Good day!
There is never too much disk space!
This truth has been more relevant than ever for the last 30 years. Despite the development of the IT sector (the emergence of cloud drives, network storage, high-speed Internet), we are still faced with a lack of free space on the HDD.
The obvious solution to this problem is to buy and connect another drive. But, as with any issue, this has its own nuances... Actually, in this article I decided to consider this issue in more detail (so that the article would be understandable to most inexperienced readers).
So, let's start to figure it out...
Note! Please note that disk space may be wasted due to non-optimal Windows settings(for example, paging and hibernation files are “bloated”), or a large accumulation of garbage. I recommend clearing all garbage and optimizing the OS ( ), before buying a new disk (perhaps the freed up space will be enough for all your tasks).
Option 1: installing a classic HDD in a PC system unit
A few words about choosing a new disk
In general, choosing a new hard drive is a separate big topic. Here I want to focus on one important detail - interface. Nowadays the most common ones are IDE (obsolete) and SATA. Before buying a disk, I recommend checking your PC (especially if you have an old one) and find out what interface is supported (otherwise, in addition to the disk, you will have to purchase adapters/adapters - and additional problems often arise with them...) .
SATA III and IDE - comparison (as an example. The photo shows 2 hard drives)
About installation:
Addition (if the PC does not see the new disk)!
After you turn on the computer (with the second disk installed *), it is not at all a fact that you will immediately see this drive in “My Computer” or “Explorer”. The fact is that new disks often come unformatted (and such a drive cannot always be seen by Windows).
Therefore, after turning on and Windows boot, I recommend immediately (This system utility on Windows) or use special ones to format the drive and start working with it fully.
Option 2: connecting the drive to the USB port (external drives)
If you don't want to "climb" through the insides system unit (and many novice users ask to suggest exactly this option so as not to do this), or you simply have no warranty on your PC (and you don’t want to open the unit and risk it once again) - that is, a way out...
The fact is that now there are hundreds of different specials on sale. boxes: they are a collapsible box (see screenshot below), inside which you can install a classic HDD (both 2.5 and 3.5 inches (i.e. drive from both a laptop and a PC)) and then connect it to the USB port. Moreover, you can connect not only to a computer, but also to a small netbook, for example.
Working with such a disk is no different from a regular disk (which is inside the system unit): you can also store music, movies, documents, games, etc. on it (plus, it’s easy to carry and connect it to other devices).
The only negative: there may be problems with installing Windows OS on it (therefore, using an external drive as a system drive is not worth it. For everything else, it’s a pretty good option).
By the way, there are now not only boxes on sale (for classic HDDs), but also full-fledged external hard drives. There is quite a wide variety of them now; they differ not only in volume, but also in connection interface, dimensions, speed, etc.
To help! How to choose an external hard drive (HDD) - 7 important points -
Stationary external hard drive - connects to a 220 V network via a power supply
To help!
Option 3: if you have a laptop...
When many people use the word “computer” they often mean a laptop. That is why in this article I will also consider this case...
In general, the laptop is difficult to upgrade. If you can “stuff” several hard drives into a regular system unit (for example, 5-6), then many classic laptops- have only 1 HDD slot (provided by the manufacturer). And, as a rule, it is already occupied by the current disk - i.e. There is no slot for a second drive.
However, do not rush to despair, there are solutions:
That's all for now, additions on the topic are welcome.
Good luck!
How to connect a hard drive to a computer?
With a desktop computer the situation is much easier than with a laptop, so let's start with it. So, you already know what characteristics to rely on when purchasing, so we’ll leave this topic outside the scope of today’s article.
- First of all, even before purchasing, you should have figured out what free connectors for connecting drives are available on your motherboard - the old IDE or one of the varieties of SATA (I, II or III).
- And secondly, what free power connectors are available on the .
Modern hard drives, motherboards and power supplies work with SATA connectors. However, if they are all already occupied on the power supply, then also take care of purchasing a Molex-SATA adapter to connect your second drive to Molex-type power.
If you want to use a second old hard drive with a connection to an “IDE” type motherboard, and your latter is new and no longer has such an input, then we buy an adapter from IDE to SATA.
Another option to connect a hard drive to a computer that does not have a corresponding connector for it is to use a special IDE-SATA PCI controller. The advantage of it is that with it you can connect an old IDE drive to new board, and a new SATA drive to the old motherboard. It looks like an expansion card that is inserted into PCI slot on the motherboard and adds support for working with IDE devices. Let me remind you that you can connect two disks or drives to a standard cable at once.
