Fitting a 2nd hard drive

[dortmunder]

I think I'll install a second hard drive to my PC. Not something I've ever done before but it seems simple enough. Perhaps, though, one of you kind folk can check for any potential problems I may have.

Attached is a picture of the internal PC and a screenshot of 'System Information/Disks'.

Firstly, I should buy a 3.5 inch SATA drive, yes?

I'm slightly concerned that the screenshot says "ATA Device". I read somewhere that there are currently two primary interfaces used for hard drives for personal computers: Serial ATA (SATA) and IDE (or ATA). Which made me think I had IDE. But the existing drive is SATA according to this:
http://www.rapid-tech.com/pages/deta...p?prodid=16059

Secondly, it appears I don't have an unused SATA power cable so presumably I'll need a SATA power adapter to fit over the white plastic block with the 4 holes (marked X on the pic)?

Thanks for any advice offered.

[DKTC]

Hello Dortmunder

The answer to you buying a 3.5 inch Serial ATA Hard Drive is YES

As you have pointed out that will also need an adaptor to convert a standard molex to a serial ATA

Put all those worries aside, about what you have seen or read, there should not be a problem installing a second Drive

I have sent you a PM with my number if you wish to discuss


Regards


DKTC

[argyle kid]

Hi Dortmunder.
No one seems to have mentioned changing the shorting pins.Don't know if this is required for serial ATA but you must change them to slave settings for IDE.Some one will correct me if I am wrong.The position of the shorts is usually shown on the top of the drive in a little diagram.
Regards AK.

[DKTC]

No need to mention setting the jumpers or shunts on a serial ATA device as they do not exist as they occupy a single cable per drive. If you had been installing an IDE drive you have a ribbon cable which normally consists of two connections per cable, so the two devices share the same cable, one device set as Master and one as Slave or set both devices as cable Select so depending which connection on your ribbon cable is connected to that device, it will be either Master or Slave

DKTC

[argyle kid]

Hi DKTC.Thank you for correction!
Regards AK.