How do I install 2nd hard drive?

[emaij]

I just bought a 2nd hard drive (120 gig) to put into my Dell 8200. How do I do it? Are there step by step instructions somewhere here?

tks

 

[minendo]

Did the hard drive not come with directions?

 

[freshspace]

I'm not exactly a computer expert, and I need as much help as I can get. However, I may be able to give you some help with this one.

I am assuming that this is the first addition to your original system. Then, you should be considered about 3 things: jumpers, the IDE cable (flat, wide grey cable) and 4-prong power connector allignment. Make sure your AC power is disconnected when doing any hardware work on your computer.

First, you should put the jumpers at the back of the hard drive to "slave" (Depending on the manufacturer, you need to put it on "CS" or "CSEL" (cable select)). A good way to tell is to look at your 1st harddrive. If it has the jumper at "CS" then you want to also put your second hard drive to "CS" - this is common for compaq (I have 2 Compaqs and they are both like this). By putting it in cable select, you are allowing the computer to figure out which hard drive it should use to boot up the computer (I am assuming that the second drive will not have an operating system installed). If your 1st drive has "master," then put the second drive to "slave."

Second, when connecting the IDE cable make sure the red-lined side goes towards the 4-prong power connector.

Third, when connecting the power connector, make sure the red line goes towards the IDE cable.

Then, start up the computer and open your "Windows Explorer" (not MS explorer) and look under My computer. Your new drive should show up. Then, you can format the drive with the disk that came with the drive. Actually, see if your computer allows you to use the drive without formatting. I think depending on the operating system, you don't need to. Okay, now we are getting into the area that I am not too good at. See if it works. For further comments, you need the help of other friends here.

 

[GregMal]

Run fdisk
(I hope your BIOS can handle the 120gigs)
Add an extended partion (D: drive)
Run format d:
There ya go...........
Greg

 

[DaiShan]

do you want this drive to just be a data storage drive? the steps you do depend on what os you are running, but the basics are, install it on the primary ide controller (same as your primary hdd) and set the jumpers to slave on the 120 gig (normally before putting it in the case) then hook up the power, and boot your computer, you will need to format the drive to make it usable, and in xp you will have to make the drive active (there are instructions on how to do this in the tech support link at the top of the page)

 

[emaij]

I have not yet received the computer or the drive but I do know the computer is plenty fast and can handle it. Do you recommend using the 120 gig as a data disk? The primary drive is only 40 gig. I call it primary but I'm simply referring to the drive that will come with the computer.

Also, if I disconnect the primary drive, how do I boot the computer?

 

[DaiShan]

I would use the 40 gig to run the os off of (I assume it comes installed on that drive) and the 120 gig as a data slave, which os is it running?

 

[emaij]

XP home edition will be installed on the 40 gig when I get it. So should I put software on the 40 and files on the 120?