How to Add an Extra Hard Drive
Check if you need the IDE (parallel ATA) or Serial ATA., Make sure you have room for an extra hard drive, here's one way to do this: Restart your computer and go into the BIOS menu., Find the area where all the flat ribbon cables (or SATA cables...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Check if you need the IDE (parallel ATA) or Serial ATA.
While older computers support IDE (Parallel ATA), new ones may only support Serial ATA.
If you are not sure, open the computer case and try to determine the type of the used drives from the view.
It is safer to use the same type that is already installed, even if the sockets for another type also appear to be present.
IDE drives use a wide, flat ribbon cable and may have jumpers that need to be set.
SATA drives have a thinner cable and no jumpers to worry about. -
Step 2: Make sure you have room for an extra hard drive
Go to the "Standard CMOS Settings Or IDE Config." In this menu, you will find four settings labeled as follows:
PRIMARY MASTER:, AUTO/PRIMARY SLAVE:, SECONDARY MASTER:, SECONDARY SLAVE:.
Change all fields to auto detection.
Reboot your computer , (fig. 3) Find the cable that corresponds to the free drive that was detected in step 1-6, either primary or secondary., Go to your local computer store or buy online from Newegg or another retailer.
Make sure that the type (SATA or IDE (PATA)) matches.
If you plan on replacing your existing hard drive (see warning on replacing drives), be sure to get one with enough space to compensate for what you're losing. ,,, If you have a Dell, you only need to push down on the release latch(es) on the back or sides.
If you're having difficulty, it's a good idea to consult your manual on how your particular case is removed.
Put the screws in a safe place so you don't lose them.
Remove the side panel and place it out of the way. , 3) Find the cable that corresponds to the free drive that was detected in step 1-6, either primary or secondary. , The jumpers are the set of pins on the back of the hard drive.
They'll have a couple of rubber or plastic blocks covering some pins.
Find the diagram or instructions for your new drive on to set the jumper for the master/slave.
Note that if both the master and the slave are available on the slot you are using (primary or secondary), set the hard drive to master. (fig. 4) Note that if you are using a SATA drive, the jumpers do not need to be changed, because each SATA device uses its own cable, and multiple IDE devices can share a cable. , Using the screws that came with the drive or computer case, mount the drive. (fig. 5) , If it won't go in, make sure that the safety bump is aligned with the hole.(fig. 6) , 7) A SATA drive will have a different type of power cable on the power supply. ,,, Go into your BIOS at startup (most likely by pressing F10 or DEL as the computer starts).
Check the BIOS auto detect to ensure the second drive is detected.
On the screen that shows that primary master/slave, secondary master/slave, you should see the name of your new hard drive. -
Step 3: here's one way to do this: Restart your computer and go into the BIOS menu.
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Step 4: Find the area where all the flat ribbon cables (or SATA cables
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Step 5: which are smaller and usually red) connect to the main board.
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Step 6: Get the actual hard drive.
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Step 7: Shut down your computer.
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Step 8: Unplug all of the cords from the back of your computer and pull the computer out from the desk.
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Step 9: Remove the case screws.
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Step 10: Find the area where all the flat ribbon cables (or SATA cables
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Step 11: which are smaller and usually red) connect to the main board.(fig.
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Step 12: Set the jumpers so the drive knows whether to act as a master or slave (IDE only).
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Step 13: Find the empty bay in your computer case.
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Step 14: Connect the cable that you found in step 6 to the hard drive.
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Step 15: Connect a Molex power cable
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Step 16: (a smaller connector with red
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Step 17: yellow
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Step 18: and black wires.)(fig.
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Step 19: Put the side panel back on the computer and put the screws back in.
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Step 20: Plug all of the cables back into the rear of the computer
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Step 21: and connect them to their power sources if you unplugged them.
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Step 22: Boot up the computer.
Detailed Guide
While older computers support IDE (Parallel ATA), new ones may only support Serial ATA.
If you are not sure, open the computer case and try to determine the type of the used drives from the view.
It is safer to use the same type that is already installed, even if the sockets for another type also appear to be present.
IDE drives use a wide, flat ribbon cable and may have jumpers that need to be set.
SATA drives have a thinner cable and no jumpers to worry about.
Go to the "Standard CMOS Settings Or IDE Config." In this menu, you will find four settings labeled as follows:
PRIMARY MASTER:, AUTO/PRIMARY SLAVE:, SECONDARY MASTER:, SECONDARY SLAVE:.
Change all fields to auto detection.
Reboot your computer , (fig. 3) Find the cable that corresponds to the free drive that was detected in step 1-6, either primary or secondary., Go to your local computer store or buy online from Newegg or another retailer.
Make sure that the type (SATA or IDE (PATA)) matches.
If you plan on replacing your existing hard drive (see warning on replacing drives), be sure to get one with enough space to compensate for what you're losing. ,,, If you have a Dell, you only need to push down on the release latch(es) on the back or sides.
If you're having difficulty, it's a good idea to consult your manual on how your particular case is removed.
Put the screws in a safe place so you don't lose them.
Remove the side panel and place it out of the way. , 3) Find the cable that corresponds to the free drive that was detected in step 1-6, either primary or secondary. , The jumpers are the set of pins on the back of the hard drive.
They'll have a couple of rubber or plastic blocks covering some pins.
Find the diagram or instructions for your new drive on to set the jumper for the master/slave.
Note that if both the master and the slave are available on the slot you are using (primary or secondary), set the hard drive to master. (fig. 4) Note that if you are using a SATA drive, the jumpers do not need to be changed, because each SATA device uses its own cable, and multiple IDE devices can share a cable. , Using the screws that came with the drive or computer case, mount the drive. (fig. 5) , If it won't go in, make sure that the safety bump is aligned with the hole.(fig. 6) , 7) A SATA drive will have a different type of power cable on the power supply. ,,, Go into your BIOS at startup (most likely by pressing F10 or DEL as the computer starts).
Check the BIOS auto detect to ensure the second drive is detected.
On the screen that shows that primary master/slave, secondary master/slave, you should see the name of your new hard drive.
About the Author
Benjamin Simmons
Brings years of experience writing about cooking and related subjects.
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