Retail Kit"---what does this mean?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2006 1:02 pm

In shopping for a hard drive I am trying to understand the diff between a "bare drive" vs. a "retail kit". I'm probably missing something obvious but whatever it is, I'm missing it. What's up?

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 4 May 2006 1:37 pm

A "bare drive" is a hard drive enclosed in an anti-static plastic bag, and nothing else. It is also known as an OEM hard drive.

A "retail kit" means that the hard drive comes in the manufacturers' box, with packing material, a warranty card, RMA card, a serial number and barcode, mounting screws, instructions and sometimes a cable to connect it to the motherboard.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 04 May 2006 at 02:40 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2006 1:50 pm

While most of that reads as "the kit is their way of reaming you", in my circumstance where I know squat and really don't want to have to delve into more than is absolutely essential, it still sounds like the kit might offer a little bit for someone in my shoes....? I think I saw someone--Seagate or Western Digital maybe, who provided some software too...?
I don't want to make my life more difficult just to save $20-30.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 4 May 2006 2:25 pm

You can always go to the store where they have the retail boxes and ask to have one opened, to see what it contains that will help you to install the drive. This may make the decision more meaningful. A retail hard drive kit should include four screws to mount it, instructions for mounting, jumper settings and signal cable connection, warranty card, barcode, serial number, RMA instructions in case it dies within the warranty period, and maybe even a Parallel ATA or Serial ATA signal cable (depending on what type of hard drive you need and are purchasing).

Check your motherboard documentation to see what types of hard drives are supported and get the right type. If it doesn't come with a signal cable you may need to buy one. Check your power cables to see if you have one empty connector. If the hard drive type is SATA you must use a special SATA power connector. SATA drives use a special signal cable as well, but most of them also accept a standard 80 wire IDE UDMA cable.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 04 May 2006 at 03:26 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2006 3:34 pm

Good enough. Thanks. For the record, this will replace the primary (and only) HD in this computer so I assume that screws & cable from the original have me covered as far as installation hardware goes.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 4 May 2006 3:45 pm

FWIW, I've never used the "installation parts" that come with Drives, when doing a replacement. If you need the documentation, that can usually be obtained on the manufacturers web site. There's not really much useful "instructions" that come with them anyway.

I just upgraded my own PC's DVD burner to a Pioneer dual layer burner and there was nothing in the box, other than the drive, that I needed.

If you have Windows XP you don't even need the small analog audio cable that connects to the sound card as XP systems use "digital audio" (via the IDE I/O cable).