Let's say you have already figured out all your nuances, purchased a second hard drive and, if necessary, adapters, and now you need to install it in the case and connect it to the motherboard and power supply. First, we secure the hard drive in a special basket in the case, or insert it along the guides and secure it with special fasteners or ordinary screws, depending on the type.
After that, we connect the “small” SATA to the corresponding connectors on the back of the drive and on the motherboard, and into the larger SATA socket (for power) we insert either an adapter connected to the cable from the power supply, or directly the power supply cable with a SATA plug. We do this carefully so as not to break the socket on the hard drive, since there is no limiter at the bottom and you can easily break off a piece of the board with the contacts of this connector.
In the screenshot below, green arrows indicate wide SATA arrows that connect the second hard drive to the power supply, and red arrows indicate narrow ones that go to the motherboard.
Yes, do not forget that all connections must be made with the power supply disconnected from the outlet, or with the power switch turned off, if there is one on it. As you can see, there is nothing complicated.
How to install a second hard drive in a laptop?
Is this really possible? Yes, today you can also increase the amount of space not only on a desktop PC, but also on a laptop. And for this it is not at all necessary to replace the standard hard drive that is already in the laptop, and therefore you will not have to face all the associated problems, such as transferring files and reinstalling Windows and all programs on new hard drive.
The second hard drive in the laptop (remember, 2.5 inches in size) is connected using a special adapter, which is installed instead of the laptop one DVD drive And - you must admit, now almost no one uses this device. And if you need to view discs, you can always use an external one connected via USB.
This is what this adapter, invented (or copied?) by the Chinese, looks like:
In online stores it can be found under the name “2nd SSD HDD HD Hard Disk Driver Caddy SATA for 12.7mm CD / DVD-ROM Optical Bay”. Inside and outside this adapter there is a connector for connecting a disk and for connecting the adapter itself to the laptop board.
So, we insert the hard drive into the adapter. You may also have to screw the mount yourself to the back of the adapter, through which it will be screwed to the laptop body.
And in its place we insert the adapter and secure it with the same screw. After this, the “Computer” menu will appear new hard a disk that can be fully used after formatting.
How to install a small hard drive in a computer?
Speaking about connecting a hard drive, one cannot help but touch upon the problem that users sometimes encounter when they need to install a hard drive or 2.5″ SSD into a computer whose case only has mounts for standard 3.5″ drives. For this case, there are also special adapters in which such a hard drive can be secured and inserted into a regular place under disks of larger diameter.
BIOS does not recognize the second hard drive
Another common problem that you may encounter when you have 2 hard drives installed is that the computer simply does not see one of them. First of all, if you are using an adapter, then this may be the problem. Use known-good adapters.
If you haven’t used it or your adapter is working, then the whole point is in the BIOS settings, namely, the operating mode of the hard drive controller is incorrectly set.
We reboot the computer, go into the BIOS and look for the “SATA Controller” item (or SATA ATA/IDE/Raid Config, Mass Storage Controll or something else like that to set the mode HDD operation). If you connected a drive with a SATA cable to the motherboard and a modern operating system is installed on the computer ( Windows Vista, 7, 8 and above), then the AHCI, IDE, Native or Enchansed position can be activated in this item. Wherein
only in AHCI mode the maximum data transfer speed from the disk will be achieved.
If there is an older Windows, or if the hard drive was connected, then only IDE, Native or Enchansed.
The disk controllers themselves must also be enabled. Here are a couple of screenshots from different BIOSes with these settings:
If your computer has 2 hard drives (or a disk + DVD drive) and both of them are connected via IDE cables, then the problem may be that they are not configured correctly with each other. If you have just such a connection and in the BIOS you see the following picture:
then this is your case. In this configuration (when both are connected via IDE), one disk should be Master, that is, the main one, the one on which Windows is located, and the other Slave, that is, secondary.
This priority is configured using a special jumper installed on the contacts on the back of the case.
All possible positions of this jumper and their modes are usually described on a sticker on the disk body. They may differ from one manufacturer to another.
From our table we see that if Windows is installed on the disk and it will be the main one (Master), or if it is used alone, then we put a jumper on the first 2 vertical contacts. If it is secondary (Slave), then remove the jumper altogether.
