The HD connection on my new Dell desktop is completely different than my old HD. Can I use my old HD on my new pc? It's a 250gig HD with lots of needed data, so I don't want to toss it and get a new Dell HD.
2006-08-08 12:43:07 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
My new system uses a SATA hard drive, and my old hardrive is an ATA. I have a cable that goes to by DVD player, but I have 2 DVD players so I can't tap into it, I don't think. I don't really want to go external.
2006-08-08 12:58:58 · update #1
no
2006-08-08 12:44:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
most Microsoft operating systems will work together although it would have helped if you mentioned what o/s is on your old computer and what the new o/s is on the new computer.
This is the most common instance for your situation: your new computer has a new hard drive all you need to do is change the jumper pin from MA (master) to CS (cable select) position.
Do the same to your old one and find a bay to screw it into. If your new computer didn't come with the old style (flay Grey) IDE cable and it has the newer ATA (thinner) cable then you need to go get a converter from your local Comp USA.
When you restart your computer you just need to click My Computer and you should see both drives there...
Any Q's e-mail me directly....
2006-08-08 12:53:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what about the connection is different? Is the new one a SATA versus IDE for the old? If so, there should still be a IDE connector on the motherboard. Plug the hard drive in there and make sure it is set as a slave and you should be good to go.
2006-08-08 12:46:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on what style connector your HD has and what connectors your Dell is capable of using. I would assume that a 250GB HD uses either IDE ATA/100 or it uses SATA. Check for these specs for your desktop and on the website for your HD manufacturer and that should give you your answer.
2006-08-08 12:49:06 · answer #4 · answered by salamander_mn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are always 2 hard drive connectors on the motherboard. I have yet to see a motherboard with only one. Simply plug your ATA drive to the cable and look on the mobo for the empty plug for the other end and you're up!!
2006-08-11 08:46:02 · answer #5 · answered by ghowriter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you might want to consider is buying an external hard drive enclosure that's compatible with your old hard drive; you'd install your old drive inside the enclosure, which can then connect via USB 2.0 or Firewire to your new desktop.
2006-08-08 12:48:17 · answer #6 · answered by themikejonas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're able to try this, or you will locate if the HDD connectors are the comparable are your desktops HDD connectors and in the event that they're, slave the HDD from between the open connectors available. maximum desktops have greater suitable than 2 archives and skill connectors no longer getting used. you would be asked to ascertain the recent hardware version once you start up your laptop, then you've the means to view it from my laptop.
2016-11-04 04:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah just as long as they are both scsi ata sata or whatever. Just keep things the same. If your old drive is sata and your new one is scsi, your mobo probably wont support that.
2006-08-08 12:47:17 · answer #8 · answered by Scott K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is probably a unused IDE header that you can use on the motherboard, or you can use the ide header from the CD drive unless there are two drives already connected.
2006-08-08 12:50:45 · answer #9 · answered by Interested Dude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you can find a way to transfer your info from your old HD to the new one. It can be done, you just need to know how if you don't already.
2006-08-08 12:47:45 · answer #10 · answered by PixelWire 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you want to use your old HD as a slave and you don't want to get a new Dell HD, what will you use as the master?
2006-08-08 12:50:15 · answer #11 · answered by Special K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