not that easy if you don't have any experience at all, have a look here for guidance
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm
2007-01-30 23:09:05
·
answer #1
·
answered by ravydavygravy01 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Depends on the computer. Most computer cases have "bays" available for inserting a second CD or DVD drive, or a second hard drive (sometimes both). That is the first requirement - you have to have a space to physically fit the hard drive.
Then you have to have a ribbon cable and power cable available. Most computers have two IDE controllers used by the motherbord to talk to the hard drive/CD/DVD. Each controller can handle 2 drives - or four drives total. There should be a broad, thin cable that goes into the back of your current hard drive. And a second, identical cable that goes into your CD/DVD drive. Each of the cables should have a second, unused connector on them. That connector can be used to attach the new hard drive.
Then you will need to be sure you have a power connector available. That is a small white plastic connector with four wires running into each. There will be one on the back of the current hard drive and CD/DVD drive. You should have two extras, one of which can be used for the new hard drive.
Finally, when two devices are attached to the same IDE cable, one of the devices has to be set as the "master" device and the other as "slave". Your current hard device should already be set to "master" and must be left that way for the computer to boot from it. Normally the CD drive, if it is the only thing on its own IDE ribbon cable, will also be set to "master". So look on the new hard drive. You will find a jumper at one end near where the IDE and power cable plug in. Moving that jumper will determine whether the Hard Drive is a master or a slave. You will probably need to move that jumper to the slave position. A pin chart showing you where to put the jumper is normally posted somehwere on the hard drive. It is different for each make and model.
Once you have the jumper set, the hard drive screwed into place and the two cables (IDE and power) attached, Windows should do the rest for you. If you have problems, it usually means you have the jumper set wrong.
2007-01-30 23:21:59
·
answer #2
·
answered by dewcoons 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
Its very easy. All you need is the space and power requirements and make sure you can add an extra drive first.
If you open your case from the power supply you will see a lot of molex adapters (4 pin plugs - 4 wires going into a white block - although the colour of the end may vary like black etc depending on the psu), you need a free one of them to plug into the new hard drive.
If they are all used up you can always get a y split adapter which turn one molex plug into two molex plugs (if you have too many of these you need a bigger power supply (higher wattage) or you will overload the psu (power supply unit).
Next you need to place the drive in a free bay, the top bays are usually 5.25 inch so if fitting a 3.5inch drive (the normal size for a hard drive) you will need brackets (two small pieces of metal that fit onto either side of the hard drive), or you can fit it into the 3.5 inch bay under where the floppy drive tradiationally sits.
There are two types of common hard drives - IDE and SATA. (theres SCSI as well but thats another story, you will most likely have an IDE or SATA drive, IDE if your pc is old) if its IDE most motherboards only support up to four IDEs (thats two devices on each cable). Some motherboard may support more IDE devices like for example if they have an extra onboard raid controller, but it still follows the two IDE devices on each cable rule.
If you already have four devices plugged in to the IDE cables, and no room for more, you need to buy an additional SATA/IDE raid controller which you can add the new hard drive to (dont worry you dont need to raid it to add it to the raid controller). Obviously you will need a free PCI slot for this to fit in, and a IDE hard drive if its IDE controller card or SATA hard drive if its a SATA controller card.
IDE cables are either flat and wide, often refered to as ribbon (80 pin connectors on each end) or flat and bulky round (the newer type of IDE cable, but still with 80 pin connector at the end) .
If adding it to an existing IDE cable it will limit where you can place your hard drive as the IDE cables arent usually that long (45cm or 90 cm), so you may have to shuffle your devices around for everything to fit in.
If you are adding the new hard drive to an exisitng IDE cable - remember each cable supports two devices, one has to be the master and the other the slave. You set this via jumpers at the back of the hard drive - the hard drive will normally have a diagram/label stuck on to say which jumpers to set for master or slave.
If its a SATA drive the connectors will be a lot smaller the cables beinf flat and not very wide (less than a couple cms wide) and one end plugs into the hard drive the other end directly into the motherboard. Each SATA device has its own bus (cable) so you need to make sure you have a free SATA port on the motherboard.
This may all sound very overwhelming for a complete newbie but once you'ce done it a couple of times youll be amazed at how easy it really is.
Arm yourself with your computers motherboard manual, if you havent got that, make a note of your motherboard model (comes up when you turn the pc on), and you can download the manual straight from the manufacturers website (just put "download manual" in google to find the website). It will give you a better idea of what your motherboard is capable of - some will only have IDE, some only SATA and some come with both.
Hope this helps
2007-01-30 23:26:55
·
answer #3
·
answered by redbaron101 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
It's pretty easy, If you have an open drive bay. If this is going to be a storage drive just set the jumper to "slave" , slide the drive into the bay, install the mounting screws to hold the drive firmly in the case, connect your cable (either EIDE or SATA) and a power connector which you should have a couple free in your PC's case.
2007-01-30 23:22:28
·
answer #4
·
answered by devlin 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
As long as you have a spare drive bay and connect the IDE and power cables correctly, it's not that difficult. Make sure to set the jumper pins of the second hard drive as SLAVE and the one with your operating system on it as MASTER
2007-01-30 23:14:18
·
answer #5
·
answered by zoomjet 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
Its up to your pc case .If you have a mid tower case ,pretty easy,if you have a mini tower case ,a pain in the fricken but.!
2007-01-30 23:17:30
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
as hard as eating nuts.......
its very simple
2007-01-30 23:09:16
·
answer #7
·
answered by newoldnew99 2
·
0⤊
0⤋