We do this with our hard drives and go into the BIOS again. Now they will be automatically detected by the motherboard and the following picture should be drawn:
Thank you! Did not help
Installation hard drive on a computer - it’s not a difficult task and there’s nothing to be afraid of if you have to do it yourself, even if you’ve never seen your computer open. I’ll explain everything to you now, and everything will work out for you.
Installing a hard drive on your computer will be required if you are going to update your device, are building a computer from scratch, or want second HDD. This instruction will help you in the first two cases. But in case of replacing the HDD, I will not tell you how to remove the old one, I think there will be no problems with this, but I will only show you how to install the new one correctly. But I’ll tell you about connecting the second hard drive some other time.
Installing a new hard drive begins by screwing it to the case. This is done using bolts. There are threaded holes in the hard drive case, and grooves in the computer case. It is screwed through them.
Make sure that the installed device will not interfere with ventilation inside the system unit, and that all wires and cables can easily reach it without tension.
Only on the service https://doctorsmm.com/ there are discounts on selling views on Instagram for a limited period of time. Hurry up to have time to purchase a resource with the most convenient speed mode for video or broadcast, and experienced managers will help you understand any issue.
Connecting the hard drive to the motherboard
The bolts are fixed, and we move on to the wires and cables. Connect the HDD with which it will communicate with it.
Depending on the type of HDD, they will differ - ATA (IDE) and SATA. The first is older, the second is new, but both types are still on sale.
The IDE hard drive is connected to the motherboard using a cable, which has a large number of contacts, pins, and is therefore wide. The cable has a lock that prevents it from being connected incorrectly. Therefore, it is impossible to make a mistake. Connect using an IDE cable to the HDD and motherboard.
The SATA hard drive is connected using a narrow cable. It will be impossible to mix up the connection sockets on the motherboard, since SATA will only fit into the correct connector. Using a SATA cable, you should connect the HDD to motherboard.
Connecting the hard drive to power
In hard IDE drives and SATA, the power cables are also different. Most are for one or the other type or there are special adapters.
To connect hard drives IDE uses a 4-pin Peripheral Power Connector. SATA hard drives require a SATA Power Connector. In both cases, you can't mix up the connections, so don't worry about doing anything wrong.
Differences between connecting IDE and SATA hard drives
It would seem that the connection procedure is the same, but in fact IDE is slightly different from SATA in that it requires setting the position of the jumper, the so-called jumper.
The motherboard is usually equipped with a pair of connectors for IDE devices, and two devices can be connected to each. Each pair can have one master and one slave, and it is impossible for two to be identical. The hard drive must be in master position if Windows boots from it. The second device in the same connection branch must be a slave.
If all this is difficult to understand, then simply set the jumper to master if your computer only has one hard drive.
You can find the jumper connection card on the hard drive case itself.
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I’ll share with you how I solved a problem related to my hardware. I worked and worked... and there wasn’t enough space. Have you thought about how to install a hard drive on your Acer AX3910 computer? There are not enough connectors for it.
I’ve been using this computer for several years now and I’ll tell you honestly, it’s never let me down, it works super reliably, quickly, and the most important thing I like about it is its noiselessness. Works like a laptop. It's on the table and you can't even hear it.
Engineers looking for a cost-effective alternative to mass-produced products began using parallel connections. Over the years the standard has changed significantly. This is not a controller: it is properly called a "host adapter". Social media continues to grow rapidly. Every year we learn new things about what works and what doesn't.
Your computer has two main types of memory: hard disk memory and RAM, and they perform separate functions. Technicians call non-volatile hard drive storage because data remains when the computer is turned off. Traditional hard drives constantly write data in tiny magnetic fields on spinning metal platters; Newer SSD technology has no moving parts and instead uses flash memory to store files.
Installing a second hard drive on an Acer AX3910 computer.
Before this model, I used the same desktop computers, of the same brand, only less powerful and with a smaller hard drive. As they were used, the need for a faster processor and a larger hard drive arose. I have been using this model for more than two years and have no plans to change yet. Except that there wasn't enough space on the hard drive.
Random access memory is a high-speed temporary storage area where your computer stores running programs, open documents, and intermediate results of calculations and file processing. This is useful if your programs require a large amount of memory. He also contributed to the book Nanotechnology: Molecular Reflections on Global Abundance. It also allows you to create redundancy to protect against data loss if your primary hard drive fails. Hard drives come in two versions: external and internal.
Computer settings:
For additional storage space, I have been using an external hard drive “WD Elements” for a year now. The brand is not known to me, it is made in Thailand.
