Hard Drive Question?

Question

When i install a new hard drive on my computer what do i have to do with the existing one that also contains the operating system? to i have to change the jumper? Or leave it like it came when i bought the computer ? Also the new one? does it have to be set to slave or something? Are the jumper placement important in this matter?

Answer 1

Your best bet is to set each hard drive's jumper settings to use "Cable Select.'

Then setup an IDE cable w/ three connections as follows:
1st connection is to the motherboard.
2nd connection is the original hard drive.
3rd connection is to the new hard drive.

Boot your system and go into CMOS settings, and have your system re-detect all drives.
Make sure all hard drives cd-roms, etc are detected before you try to boot your system all the way up.

If the previous setup is unsuccessful you may have to clear your BIOS settings entirely, by reseating the battery on your motherboard. However, use EXTREME CAUTION here if you do not have a good understanding of computers.

Also, depending on the age of your system and hard drives, you might need to have the original hard drive set to "master" and the new drive set to "slave."

Answer 2

Hi there.

1. You must decide which one you want to use to running you computer that consist of the operating system.

2. Set the 1st hard drive as master - the one that contained your operating system. (set it using the jumper).

3. Set the 2nd hard drive as slave (set it using the jumper)

4. It doesn't matter if the hard drive is new or old. The most important is you must ensure which one to use as your operating system. My PC have 2 hard drive. 1 is 10GB another 1 is 80GB. The 10GB I use as a master while the 80GB I use as a slave. The master I only install the operating system, so incase of any virus, I can easily track it. Or in case I want to format, it will only the 1st hard drive while the 2nd still contain all the data I need, it will not lost.

5. Jumper replacement is important. For example you have 2 hard drive. I name it drive A and drive B. Here's the logic. Your PC currently running with drive A with operating system Window XP. Then, you bought a new drive B that not yet set to master without any operating system. Thus, you PC might not work if your PC detect the drive B as first drive.

Hope above might help.

Answer 3

The hard drive that is already on your computer is already set to master. The new hard drive is too, but should be set to slave if all your doing is adding it for more storage space. If you're taking out your old, then the new should be set to master. There should be
a small drawing on the new hard drive that show how to set the jumpers for master or slave. If you are using the new hard drive and not the old, then you will have to install windows at boot up to the new hard drive. If you have not done this before, it may be better to leave the old and add the new...Good Luck..

Answer 4

jumpers are very important
you can set both drives at (CS) cable select how this works is

the drive plugged to the first connector becomes the master drive, the drive plugged to the second connector is the slave drive
your CD/DVD rom move that to the secondary connector on your motherboard and make that the master,

also you will need to format the new drive before you can use it

Answer 5

set the new one slave.
Since the old one has operating system you have to set it as master unless you want to reinstall OS.
Usually they are on cable select.
CS cable select does it for you.
The top is master and bottom is slave. good luck.

Answer 6

the link may help you
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm

Answer 7

just hook them up