I purchased a Studio 1737 laptop last week but only opted for 1 hard drive(2nd wasn't an available option for my configuration). I purchased an additional drive from another vendor thinking I would just install it myself. After I openen the case I realize the 2nd bay is not configured (connector and cable) the same as the 1st. All I need is the housing and the connectors, but dell will only sell as a kit (slow 5400 and 160gb) for $130 and I paid $80 for a 320gb 7200. Any ideas where i can get the necessary parts to complete my installation?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?category_id=2999&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&mfgpid=197353&chassisid=8526&~ck=anav&nf=%7e3%7e694&sort=price

Thank you, thank you, thank you. My search did not give me any results, so I did the online chat with a Dell representative. She informed me the $130 route was the only way, those parts are not available separately. You just saved me $100, so again THANK YOU.

My Studio 1737 with one hard drive is on the way and I have a follow-up question:

Is the "Carrier Assembly for 2nd Hard Drive" the only part required to add a second hard drive?

Thanks in advance.  Vince

YES. I got this part   " and it includes the hard drive connector and the carrier with screws. I installed my in about 2 minutes and it was ready to go as soon as I partitioned it. Definitely the thing to get instead of the kit w/hd that Dell sells if you want to save a few bucks.

Thanks for the quick reply.  I will get the part ordered right away.

My Studio 1737 should be here on Wednesday.  Are you happy with yours?  Any special hints or suggestions?

I bought one of Dell's 250 GB 5400 rpm hard drives for the Studio 17 and it came fitted with the carrier bay already installed.  Ask the salesperson if it comes with the carrier bay for the second hard drive before buying an extra carrier bay. 

I'm happy. No problems from the laptop other than some Microsoft annoyances (seems everytime I mount or unmount a USB stick the sidebar crashes, but that could be 1 or more gadgets causing it) and I haven't gotten my touchpad sensitivity worked out yet. My old Inspiron's touchpad worked great, if I could just get this one adjusted. The video display wigged out on me the other night, but I might have been doing more than I should have running on the battery. As far as the additional hard drive goes, it doesn't seem to have decreased any battery or processor power while being used, no noticeable heat or noise coming from it. I am happy with my purchase. Should have gotten one earlier but I'm glad I waited. I didn't get the TV tuner with it, and from the posts I've seen, it seems to break relatively easily, so that is something to watch out for.

Thanks Mr. DLD for that info.  My laptop should be delivered tomorrow, God willing and the creek don't rise.  I didn't get the TV tuner either.  I will keep a look-out for some of the other problems.

Thanks again for your help.:emotion-1:

Thanks also, chromodynamics, for the drive info.  I will be sure to ask the question before ordering the drive. :emotion-1:

I wonder if only dell hard drives will work. eg will a seagate drive, or western digital drive work as well?

I purchased a Seagate SATA-300 320gb drive, but any SATA notebook drive should work. Dell purchases drives from different vendors from time to time, so getting a drive from Dell doesn't mean it is a Dell drive. It is usually Seagate or Western Digital, at least that is what is in the 5 Dell computers I have. Dell sells the computer with a capacity number and speed for the drive and not the brand of drive manufacturer. If you look at drives on Pricewatch you can find OEM drives that don't have all the packaging and are considerably cheaper. Since the drive is all you need other than the HDD Kit from Dell, save youself some money. If you get the complete kit from Dell, I would assume you get instructions, but if your savvy enough to remove 10-12 screws and can snap an adapter to the drive, attach the housing and then replace the screws, you probably don't need to spend the extra just to get instructions.