This HDD has a USB3 connector, the data transfer speed is very high that I didn’t even need to increase the built-in hard drive.
Then look at the cables connected to existing disk. One will be the power connector and the other will be the data connector. The power connector goes to the computer's power supply, and the data connector goes to the motherboard. Also check if there is free space to connect a second drive on the same ribbon cable. If not, you will need to install a second ribbon cable in the second controller socket on the motherboard, assuming it is accessible.
How to install a second hard drive
What to do? I decide to urgently install an additional 1 TB hard drive, leaving the original drive of the same manufacturer under the system, without reinstalling the system or changing anything. Bought for 3820 rubles. And knowing that this compact case does not have one for it, I decide to install it instead of a CD/ROM, and use an external CD/ROM, connected via a USB connector. It's not needed that often these days. And on the motherboard there are only two SATA connectors for disks.
Installing software on an external drive
- Make sure your original drive and your new drive are connected at the same time.
- The automatic installation will now begin.
- Run all available software updates.
How to determine the thickness of the device
I know of two types of optical drives used on laptops, which differ in thickness. "Thick" has a height of 12.7 mm, and "thin" - 9.5 mm. You can determine the thickness of the device you have installed without disassembling the laptop. To do this, first look at the device manager and look at the product model.
All you do is look for the location option during the installation process. At this point, it's too late to install them on another hard drive unless you want to go through and uninstall and reinstall the programs individually. However, you can't simply drag and drop program folders onto another drive. What you should do is create what is called a symbolic link. These are a bit like the shortcuts to programs, folders, and websites that litter your desktop, but they're more powerful.
There is no need to resort to complex commands, although there is a simple and free utility that does everything for you. Select "Custom Setting" and release all additional functions. When you install any software, it always asks where you want to save it. It has two halves and divides them in the middle - a column of icons.
I have this Optiarc AD-7580S. Now let’s visit any popular Internet resource that sells similar products or Yandex.market and look at the characteristics of the device.
As you can see, the thickness of the device, according to the description, is 13 mm (taking into account rounding, in reality 12.7 mm).
We need to select the source folders and destination. Make sure they are all checked. Now programs run from the hard drive. At some point, hard drive space becomes scarce and it is time to transfer data to an external hard drive. Or maybe you need an external hard drive for backups?
Connecting an external hard drive
Before purchasing a drive, please contact your computer to connect external media. When purchasing, pay attention to what connections the plate has. Depending on the application, you need a wafer with a higher or lower transfer speed.
Unpack and prepare the plate
When the drive arrives at your home, unpack it and check what's on the drive. In most cases, external drives come with a desktop or plug-in power supply and a connection cable for the computer.If in doubt, you can measure it yourself using an ordinary ruler. You can tell the difference between 12.7 and 9.5 drives with the naked eye.
Where to buy an adapter for HDD to ODD bay
It is a plastic box with a small board with connectors and a microcircuit, also included is a USB cord for connection and a decorative strip on the front side. For some reason, the package included a mini-CD with drivers, but Windows 7 saw the device without installing additional software. Moreover, the device is detected from the BIOS, so it can be used as a bootable CD-ROM.
Connect the power supply and plug it in. Then connect the hard drive to your computer. If you want to be safe, turn off your computer beforehand. If the drive is connected, turn it on and, if necessary, turn on the computer. The operating system should now recognize the drive and display it in
The time has come when one hard drive in a computer is no longer enough. More and more users decide to connect a second HDD to their PC, but not everyone knows how to do it correctly themselves to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disk is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount the hard drive - it can be connected as external device, if there is a free USB port.
Connecting a second HDD to a PC or laptop
Options for connecting a second hard drive are as simple as possible:
- Connecting the HDD to the computer system unit. Suitable for owners of regular desktop PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
- Connecting a hard drive as an external drive. The easiest way to connect an HDD, and the only one possible for a laptop owner.
Option 1. Installation in the system unit
HDD type determination
Before connecting, you need to determine the type of interface the hard drive works with - SATA or IDE. Almost all modern computers are equipped with a SATA interface, so it is best if the hard drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, connecting such a drive may cause some difficulties.
The easiest way to recognize the standard is by contacts. This is what they look like on SATA drives:
And this is how the IDE does it:
Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit
The process of connecting a disk is very easy and takes place in several stages:
Boot priority for SATA drives
The motherboard usually has 4 connectors for connecting SATA drives. They are designated as SATA0 - the first, SATA1 - the second, etc. The priority of the hard drive is directly related to the numbering of the connector. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to go into the BIOS. Depending on the BIOS type, the interface and controls will be different.
