Installing a second hard drive which used to be in use...?

[jsingh7]

A mate's PC "blew up" a couple of days ago and the motherboard has gone. Since it was a tiny PC (I don't know why he bought that one), the motherboard was custom made for his non standard case.

He has decided to buy a new PC.

However, he still has a lot of important documents on the old hard drive.

Anyone have a step by step guide of how to go about installing the second hard drive? It will be the slave to the newer drive.

(Most guides I have found discuss new hard drives)

Obviously, he does not want the new drive to be formatted during the process?

Will the fact that it has an OS on it cause any problems?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

[kyle5077]

All you need to do is set the jumper to slave, plug it into an IDE cable, hook up the power, and boot the computer. Windows will detct it, and then you can use it.

HTH

[jsingh7]

Do I use the exsisting IDE cable? And where should I slot it in, any spare IDE slot?

[Van Nugent]

Set the jumper on this HDD to Slave as Kyle said. An IDE cable has 2 connectors, 1 goes to the Master HDD and the 2nd goes to the Slave HDD.

[seracca]

Just thought I'd clarify a bit in case you don't know, and the cable is removed from the computer. ... the IDE cable has an extra connector between the two ends, closer to one end than the other. The end farthest from the "extra" connector plugs into the mother board. The master into the other end of the cable, and the slave in the centre connector.

[Van Nugent]

Unless you place the jumper at CS (Cable Select) position, you can use either connetor for Master or Slave.

[kyle5077]

Yup :)

[seracca]

Yup, :) , but since we were talking master and slave, I thought I'd keep it simple. I remember when I didn't know which end was up, so to speak, and it helped me to have it 'splained without getting too complicated :hdspin: Some would say I still don't know which end is up, but that's another story.

[Van Nugent]

Yeah, m8. Now we do not need to remember which connector goes to which and that really makes things much easier and simpler. :)

[seracca]

:cheers:
After all that, I hope jsingh7 tells us how it goes :)

[jsingh7]

So its the IDE Cable...one end in the motherboard, the middle to the slave and the other end to the master.

And what about the cable that comes with the new computer? Does the master need to be connected to the motherboard twice? (Unlikely, but this was not explained above).

[seracca]

The new computer HDD will be connected (likely) as master and be on the end of the cable and pluggged into the mother board. Unplug the cables from the old HDD, change the jumpers to slave and plug it into the extra connector on the cable that is in the new computer. In My Computer you will now see another drive designation which will be the old hdd.

The old hdd should have a label on it that shows you how to set the jumpers.

Here's some info from a quick google search that might help explain for you

http://compreviews.about.com/library/weekly/aa-diy-secondaryhd.htm

[steve54]

very much think you will confuse him more with the comments posted above,if your not sure what u r doing m8 take the pc to a pc shop and tell em what u want to do and they will probably do it for a small fee.you certainly havnt a clue what u r doing and could cause your self more grief by messing about with your pc.


steve54

[jsingh7]

Why pay a shop a fee for it when it can be done myself.

I just wanted something clearing up about the IDE cable, that's all.

I am familar with the jumpers etc. as I have installed DVD/CD Roms before.

Seems straight forward enough..

Thanks.