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Install a or add a Computer Hard Drive.
Web Tech Support How To!
Installing a hard
drive: By Web Tech Geek. If you need to install a hard
drive,
then you've come to the right place.
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Installing
or Adding a Computer Hard Drive: Web Tech Support Page.
By:
WebTechGeek.com
Installing or Adding a Computer Hard Drive: Web Tech Support Page.: For as long time now , hard drive prices
have been in a free fall. Good news because just when
I think I'm happy with my computer, the hard drive prices
go down, and I start eyeing a newer, bigger, fast, and
cheaper hard drive. Eventually, I give in and I buy a
new one. So now it's time to install it. It's not hard
to install a hard drive. But there are radically different
types of hard drives. The two most commend hard drives
are SCSI drives and EIDE drives. So I will go through
the generic steps to installing a EIDE hard drive. EIDE
hard drives are the most common for home PC.
First off, Back up your hard drive before
installing a new drive. Turn the PC and all peripherals
off. Remove the monitor from atop the PC or just put it
aside to make room. Remove the screws from the back, there
are typically two to four screws on the back of a PC.
So look carefully when removing PC screws. I can't detail
how to get into every kind of PC case, But let's take
a look at two common case types: the desktop and the tower.
When you remove the screws, remember that you got to keep
them in a safe place, maybe in a small bag or box. Be
careful not to lose the screws.
Now remove the case cover, if you can't
remove the cover. STOP now, and have a computer technician
install the drive for you. If managed to removed the case
cover then you can continue. Installing or Adding a Computer Hard Drive. Remember to come back to
WebTechGeek.com for more computer help!
STEPS: Installing a Computer Hard Drive.
Gather configuration information as needed
on the hard drive.
Set jumper, so that it can coexist with
other drives, or jumper it to work alone.
Mounting the drive in the system.
Configure the system's CMOS so it knows
that there's a drive.
Formatting, most new hard drive come with
a utility disk for to formatting. If not use a windows
boot disk to format.
Jumpers:
by Raymond, The jumper is a small piece of plastic that
slides over a pair of configuration pins on the drive
to activate a specific function. There are no other jumpers
to set when the master drive is installed on the same
ribbon cable with another IDE device. IDE hard drives
have a controller right on the drive. So you must set
a drive jumpers, it's kind of an address indicator. Set
your drive jumper to master for your first hard drive
on your PC. If two IDE hard drives in a system, the secant
hard drive most be set for slave. Each device must be
identified as either the master or slave device on that
interface cable. Each cable must have a master before
it can have a slave device on the cable. There cannot
be two master or two slave devices on the same cable.
IDE devices use jumpers to designate the master/slave
identification of the device. Manufacturer may have it's
own jumpering scheme to identify the device as a master
or slave and its relationship to other IDE devices attached
to the same cable.
Mounting drive: in to system: In
a typical system case, there are specific 3.5 inch and
5.25 inch bays available for storage devices. When a 3.5
inch mounting buy is available, mounting brackets are
not required. If a 5.25 inch mounting bay is used, mounting
brackets will be required to mount the hard drive in the
system case. After the hard drive is prepared with mounting
brackets if required and the jumpers are set correctly,
the drive can be mounted in a device bay and secured.
Be sure to secure the drive with all four screws in the
device bay. This provides grounding and protection from
stock and vibration. Computer systems use different methods
for mounting hard drives. Refer to the computer user's
manual or you can contact the manufacturer for specific
mounting instructions.
In
order for the computer to recognize that the hard drive
is in the system, the power cable and the IDE interface
cable must be properly connected.
On the back of the hard drive you will see
two connector and the jumper block. One is the 40~pin
connector, and the other is the power connector. The power
connector has three colored wires black, red, yellow.
There is only one way to plug in the power connector.
Connect an available power connector to the hard drive.
The power connector is keyed and will only fit in one
way. Do not force the connector.
Attach IDE interface connector cable:
Attach an available IDE interface connector cable to the
hard drive. The striped or colored edge of the IDE interface
cable indicates pin 1. pin 1 on the IDE interface cable
connector must match pin 1 on the hard drive IDE interface
connector closest to the drive connector. It must also
match pin 1 on the IDE connector on the mother board or
IDE interface card. Refer to the system or interface card
user's manual for identification of pin 1 or their IDE
interface connector. Installing or Adding a Computer Hard Drive.
System Setup: by Raymond, The following
procedures are designed for systems using the DOS 5.0
or higher, windows 95 and windows 98 operating systems.
For other operating systems, refer to the operating system
user's manual for the BIOS setting and other installation
requirements.
Setting the BIOS (CMOS)
The SETUP (BIOS) program identifies the
system configuration information Floppy drive, hard drive,
video, etc., used to identify devices attached to the
computer during system boot. This includes the information
about what and how many IDE hard drive are attached to
the system.
Warning: by WebTechGeek.com, When
entering settings for the hard drive, be careful not to
change any of the other BIOS settings, or other parts
of the system may not work correctly.
In order for the computer system to recognize
the hard drive, it is necessary to set the system BIOS
with the correct information about the drive. To do this
run the system setup (BIOS).
Turn the system on. During the system startup
sequence, run the setup (BIOS) program or similar commands
to access the system BIOS. Newer systems will typically
display a message press (DEL) to enter setup. Identifying
how to access the setup (BIOS) program.
Once the setup (BIOS) program is active,
Enter the BIOS menu we the hard drive settings are displayed,
select the correct entry primary master, primary slave,
master or secondary slave or their equivalents to set
parameters for the hard drive.
Most newer computer setup (BIOS) provides
an "AUTO DETECT" capability. Use this feature
to detect the hard drive. If the setup program does not
have AUTO DETECT, set the drive parameters as labeled
on the hard drive. It may be necessary to exit the BIOS,
and reboot the system.
Hard Drive Preparation: To finish installation,
the drive most be partitioned and format. Hard drive partitioning
and formatting may be done with the operating system software
or with boot-disk. See windows
supertechgeek tips!
Most newer BIOS provide the description
of primary master, primary slave, secondary master and
secondary slave which identify the device configuration
and location on an IDE interface and its relationship
to the other IDE devices on the same interface or ribbon
cable.
Older BIOS versions do not use this terminology
for identification and it may be necessary to refer to
the system user's manual or BIOS. if the information is
not available. It will be necessary to contact the system
manufacturer for the correct terminology to correctly
identify the drive within the system. Installing or Adding a Computer Hard Drive.
Ultimate Boot Disk: If you are in
the situation of having to start your computer from a
boot disk, you need as much help as you can get. This
utility will give you an extra boost by including more
information than you would otherwise have using Windows
boot disk. With it, you can edit your registry, restore
your system files, and identify system hardware. You can
even save your BIOS settings and save or restore master
boot records. Operating System(s): Windows 9.x, Windows
Me, Windows 2000, Windows NT - freeGet it here download
site
How to Make a Bootable
CDR - here!
More Tech Support Pages: More How To's List