In older versions, go to the Advanced BIOS Features section and work with the First Boot Device and Second Boot Device parameters. In new BIOS versions look for the Boot or Boot Sequence section and the 1st/2nd parameter Boot Priority.
Connecting a second IDE drive
In rare cases, there is a need to install a disk with an outdated IDE interface. In this case, the connection process will be slightly different.
Connecting a second IDE drive to the first SATA drive
When you need to connect an IDE drive to an already working SATA HDD, use a special IDE-SATA adapter.
The connection diagram is as follows:
- The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
- The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.
- The red SATA cable is connected with one side to the adapter, and the other to the motherboard.
- The power cable is connected on one side to the adapter, and the other to the power supply.
You may need to purchase a 4-pin to SATA adapter.
Initializing the disk in the OS
In both cases, after connecting, the system may not see the connected disk. This does not mean that you did something wrong; on the contrary, it is normal when the new HDD is not visible in the system. The hard drive must be initialized before it can be used. Read about how this is done in our other article.
Read more: Why the computer does not see the hard drive
Option 2. Connecting an external hard drive
Often users choose to connect external HDD. This is much simpler and more convenient if some files stored on the disk are sometimes needed outside the home. And in the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for a second HDD.
An external hard drive is connected via USB in exactly the same way as another device with the same interface (flash drive, mouse, keyboard).
A hard drive designed for installation in the system unit can also be connected via USB. To do this, you need to use either an adapter/adapter or a special external case for the hard drive. The essence of the operation of such devices is similar - the required voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and the connection to the PC is made via USB. For hard drives different form factors have their own cables, so when purchasing you should always pay attention to the standard that sets dimensions your HDD.
If you decide to connect the drive using the second method, then literally follow 2 rules: do not neglect safe removal devices and do not disconnect the disk while working with the PC to avoid errors.
We talked about ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer or laptop. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and it is absolutely not necessary to use the services of computer specialists.
We are glad that we were able to help you solve the problem.
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How to connect a second hard drive
Even a large disk space can run out if you work on a computer for a long time. You can delete files and programs to free up some space, but this is a temporary solution. You can replace the hard drive, then you will have to reinstall the OS and configure the computer. It's easier to connect a second drive, which will significantly increase disk space for photos, games and movies.
Buy a hard drive of sufficient capacity and a SATA data cable to connect it from a computer hardware store. The disk capacity depends on the user's desire, but it is better not to save money and purchase a disk of at least a terabyte, so that you do not have to think about increasing the memory again soon. The hard drive of a modern computer is most often connected using a SATA interface. The IDE format was used on computers until 2000. To be sure that the drive and motherboard are compatible, consult your dealer or read the instructions for your computer.
Completely disconnect the computer and all its accessories from the power source. Place the system unit on its side and remove it sidebar. Consider the motherboard. Modern boards can have several SATA controllers, up to 6 pieces. The IDE connector may be missing or used to connect a CD/DVD drive. A computer board diagram will help you find the right controllers.
Place the new hard drive in a special basket at a sufficient distance from the other so that they do not touch and do not overheat. If the case has three “slots” for the hard drive, then place them in 1 and 3, and 2 between them for ventilation. Secure the drive with four screws. Connect one end of the SATA cable (it doesn't matter which) to the hard drive, and the other to the found SATA controller on the motherboard. The second hard drive is connected.
If the power supply does not have a SATA connector, then you need to buy an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect the new hard drive to the power supply: among several wires of the power supply, find the SATA wire. It is impossible to confuse it, since only it will fit the hard drive, or install an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect it to the connector of the new device. The second hard drive is now fully installed.
If the bar random access memory prevents you from installing the second hard drive in a special basket and you removed it, then put it back in place. Secure the side wall of the system unit with the mounting screws. Turn on the computer and that's it peripherals.
Wait until the operating system loads completely. It will automatically detect the new device external memory and will offer to format the disk in NTFS format. If this does not happen, open the “Computer” folder in Explorer, click on the new drive right click mouse and select the “Format” command from the menu. If new local disk does not appear, then find it using the “Control Panel” section of the “Main Menu”, which opens with the “Start” button.
