How to connect a second hard drive? Installing an additional hard drive
The amount of information stored on a hard drive is growing with high speed, take for example a movie good quality(HDRip) its volume can be 2400 MB, which means that only 50 movies can fit on an average hard drive of 160 GB, unless of course the drive is empty.
The advantage of additional hard drive Another important factor is data recovery after reinstalling the system. You've probably already encountered a problem when you need to reinstall the software, and in order to save all the information you have, it takes a day to first copy it to an external drive, and then return it to its place after reinstalling the software. It will be much more convenient to have a second hard drive to store all information except the installed software itself.
In this article we will look at how to install an additional hard drive.
Let's get down to business.
We will leave our first hard drive for the operating system, and we will connect the second to store movies, games, music and other information. This configuration is not only convenient, but also improves the performance of the computer itself.
Let's consider point by point how to “get” to the installation location of our hard drive.
1. It is necessary to disconnect the computer from the power supply.
2. Remove the cover of the system unit (if the cover is separate, then it must be removed from both sides).
3. Find your first hard drive (most often it is located closer to the end part).
4. It is necessary to determine the type of hard drive (types: IDE and SATA. They differ in connecting wires).
IDE power cable
IDE data cable
This is what the IDE connector looks like motherboard for connecting a data cable.
SATA data cable
SATA power cable
This is what the SATA connector on the motherboard looks like for connecting a data cable.
For information:
If you have a SATA output on your motherboard, then it would be wiser to install this type of hard drive. SATA has a large throughput in relation to the IDE. IDE is more difficult to find in stores due to the fact that this interface is no longer in active use, and has been replaced by SATA, SATA-II, SATA-III (the larger the number, the higher the data exchange speed).
5. If your choice falls on an IDE hard drive, then on the rear panel you need to move the jumper to the Slave position. You also need to check how the jumper is set on the first hard drive (it should be set to the Master position).
6. Now install your additional hard drive in place and connect it to the motherboard and supply power to it.
7. Secure hard disks on both sides with the bolts included in the kit.
8. Replace the system unit cover.
9. Connect the wires that were previously disconnected and apply power to it.
10. Turn on the computer, wait until it boots completely, then check if a new hard drive has appeared (to check, go to “My Computer”)
11. If everything went well and the disk appears in the computer, then before starting work you should format it.
Well, this completes the installation of the second hard drive.
When you run out of hard drive space, you can either delete or add more space. While an external USB hard drive is easy to plug in and an option for extra storage, it's not entirely suitable - they take up disk space, possibly an extra power socket, need to use up a valuable USB port, and are generally slower than internal drives. Let's look today at a more complex option for adding a second internal drive.
It's time to familiarize yourself with the basics of your computer. Today we'll only be focusing on the hard drive, but the guide will give you a great overview of all the random connectors and ports you'll see on the motherboard once you open the computer case.
Step 1: Determine whether you can add another internal drive or not
Unfortunately, not all computers are built equal. If you have a laptop, or an all-in-one car where the internal systems are hidden in the monitor, then your only option is to go to a USB drive and you don't need to open it. If you have a system unit, then read on, as there is a chance that you will have enough space to install a second drive. If you have a full sized tower, you can easily add a second drive, or 2, or 3! But, if you are not sure, refer to the table below.
Step 2: Backup
While we are not anticipating any problems, it is a good practice to back up your important data before making any changes to your hardware. Here we have looked at some options for backup.
The best software backup for Windows.
Best programs backup for Windows.
Your data is fragile - and it only takes one small accident to lose all your data. The more copies you make, the better. Here we present the best free programs backup for Windows.
Step 3: Open the case
Before proceeding, disconnect power from the system unit and all peripheral devices.
In most cases, the system unit may have covers on each side that need to be removed with just two screws. You need to remove the side cover that does not have the motherboard, so look at the back of the system, find the USB/mouse ports and remove the cover, so look at the back of the system, find the USB/mouse ports and remove the opposite side.
