Okay...got my new hard drive......now what?

Question

Got a Maxtor 300GB Ultra16 PATA Internal Hard Drive. 16MB Cache buffer, 7200rpm. (all for $89.98 after coupons/rebates from Staples)

We're gonna attempt to install it ourselves...."scary". I read things like changing "BIOS" etc....different cables you can encounter....all that kinda freaks me out a bit. (my computer hardware skill level: ZERO)

Some make it sound like it's as easy as removing screws, old hard drive, sliding new one in.....put in screws.....put cables in place...and your off. Is this accurate?

I have a 2003 Dell Dimension 4600, Windows XP....80GB hard drive.....decent pc really.

So.....am I getting in over my head here? Once I get the hard drive IN.....I basically have a pc that's a giant paperweight, correct? HOW to I reload windows? Just pop in that disc that came with my dell...that's got everything on it? WHAT is my Cue to start installing? You put the cd in BEFORE you fire it all back up or what?

Thank you!

Answer 1

lol don't listen to them guys you got it right. You need to touch some piece of metal that is not painted so you can discharge the anti static from yourself. You do this always when you install a part. BTW it hooks up only one way so you really can't plug it up wrong. That is how computers are designed theses days.

The below user suggest to take it to someone. Don't do that, trust me you can do it for free yourself its too easy. Just print out some directions so you have something to go by if you get loss. Remember parts today are not like they where in the 70s where you had to solder them in. They come with whats called keys so you can't plug it up wrong. Also don't worry about hurting yourself everything in the computer is low voltage. The only thing that can kill you is the powersupply(Inside of it) or the Monitor(inside of it) cause the capacitors holds voltages after you turn it off. But as long as you don't open the cases of those compents then yoru safe.

You will need to install the operating system if the new one is gona be the primary(master) drive. So make sure you got the real Operating System disk not one of those fake ones(Restore Disks) that are sent along with your computer. If you don't you can still add it to your comptuer. But it will need to be added as a Secondary(slave) drive. The Slave drive will not need the OS it will only need to be formated since its not the Master.

Answer 2

The big question is do you *need* to reinstall Windows? If not, then it's a simple case of "open the case, attach rails, plug in, close case, done." If you do need to reinstall Windows, why not install it on your old drive and just use the new one as additional storage? The only real reason to ditch your old drive is if it's failing or there's absolutely no room left in the case. (And if that's the situation, invest in a cheap external drive enclosure and use your old drive as a backup device.

In any case, installing drives really is a simple procedure as long as you follow basic computer safety rules (unplug, ground yourself, etc.) If all else fails, get the neighborhood computer geek to help you out.

Answer 3

Not so difficult, all it takes is a bit of patience. I just did one literally the other day (IDE to SATA). Read these instructions and you should be good to go. You just need to decide if you want to keep using the old drive as a slave to the new or if you just want to clone the new one to the old. If you had problems with the old one's set up it might be better to just pull your data from it & put it on the new drive. Though there is something to be said for just cloneing the drive and being done with it because there is no reconfiguration or reinstalling programs.

Answer 4

Yes it is as easy as that!
Copy the cable positions on the original drive.
Turn on, go into Bios, and check the boot up device is CD
Put the windows CD in the drive, and follow the prompts.
NOTE:
You will have to install the motherboard drivers, graphic card drivers and sound drivers too.
Good luck!

Answer 5

If you're wanting to just use the new HDD and the primary one and the fact the you stated that you have zero computer skill. I'd suggest to take it to someone who can get it up and setup up correctly, like a local computer shop or the Best Buy or Circuit City computer service.

Answer 6

once you occasion till your hair smells like smoke, you have no thought the place the clothing you're donning got here from, and you don't be attentive to how in the worldwide it have been given to be 3 days later, it rather is a occasion. I lived in an apt while i replace into youthful with my terrific buddy who replace right into a drug broker at that element. I undergo in techniques dozens and dozens of untamed roaring inebriated and stoned events the place i did not have a clue who 80% of the persons at it have been, of direction the furnishings did not thrive in that ecosystem. i don't be attentive to no rely if the final straw for me replace into the fool that theory pouring a bottle of vodka into the aquarium replace into an extremely solid thought reason the "fish might desire to get lit too", or the fool I caught feeling my subconscious fiancee up, a scene extremely comparable to Jesus clearing the Pharisees out of the temple ensued after that one, i be attentive to that. besides Zacho, you have exciting, yet for Me, i'm kinda happy it rather is throughout. i might say occasion via Boston. BA: Geeze, it may well be an horrific long record. **PJ, Amen on your amen, brother

Answer 7

if you want you can keep your current 80gig HDD in and add the new 1 if you set the original to master (small jumper pins on the back of the HDD) and the new 1 to slave that way you wont have to install your OS again and will have even more sorage than if you were to do a straight swap.

Answer 8

There may be many reasons for this problem. I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems. Some hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful

Answer 9

This site from Dell shows how to do it step-by-step.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/parts.htm