Elevated temperatures can cause rapid wear on the surface of the hard drive. If it is not possible to separate the hard drives by space, then there is one way out - install a second fan to cool the drives. If all SATA controllers are busy on the board, then buy a PCI controller with SATA connectors to connect a second drive.
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Connecting the main and additional hard drive
Modern hard drives are distinguished by their capacity, sufficient to meet the needs of almost any user. However system requirements programs and games grow along with disk volumes, so sometimes there is a problem of lack of space. If you can't delete anything, you can connect a second hard drive.
Connecting equipment
First, let's figure out how to connect a hard drive to a computer.
Modern hard drives for computers have a 3.5-inch format. They are connected using the SATA interface, which replaced the outdated IDE connector.
Look at your hard drive - it should have two connectors. One is short, designed to transfer data from the motherboard. The second one is long, it is needed to connect to the power supply and obtain energy for the hard drive to work.
SATA plugs can look different: straight, snap-on, L-shaped, etc. However, this does not matter - no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to connect the hard drive incorrectly.
Install one end of the SATA cable into the appropriate connector on the hard drive. Then connect the hard drive to the power supply. If the power supply is old, you may have to use a special Molex to SATA adapter to connect the devices, which can be purchased at any computer store.
The connected hard drive looks like this:
The second end of the SATA cable is installed into the corresponding port on the motherboard. These ports are usually painted blue or red, so you can easily spot them. Naturally, in this case, it is necessary to follow the main rule for connecting any equipment - “red to red, blue to blue, etc.”
If there are no SATA connectors or they are all occupied, you can purchase a special PCI controller. If you know how to connect network card, then you won’t have any problems installing this controller; the main thing is that there is a free slot on the motherboard.
Don't forget to secure the hard drive with screws!
After turning on the computer, the new disk should appear in the system. If this does not happen, perform the initialization procedure.
Right-click on “My Computer” and select “Manage.” 
Go to Disk Management. 
The initialization wizard should appear on the screen. Click "OK" to run it and finish installing hard disk.
Second disc
Connecting a second hard drive is done in the same way. The main thing here is to maintain a distance between the hard drives so that they do not overheat.
Install the hard drive only in a special basket. Under no circumstances does it leave it hanging.
When you turn on the computer, a new disk is detected automatically. All you have to do is format it in NTFS system. If formatting does not start automatically:
After formatting is completed, you can work with the new hard drive.
Since you've set out to improve functionality your computer, try connecting USB, increasing the number of available ports. You can also connect a video card to your computer if your old one doesn't suit your visual needs.
Old hard drives
If you are the proud owner of two vintage hard drives with an IDE interface and want to install them on one computer, then you will have to perform several additional actions so that the equipment works correctly.
- Connect the hard drive first hard drive to the motherboard and power supply.
- Connect the second hard drive to the remaining connector on the cable.
Now you need to manually set the configuration of the hard drive operating modes. For this, a special jumper is used.
- On the hard drive that will be the main one, it should be set to the “Master” position.
- The second hard drive is set to “Slave” mode.
The mode diagram should be indicated on the hard drive itself.
Finally, you need to check that the devices are defined correctly in the BIOS. Go to basic system I/O and make sure that home page interface, the leading disk is marked in the “Primary IDE Master” column, and the slave disk is marked in the “Primary IDE Slave” column. Subsequent configuration of hard drives is carried out in the same way as when connecting hard drives via SATA interface.
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How to properly connect a second hard drive to your computer
When you purchase a new HDD, the question arises of how to connect a second hard drive to your computer. This is not difficult to do, but before you get started, you need to make sure that your system unit is not under warranty. The fact is that in order to install a second hard drive, you need to remove the side cover of the computer. This will break the seal and therefore void the warranty. To avoid such a situation, you should contact a service center.
Connecting an additional hard drive
If the warranty has expired or is missing, feel free to remove the side wall. It is secured with two screws on the back of the PC. Be sure to turn off your computer and unplug it. An additional hard drive can only be installed when the system unit is turned off. This is not a flash drive, and the HDD may simply fail.
You need to inspect the motherboard and the place where the hard drive is already installed. Majority modern computers has SATA connections. Trace where the cable of the existing HDD is connected to the motherboard. There should be at least one more similar one next to this connector. This will depend on the type of motherboard you have. Large ones have up to 5-6 connectors, small ones can only have 2.