Step 4: Get rid of static electricity
When touching the inside of a computer, technicians use a grounded wrist strap to reduce the risk of damage to any sensitive component from static electricity that is stored in the human body. For our purposes, touching the radiator will be enough.
Step 5: Find the hard drive and connectors for it
The insides of all computers are very similar. Hard drive is enough big piece metal like this:
You have to find it, it is usually in some kind of metal box. Check now to see if you have a case to fit another hard drive. A tower case usually has room for 3 or 4 drives, but a small desktop system may only have room for one drive, in which case you're out of luck and will have to consider either upgrading the case or using an external USB drive.
Step 6: Determine if you have a SATA or IDE drive
Take a look at the following image and compare it with your drive. If you have a drive type like the top, wide ribbon cable, then this is a very old type of connection called IDE. Ideally, your new drive will have a SATA interface. If it turns out that you have an IDE disk, then you are completely out of luck, but this is beyond the scope of this article. IDE drives are becoming harder and harder to buy, which is a sign that your PC is really getting old.
Check ALL connected devices. There are two possible types of power cables, and in your system you will of course need to find a spare that you can use. It may be hidden somewhere, so keep a close eye on other power cables and try to find a spare one.
Some hard drives can accept any kind of cable, but the SATA type is easier to connect, so I use those if available. If you have a spare power cable but it's not SATA, you can still install a second drive, but you'll need to make sure it can accept the Molex type of power cable, or you can buy a Molex to SATA adapter.
Next, connect the SATA data cable to the motherboard, and see where it is connected. Different motherboards have different SATA port numbers, and older machines may even only have one. Obviously, if you can only find one SATA port, then you can only connect one SATA disk drive. If you can see some spare connectors, then congratulations - you can now go out and buy a second drive!
Step 7: Buy a disc
There is very little difference between hard drive manufacturers. On the technical side, you should search for “3.5-inch SATA hard drive”, and make sure you pick up another “SATA cable” while you're in the store, the salesperson should be able to help you with this if you can't find the one you're looking for hard drive" and make sure you pick up another "SATA cable" while you're in the store and the salesperson should be able to help you with this if you can't find one.
Step 8: Installation
Installing the hard drive into the case is the most difficult part as sometimes it can be blocked by the video card or other cables. You'll need to identify the cables before you actually go any further, noting which side of the cable is facing up (the SATA data cable and power cables all have a notch on one end, which means it's nearly impossible to insert it incorrectly).
Once the drive is in place, use the screws that came with the drive to secure it - you'll need to line up the holes on the drive with the holes in the case or tray. Next, find the spare power cables and SATA cable and connect them.
In my next article, I'll cover software and configuration setup when adding a second drive - so stay tuned for that. As always, feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I will try to answer them quickly.
The quality of content is increasing inexorably, which means that file sizes are also increasing. In this regard, you may need additional space on your computer to ensure reliable storage of your extensive library of audio and video files, heavy programs and much more. In order not to change the current hard drive, it is enough to connect an additional one to it, which will act as an auxiliary source of space.
So, you have a system unit and a clear decision to install a second hard drive. This procedure is not so complicated that you need to contact service center, and, in principle, even a novice user can cope on his own.
Connecting a second hard drive to your computer
Connecting an additional hard drive will differ depending on which interface connector you have on your computer: SATA or IDE. SATA is a modern interface, so in almost 100% of cases it is found in more or less recent computers. IDE, on the contrary, is outdated, it can be found in older computers, but, fortunately, hard drives with an IDE interface can still be found on sale.
If you do not know what interface your computer is equipped with, before purchasing, you will need to look under the system unit case to obtain the necessary information.
Opening the system unit case
1. The structure of the system unit cases may be different. For example, in one case it is enough to unscrew (snap) and remove the side cover, in some cases you will need to unscrew 4 screws from reverse side housing and tighten the housing.
