Installing a new internetal hard drive.. help? (first timer)

Well, I thought it would be an easy task, to install a new internal hard drive.. but it's turning out a lot more difficult than I had originally thought.

I need to figure out what kind of hard drive I can take (i.e IDE/etc etc)

Also, if there is any other requirements I need to meet before putting a hard drive in.. I was reading something and it vaguely mentioned I need to see what my bios is compatible with?

um..

:freak:

so, tell me what I can do to figure out what I need to do/get. thanks.

 

What exact Brand Model PC do you have...

 

I have a gateway gt5228

 

Imagine 5228 (Media Center)
http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/1009153/1009153nv.shtml

or possibly 5228j (Desktop)
http://support.gateway.com/s/pc/R/1014951R/1014951Rnv.shtml

Links for drivers, Specs, User Guides, etc., Specs show original equipment,
250 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA II hard drive with 8 MB cache-Media Center
500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA II hard drive Support for up to two hard drives-Desktop

http://search.support.gateway.com/iphrase/query?command=text&attr1=&attr2=&t=0&text=GT5228&x=11&y=15

 

oh oh, mine is the media center, so from what you're saying a SATA II hard drive would work?

would i have to do anything additional?

 

ohoh, apparently on newegg there are only SATA 1.5gb and 3.0 gb

which one do I get?

 

SATA is 1.5Gb/s

SATAII (2) is 3.0Gb/s

If you get a SATAII drive it will run at SATA speeds if the motherboard does not support SATAII.