If you are the owner standard type motherboard, then you just need to select the socket to connect. If you have a combo (that is, a small one), then slight difficulties may arise. The fact is that the first hard drive and optical drive may already be connected to the slots. And it may turn out that there is no other place to connect extra hard There is simply no disk. These are budget motherboards, and sometimes they do not provide the ability to connect multiple hard drives. How to install two hard drives in this case? You'll just have to unplug the DVD-ROM to free up the port.
If you have an old computer with an IDE connection type and only one slot left, you have the opportunity to install two equipment on one cable. This can be either 2 HDDs or a hard drive with an optical drive. When connecting on one loop, it is advisable to follow the sequence in which the master will be connected to the connector. system disk, and for slave - additional. Master is the outermost connector on the cable, slave is in the middle. The instructions for the HDD should indicate in what position the jumpers should be set for a particular mode.
After we have figured out where to connect the second hard drive to the computer so that it recognizes it, we move on to the next point. This powers the device with electricity. Take a close look at the wires that come from the power supply. In older system units the connection type is IDE, in new ones it is SATA. Some PCs have both types at the same time. If the hard drive has a SATA port, and only IDE is left free in the power supply, do not worry. You need to purchase an adapter from one connection type to another.
We found out which connectors the second hard drive is connected to. Now it needs to be installed and secured. Find where the first hard drive is located. Depending on the size of your case, there may be one to three drive slots nearby. If there is a lot of space, it is advisable to connect two HDDs so that they are located further away from each other. Hard drives can get very hot during operation and require ventilation. The more free space around them, the better ventilation will occur.
In a small case, installing a second hard drive will mean that both hard drives will get very hot. Especially in the hot season. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a cooling system for them. When connecting a second drive, do not forget that it must be screwed to the case. Unlike solid-state drives, HDDs have mechanical parts that can be easily damaged. During transportation, the hard drive may fall out of the slot, and this will damage not only it, but also, possibly, the motherboard.
Second hard drive on a laptop
Hard drives on laptop computers do not have the same large capacity as those on stationary computers. And sometimes users want to increase space, but the laptop does not have a slot for an additional hard drive. How to connect a second hard drive to a laptop in this case? This can be done by installing HDD instead optical drive.
There are special adapters for this. Without them, you won’t be able to connect another hard drive, since the DVD-ROM and HDD connectors are different. The first thing you need to do is figure out the thickness of your drive. It may vary on different laptops. The most common are 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. You can find out this way:
Use a program to diagnose equipment like Everest or AIDA. View the optical drive model and find the specifications on the Internet. The manufacturer's website should indicate exact dimensions. Unscrew the drive and take measurements manually.
After purchasing the adapter, you can begin installing the hard drive. Unplug your computer and turn it off. It can only be untwisted when not in use. Pull out the optical drive. In most cases, it is secured with 2-4 screws.
Take the adapter and remove the stop, which is located on the opposite edge from the connectors. Some people try to turn on the second drive by connecting it to the adapter at an acute angle. This can break the contacts. The support is removable and is needed to fix the hard drive. Then press the hard drive firmly against the contacts. Sometimes this requires effort.
After installation and fixation with the stop, tighten the bolts to more firmly connect the adapter to the disk. So as not to spoil appearance laptop, you need to remove the front panel from the optical drive and attach it to the hard drive adapter. Carefully insert the device into the laptop and put all the covers back. If everything was done correctly, the BIOS will display the new hard drive.
Disk system settings
You learned how to install a second hard drive in a PC. But this is not enough to fully work with it. Now you need to configure it so that the system recognizes it. After all, if the disk is new, it does not have marked areas and will not be displayed operating system. If you have Windows installed, this can be done by going to Disk Management. You can get to this menu by right-clicking on the “My Computer” icon and selecting “Manage”.
All connected drives and their capacity will be displayed in the lower central part. New disc will be labeled "Not distributed". You need to right-click on this area and click “Create simple volume”. The “Setup Wizard” will appear, following the instructions of which you will determine the space of the future disk, file system and assign a letter to it. Remember that two partitions cannot be assigned the same letters. To avoid having to deal with OS freezes and process crashes, close all unnecessary programs. At the end of the procedure, the new hard drive will be displayed in the system.
We looked in detail at how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer. By watching the video below or above in the text, you will be able to understand and consider in more detail incomprehensible points.
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Connecting a second hard drive to a computer
Computer equipment has long ceased to be a curiosity; almost everyone has it in stock. The only difference is the nature of use: some users actively use the equipment, downloading movies, games and music onto it, while others use an electronic computer when they want to watch last news on the World Wide Web or complete part home work.