2. Hard drives are installed in specially designated cells, which can be located differently in different variations of computers: they can be located at the bottom, central or side. The picture below shows what they roughly look like.
3. It is not difficult to distinguish between SATA and IDE connectors: since IDE is an old interface, it has wide ports and fairly large cables. It looks like this:
SATA, on the contrary, modern solution, which means it has a narrow port and a small cable.
Knowing what interface you have, you can purchase a hard drive and then connect it.
Connecting a hard drive to SATA
Let's start by analyzing the connection of a more modern interface, since it is found in most cases.
Before you begin, be sure to turn off your computer and disconnect it from the outlet.
1. Insert the hard drive into the free slot and secure it with screws.
2. Now you should connect the SATA cable that came with the kit to the hard drive. To do this, connect one end to the hard drive on either side, and connect the other end to the motherboard.
3. All that remains is to connect the hard drive to the power supply. To do this, as a rule, a coupler comes from the power supply, which must be connected to the hard drive. If the power supply does not have free cables, you will need to buy a splitter that turns one connector into two.
4. Build your computer and then connect it to the network. This completes the connection of the second hard drive.
Connecting a hard drive to IDE
Connecting a hard drive to a legacy interface is not much different, but the procedure is still slightly different.
1. First of all, you will need to set the jumper on the contacts of the connected hard drive to one of the positions: Master or Slave. As a rule, the Master mode is the main one when operating a hard drive and, most often, it is used for hard drives from which the operating system is loaded. Slave is an additional mode used for auxiliary hard drives on which, for example, media files will be stored. Most often, a second hard drive is connected for this very purpose, so set the jumper to Slave mode.
2. The IDE cable, unlike SATA, has not two, but three plugs for connection. The blue plug located at one end indicates that it needs to be connected to the motherboard. At the other end, as a rule, there is a black plug, which belongs to the Master mode, and a white one, located approximately in the middle of the cable, is responsible for the Slave mode.
3. Insert the hard drive into the bay, and then secure it with screws.
4. You will need to connect the free plug from the power supply to the hard drive, thereby providing it with power.
5. Insert the required cable connector into the hard drive, depending on the hard drive mode you have chosen. The blue end of the hard drive is connected to the motherboard.
This completes the connection of the hard drive to the IDE interface.
Actually, in self-connection there is nothing complicated about the hard drive. And after completing this procedure, after turning on, your computer will detect the hard drive, and you will be able to fill it with the necessary information.
Adding a second hard drive to your computer can improve system performance and overall increase storage space necessary information. Most commercial computers have built-in support for IDE (PATA) or SATA (Serial ATA) for connecting hard drives to the motherboard.
Modern operating systems support any type of hard drive, regardless of the type of hard drive already installed on the computer. Contrary to popular belief, installing a second hard drive does not require professional technical training, but does require minimal skills in disassembling a computer and replacing its components.
In fact, installing a second hard drive only requires an additional cable (if you don't have one) and a screwdriver. In the event of a malfunction, professional assistance may be required. Remember, there is always the option to refer to the reference manual.
To install a second hard drive on your computer, follow these steps:
1. First of all, create backups data stored on the primary device.
2. Turn off the computer and disconnect all power cords from the computer. Before opening the case, you must touch something metal to remove the static charge.
3. Before purchasing a second hard drive, find out what type of drive your computer supports. IDE drives use 2-inch flat cables with three or more connectors. SATA drives use thin and round cables.
4. Refer to the instructions printed on the hard drive label for instructions on how to properly set the jumpers. Jumpers are tiny connectors that can be found on IDE drives. They help identify the primary drive. Set the jumper to "Slave (ide2)" on the second drive. Also, be sure to set jumpers on the main hard drive to set it to "Master (IDE1)." If you purchased a SATA drive, proceed to step 5. SATA drives do not require a jumper to be installed.
5. Find an empty bay to accommodate the second hard drive. Carefully insert the new hard drive into the bay. Use two mounting screws on both sides to secure the new hard drive into the metal case. Connect the IDE drive to the second connector located on the main cable. For SATA, connect one connector to the main drive and the other end of the cable to the SATA connector on the motherboard.
