How to add my PATA to my new SATA system?

[imported_JustaUser]

I usually build my computers, but this time I just didn't have it in me. The last one I built is the one I'm using right now (440BX Slot1 baby!). Anyhow I got a killer deal on a Dell 3ghz system. It came with a 160gb SATA drive, but I want to put my WD 120gbJB as C: and run the sata drive as the slave (D. Will this work (chipset drivers different etc.)? If it will work, how can I do it?

Thanks...

 

[mechBgon]

If the Dell came with a full-on WinXP CD rather than a System Restore re-imaging CD, then you could nuke the existing Windows installation by running WinXP Setup far enough to delete the partitions on the SATA drive. Then you could unhook the SATA drive, install WinXP on the PATA drive, and plug the SATA drive back in to serve as the slave drive. This would ensure that you get drive letter C: on the drive you intend to. How's that sound

 

[AristoV300]

You can't run a SATA as a slave. Why don't you just add the PATA drive and use it as the secondary? Do you already have the OS on the PATA drive from another rig?

 

[imported_JustaUser]

Originally posted by: AristoV300
You can't run a SATA as a slave. Why don't you just add the PATA drive and use it as the secondary? Do you already have the OS on the PATA drive from another rig?

Yeah, I have XPpro from my previous box and don't want to start all over again. Why cant the SATA drive run as a slave? I must say that I'm not up on all this stuff like I used to be.

 

[aatf510]

You can't have the SATA drive run as a slave, but you can set your PATA drive set to Master.
Well, anyway... this has nothing to do with it. You can has any slave drives run as your OS drive.
You only have to set the boot priority properly, in your case it would be
1. DVD/CD-Rom
2. PATA Harddrive
3. SATA Harddrive

 

[mechBgon]

SATA ought to work as a slave (edit: by which I mean, a secondary drive), unless Dell has specially crippled their systems or something. I use a Seagate 7200.8 SATA drive as a slave in my work rig, which has a 15k SCSI drive for boot/apps.

 

[Jimmys3]

Why cant you have a sata drive as a slave? The reason I ask is because I have my 250gig sata maxtor as a slave actually it is the 3rd drive in my system. The other 2 being pata drives?

Just wondering because maybe I have my system setup wrong or something?

 

[imported_JustaUser]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
SATA ought to work as a slave (edit: by which I mean, a secondary drive), unless Dell has specially crippled their systems or something. I use a Seagate 7200.8 SATA drive as a slave in my work rig, which has a 15k SCSI drive for boot/apps.

I'm able to get the system to post with the PATA drive as seconday, but not with the SATA as secondary. SATA doesnt use jumpers anymore (correct me if I'm wrong) so how do I tell the system that I want to use the PATA as master. Its not as easy as changing boot priority... I've done that.

Thanks for all the quick replies BTW

 

[mechBgon]

So Dell did cripple it, then. You want to use the 120GB drive because it has the 8MB cache, is that correct? I think you might need to accept things as they are, it being a Dell.

 

[imported_JustaUser]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
So Dell did cripple it, then. You want to use the 120GB drive because it has the 8MB cache, is that correct? I think you might need to accept things as they are, it being a Dell.

8mb cache is nice, but no. The main driver is that I don't want to go through the riggors of setting the system the way I want it, i.e. settings, data, apps, etc. Dell, may have done something... typically why I stayed away from OEMs in the past. I'll play around some more. I just wanted to make sure I'm on the right path.

The system wont even post with the PATA drive all by itself BTW.

 

[mechBgon]

The system wont even post with the PATA drive all by itself BTW.

Ohhh, gotcha. :Q Jumper the WD for Single Drive and stick it on its very own ATA cable without any other devices and see if that gets it going. Single Drive is when the jumper cap is removed altogether.

 

[imported_JustaUser]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

The system wont even post with the PATA drive all by itself BTW.

Ohhh, gotcha. :Q Jumper the WD for Single Drive and stick it on its very own ATA cable without any other devices and see if that gets it going. Single Drive is when the jumper cap is removed altogether.

Pretty sure I tried that... but I'll try again. Last post for now... thanks...