IN certain time it is necessary to replace outdated components
In this regard, the load level of the hard drive also differs. If there is very little free space left, then you should not expect normal performance from your PC at all. Given these circumstances, many owners decide to purchase a second “screw”, thereby increasing disk space. However, it is very important to first find out how to connect the hard drive to the computer.
PC connection
Finding information on the Internet on how to connect a hard drive to a computer is not difficult. It is only important to carefully read all the recommendations, and then no problems will arise if the user independently installs an additional hard drive, while leaving the old one in the same place.
An old hard drive must be removed only if it has become completely unusable and cannot be restored. By installing a second hard drive along with the old one, the user receives expanded space, thanks to which all actions will be performed faster.
Installation in a PC case
Connecting a hard drive to a computer begins with the step where the user must initially place it in the case and securely fasten it.
To ensure that the “screw” is inserted correctly, you should first remove the cover from the system unit case. In the front part you can easily find special compartments designed for drives and hard drives. The drives are located at the top, and the second hard drive should be located at the bottom of such bays.
The hard drive is inserted into any free compartment, but preferably at a short distance from the existing one. This is very important, since during operation they both heat up, which will adversely affect the performance of the PC.
Then the second hard drive is inserted strictly along the guides so that the connectors are directed towards the inside of the system unit to ensure its comfortable connection in the future. When the new hard drive has taken its correct position, it should be securely fastened by tightening the screws on both sides, ensuring a tight connection with the compartment.
After fastening, you should check the strength by trying to loosen it. If the hard drive does not wobble, it means that all actions were performed correctly.
Connection using cables
Once you have successfully connected the second hard drive to your computer, you can move on to the second part of these important steps. At this stage, you should connect the second hard drive directly to the motherboard, and also ensure that power is supplied to it.
To do this, you will need to purchase additional cables. By the way, it is advisable to note that the connectors through which the hard drive is directly connected may differ, depending on the year of manufacture of the PC.
Old computer equipped with IDE connectors, while the new one already has SATA connectors, which are characterized by amazing performance. Previously, users were instructed to pay attention to the connectors when making a purchase and to purchase only a hard drive with the desired type. Currently, finding a hard drive with an IDE connector on sale is problematic, but this does not mean that there is no hope of installing a second drive. It’s just that in this case the user is required to additionally purchase special adapters.
By connecting the second hard drive using SATA connectors and adapters, the owner of a smart machine not only ensures system performance, but also facilitates the installation process.
When installing an old hard drive with an IDE connector a few years ago, it was necessary to manually configure the operating mode of the “screws,” which involved installing jumpers in certain positions.
Connecting using SATA connectors is much easier. All connectors on the new equipment are equipped with special partitions, so it is a priori impossible to connect the second hard drive incorrectly.
USB connection
There is another one alternative way, providing absolutely easy connection of new disk space, while completely eliminating the need to disassemble the system unit case.
In this regard, many people want to know how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer without experiencing any additional difficulties. The answer is obvious, the second hard “screw” can be connected to an electronic computer at USB help-devices.
Such hard drives receive power via the USB connector to which it is directly connected. However, this is typical only for disks measuring 1.8 or 2.5 inches. More powerful ones, for example, starting from 3.5 inches, already require an additional power source.
External devices are very easy to connect, which is why they are preferred by a large number of users.
Detecting devices in BIOS
Having provided correct connection hard drive, you should make sure that it is displayed correctly in the BIOS, otherwise it would be simply stupid to dream of quality work.
To produce correct settings in the BIOS, you should also understand how to connect the old hard drive to the computer, how to connect the new hard drive, and how to ensure the correct operation of these two drives.
The user understands that the operating system is installed on one of the disk spaces; in most cases, the old hard drive is the place where the operating system was once loaded.
In this regard, in the BIOS settings, the user must set the boot priority from the old hard drive. Setting the priority incorrectly will prevent the system from booting. In the BIOS, determining the priority is quite simple, since SATA with an assigned number will be written next to the existing hard drives. It is the number that indicates priority. The hard drive with the operating system must be set to SATA 1.
If any hard drive does not appear in the BIOS, you should double-check that it is connected correctly, otherwise you will not be able to use the installed disk space.
So, installing an additional hard drive is a predictable act, accompanied by actions that can easily be performed by any user if he makes an effort and shows increased attention.
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