Satellite Laptops :: all other models

[Will_MN]

I am really pissed!  I just bought the P305-S8904 and I mainly chose it because of the 2nd hard drive bay.  I bought it in America and I live in China and I had an extra 320GB Hard drive I was going to put it when I came back to China.  BUT I can't because Toshiba put a strange (not removable) cage that they glued into the 2nd drive door.  I went to Toshiba service here in China and they told me I should try and cut or break off the plastic pieces off myself so I am able to have the hard drive compartment close.  I told them NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to break it and be responsible for it.  So Toshiba said I should go back to the retailer and see if they can help me. What the heck kind of BS is that! 

[ChristopherC]

Sounds like a typical case of failure to do the homework.  There is nothing in the specs for that model that indicate that it is capable of having a second hard drive installed.  Any notebook manufacturer will often use the same case for different models in a line of notebooks.  Many years ago there were Toshiba notebooks that came with a dummy network or modem connector on those models that didn't come with a network card or modem.  People who didn't do their research were mystified then, too.  If you were to break through the plastic cover, you would very likely find a blank bay with no connectors, no cabling and no circuitry to accomodate a second drive.  This is normal and not part of an evil plot on the part of Toshiba to defraud consumers.  Toshiba made no representations about a second drive on that model and as you've learned, it's dangerous to make inferences about technical specs without carefully checking.

[Citizenview]

i have a recent Qosmio G55-Q804 and it has an extra compartment above the memory are. It looks like it is for a second hard drive but there is no connector inside. i wonder if anyone is aware of an assembly i can buy to install a second drive. There is a copper plate in the inside but noconnector. thanks

[Will_MN]

Well Christoper looking at the 816 posts you have it looks like you feel you are the Toshiba expert but you are wrong about the hard drive connection.  It is there and it works just fine, and the retailer informed me that this model was capable of installing a second drive.  You are right I didn't spend 100 days researching every detail, not all of us have time to sit online and reply to every post on a forum or research every item for such a small purchase price as a laptop.

I do appreciate your reply but I would rather have someone commenting that knows what they are talking about.  Toshiba agreed to send me a new door for my computer and whether or not this model has the hard drive listed on the specs it is there and it is functioning and they are willing to send to correct piece.  I think this kind of information is far more valuable then your post.

[ChristopherC]

Hmm ... in reviewing my 816 posts, I don't see a single one where I claimed to be a Toshiba expert.  What I do have is 25+ years experience with PCs with a lot of that involving Toshiba, HP and Dell notebooks and desktops.  It also includes more than a passing familiarity with Windows in it's different incarnations.  This is a peer support forum and those of us who post do so in a perhaps sometimes misguided wish to share some of our experience and help those who have questions.  I'll stand by my research on the specs for your notebook.  Obviously, none of us have examples of every different Toshiba model and none of us have any access to the proprietary shop manuals.  So ... occasionally we miss.  Then again it is a free service.