Ok i have a 180gb hard drive on my computer right now, and i wanna install another hard drive that's 120gb can i have two drives on a single computer and how do it?
2006-09-23 14:09:59 · 9 answers · asked by JOhNe=mc² 6 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Go to this site:
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/adding-a-second-internal-hard-drive-to-your-pc/2988
2006-09-23 14:14:50 · answer #1 · answered by S R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can. If you open your PC case, you will see that both the hard drive and the CD drive have to cables plugged into them. The smaller connector with all the wires running to it is for power. The wide ribbon-like cable is for the controller. On each ribbon cable there should be a second connector. You can put the second drive onto either of those controllers. Also attach a power cable.
Before you put the drive in, you will probably have to change a jumper on the hard drive to let it know that it is the second or "slave" hard drive. Otherwise it will confuse the computer and it will not boot. Look on the end where the two cables attach. You will usually find a set of four or five pairs of wire pins that have a tiny little plastic jumper over one of the pairs. Normally the pairs will be labled "M" for master, "S" for slave, and "CS" for cable select. Or there will be a little diagram on the drive that list the pins. Get some tweezers, and move the jumper to the "slave" position.
After that, put the drive in and boot the PC. Hopefully it will come up with a new drive letter for you. If it does not boot, try moving the jumper until you find the right setting. (Remember that no jumper can also be a valid setting)
As you only need Windows installed on the current hard drive, you can format the new drive and use the whole 120gb for file storage.
2006-09-23 14:20:36 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a great idea. You might get a USB External drive. That would be easy and flexible. You might even get a really big drive that plugs into your USB port.
One note though, make sure that you reformat your USB for NTSB. They often come formatted with FAT32, which would be low grade for Windows XP. For the best compatibility, reformat.
You can add an internal drive inside. If you open the case, youwill see that the drive may have two connectors on the Ribbon. HEY, it is not a 1 1/2 inch wide ribbon, maybe your computer has the new style SATA type drive. Again, there would be a second cable for this. LOOK BEFORE you BUY.
2006-09-23 14:15:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, all you gotta do is set the additional HD to slave mode... You do this by looking at the jumper (setting) diagram on the drive, then set the jumper to the proper position. The jumper is a little piece of plastic that connect pins in the back of the hard drive. You may have to go into BIOS to get the PC to recognize it, or may even have to set it manually, but I doubt it. Then, when you put the hard drive in the tower, you have to make sure you hook it to the "slave" connector on the IDE cable that's connected to the existing drive. Make sure the power is off while you're doing all of this! Then plug in the power to the drive, and place it somewhere secure in the tower... Turn on the pc, it should recognize it, and assign it a drive letter. You may have to format the drive, if it isn't already. Anymore questions can be directed thru email! Good luck!
2006-09-23 14:15:26 · answer #4 · answered by smartestassofthemall 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can easily install another hard drive if there is enough physical space in your PC for it and a spare connector. You have to ascertain if your PC has a spare and whether it is for a IDE (ATA) drive or for a SATA drive. If it's for a IDE drive, chances are you need to daisy chain it to your existing drive (or DVD/CD drive). In that case make sure one of them is working as a slave (see your new drive for jumper setting). If it's a SATA drive, make sure you buy a SATA drive and a cable. In all cases make sure you plug the cable in the right way as keyed. You don't have to install windows again, just partition the drive and format (make sure it's the new one).
2016-03-27 05:43:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be very gentle with your hard drive
make sure the computer is off
yes you can, as long as you have another 3.5" internal bay in your computer case. If not you could use an external 3.5" bay (floppy drive bay)
Be very gentle with your hard drive
make sure the computer is off
open the computer
Just place the drive in the bay, secure it with screws (usually theres four, sometimes more. connect the interface cable (usually IDE, the one that goes to your CD Rom and other hard drive. If there is not an extra spot on the cable, you will have to buy another one, providing there is another IDE slot on your motherboard. Dont get IDE and floppy drive connecters mixed up. Floppy connectors are 34 pins (maybe 36 i forget) and IDE are 40 pins. If there is not an extra connector for an IDE device, you will need to purchase an IDE cable http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812105910
2006-09-23 14:20:25 · answer #6 · answered by timhasafender 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what operating system you are using -
If both hard drives are set to master:
connect one to your primary disk controller
connect the other to your secondary disk controller
2 IDE cables may be required or two SATA cables.
Each hard drives requires its own power connector.
Boot up PC
Enter BIOS setup. You may have to press the DEL key of F1 (sometimes F2)
Find where the info for your hard drives are and insure that the primary and secondary are set to AUTOMATIC. Sometimes your BIOS may have already found them but you want to make sure. Exit and save.
In windows you will probably see an incomplete hard drive. You have to right click on it and format it. If you have date on your drive you may want to back it up or you can always recover data later. This should be good for now. The only thing is your Operating System???????
2006-09-23 14:15:55 · answer #7 · answered by netshooters 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can, first hard drive you have should be master new hard drive should be slave, you do that by moving the jumper look where hook the power cable to the drive you will see jumper move it one spot toward the pins then hook it up with the same cable under first hard drive turn on computer , computer should recognize it go to my computer if you see it highlight it then go to file on the left top corner go down to format click format and follow instructions.
2006-09-23 14:21:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can
just connect it to the primary slave and set the jumper to slave or cable-select if it is supported
2006-09-23 14:15:16 · answer #9 · answered by qsexyq 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