]
Gateway 2000 Solo
"I am using a Gateway 2000 Solo notebook , model 2100 (about 5 years
old now) which allows me to remove and switch hard drives by simply
pulling the plug-in tray and replacing it with another (reboot
necessary). It is supposed to be held in by 3 small screws but I
haven't used these in years and there is no problem."
[Louis A. Mulieri <ieri_at_salus.med.uvm.edu>]
Broadax Systems. Inc. - BSI: NP-8550 Series
NP-8550 Series(http://www.portable-computer.com/notebook/np8280/np8550_specs.htm) NP-8550 comes with Intel mobile Pentium II processor up to 300MHz, a 15.1" XGA display, 8MB SGRAM video memory, up to 8GB hard drive, 24X CD-ROM (or 2X DVD on the Pentium II model). The 3.5" floppy drive bay can be used, interchangeably, for a floppy drive, IOmega Zip Drive , LS-120 SuperDisk drive, or a second hard drive. Total memory can go up to 256MB of SDRAM. No information about Linux on these machines yet.
HP OmniBook 2100 and 5500
"I have 2 HP OmniBooks a 2100 and a 5500 both have HD drawers that cost ~$30."
[JC]
IBM 390, 390X, i1720
".. IBM 390, 390X, i1720 (removeable hard drive, along with the ability to
have an additional drive in the floppy/CD-ROM bay)"
[Billy Ball <bball_at_tux.org>]
IBM A21,A22 Series
These IBM series feature an easy removable hard disk a the right side of the case.
[WH]
IPC StarNote
These notebook features an easily removable hard disk.
Panasonic
The Panasonic ToughBook series, e.g. CF-27, CF-71 et. al. has an easily removable primary hard disk in a tray.
ProStar: NP6682T and 8293
"My Pro Star 8293 has a slide-out main disk, slide-out secondary drive (floppy
can be replaced by HD on the fly), and the CD/DVD slides out too. I
have three drives; one has Win98, one has Linux and one has Solaris."
[Chuck Collins <cpc_at_chkpt.COM>]
ProStar and BSI seem to sell the same models but with different brand names. You may find further information about Linux on these machines at:
Kapok 9600D
This model was manufactured around 1994 (??) and has a detachable hard disk. The hard disk is therefore fixed in a removable tray. Also sold as ProStar 9600 or Sager 9600. Out of production.
Siemens
Unknown model. There are reports about mechanical problems with the hard disk.
Twinhead: Slimnote GX3
These Twinhead(http://www.twinhead.com): Slimnote GX3 notebooks feature an easily removable hard disk at the right side of the box.
Toshiba
The Toshiba Tecra 8xxxx series have a primary hard disk, which is removable if you unscrew the one screw, which is holding the cover.
Compal TS30I Series,Quantex I-14xx Series, MidWest Micro SI Series and Others
"All the Compal TS30I series (also known as Dell Inspiron 7000, Quantex
I-14xx series, MidWest Micro SI series, and several other off-brand names)
utilize a removable drive carrier accessible from the bottom of the laptop.
Just 2 quick screws and the drive almost falls out by itself."
[Adrian D. Jensen <adjensen_at_notes.west.raytheon.com>]
Swapable Disks
COMPAQ Armada
".. the COMPAQ Armada's have a multi-bay that you can, on the fly, swap stuff in and out
of, including hdd's, I have an m700 with a 12GB internal drive and another
12 GB drive that I can pop in the multi-bay when I need something."
[Chris Cull <scull_at_swbell.net>]
Fujitsu-Siemens S-Series
Multi-Bay swap system.
Toshiba Tecra 8000/8100
Selecta-Bay(TM) swap system. You may find further information about Linux on these machines at:
IBM A+T Series
Selecta-Dock(TM) swap system.
Other Solutions
External Hard Disks
External hard disks are available for SCSI ports, parallel ports, USB, FireWire and PCMCIA ports. Or via network.
PCMCIA
These devices should usually work with the ide_cs driver. Maybe you
have to add a configuration to /etc/pcmcia/NEW_DEVICE.conf.
USB
For the SkyMaster iBoy external USB HDD you have to add
into /usr/src/linux/drivers/usb/Config.in a line.
bool ' ISD-200 USB/ATA Bridge support' CONFIG_USB_STORAGE_ISD200
Encrypted Hard Disks
Besides different software encryption mechanisms offered by Linux, there are also hardware solutions.
Siemens: Scenic Mobile 800
This machine has a SmartCard (TM) for hard disk encryption. There is no information about Linux on this notebook yet.
Fujitsu-Siemens S-Series
This machine has a SmartCard reader for hard disk encryption. There is no information about Linux on this reader yet.
How to Change the Internal Hard Disk
See my survey of laptop and notebook hard disk types and the hard disk upgrading and repairing instructions for laptops and notebooks(http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_hard_drive.html) at Repair4Laptop.