6. Replace the computer cover. Connect the power cords to it. Turn on your computer. Press F1, F2, F10, or Delete button to enter the BIOS menu. Check if they are detected by the system. If not, then check again that all cables and cables are connected correctly.
After this, configure the hard drive to work with the operating system. If it is new, then first of all you need to assign a letter to it. You can also split it into sections. Using a second hard drive as your primary hard drive for installing applications and storing virtual memory is one way to improve system performance. This will also free up space for the operating system to run.
Every year the amount of information stored on a computer increases. As a result, the computer takes a long time to boot and freezes periodically. And this is natural, because all data is stored on a hard drive, the memory of which is limited.
Users solve this problem in different ways. Someone transfers information to various media, someone turns to a specialist and asks to increase the computer’s memory, and someone decides to connect a second hard drive to the computer. Therefore, let’s figure out how to connect a second hard drive to a computer without the help of a specialist – on your own.
To begin with, you need to completely de-energize the system unit: Disconnect all cables and power cable. Now it is necessary unscrew the side covers system specialist We turn its back towards you and unscrew the four screws on the sides. Lightly pressing on the side parts, move them in the direction of the arrow and remove.
Hard drives in the system unit are installed in special compartments or cells. Such compartments may be located in the rear of the system unit, at the bottom or in the middle; some hard drives are installed turned on their side. If your system unit has several bays for hard drives, install the second one not adjacent to the first one - this will improve its cooling.
Depending on the method of connection to the motherboard, internal hard drives are divided into two types: with IDE and SATA interface. IDE is an older standard; now all system units are designed for connecting hard drives with SATA interface. It is not difficult to distinguish them: IDE has wide ports for connecting a hard drive and power supply and a wide cable, while SATA has both ports and cable much narrower.
Connecting a hard drive via SATA interface
If your system unit has a hard drive with a SATA interface, then connecting a second one will not be difficult.
Insert the second hard drive into a free slot and attach it to the body with screws.
Now we take a SATA cable through which data will be transferred, and connect it to the hard drive on either side. We connect the second plug of the cable to the SATA connector on the motherboard.
All system units have at least two SATA connectors; they look as shown in the picture below.
To connect to the power supply, a cable is used, the plug of which is slightly wider than that of a SATA cable. If there is only one plug coming from the power supply, you need to buy a splitter. If the power supply does not have a narrow plug, you will need to buy an adapter.
Connect the power cable to the hard drive.
A second hard drive is installed on the computer. Place the side covers of the system unit in place and secure them with screws.
Connecting a hard drive via the IDE interface
Although the IDE standard is outdated, hard drives with an IDE interface are still available. Therefore, next we will look at how to connect a second hard drive via the IDE interface.
First you need install jumper on the hard drive contacts desired position. This will allow you to determine in which mode the hard drive will operate: Master or Slave. Typically, a hard drive that is already installed on the computer operates in Master mode. It is the main one and is loaded from it operating system. For the second hard drive that we are going to install, we need to select Slave mode. The contacts on the hard drive case are usually labeled, so just place the jumper in the desired position.
The IDE cable through which data is transmitted has three plugs. One is located at the end of a long segment, of blue color, connects to the motherboard. Another one is in the middle, white, connected to the driven disk (Slave). The third, at the end of a short segment, black, is connected to the master disk.
Insert the hard drive into a free cell. Then secure it with screws.
Choose free plug from the power supply and insert it into the appropriate port on the hard drive.
Now insert the plug that is located in the middle of the train, to the hard drive port for data transfer. In this case, one end of the cable is already connected to the motherboard, the other to the previously installed hard drive.
Connecting the second hard drive via the IDE interface is now complete.
As you can see, we didn’t do anything complicated. Just be careful, and then you will definitely be able to connect a second hard drive to your computer.
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