How do I install my new hard drive?
Installing a new hard drive remains one of the most popular upgrade projects for PC users. And it's easy to see why. Today's drives are bigger than ever and bargain priced, and they offer a performance boost, as well. You need that extra space for the increasingly roomy OS installs and gigabyte-eating applications that are the norm these days. And don't forget graphics, audio and video files.
While the 5400 rpm drives are slightly less expensive than the 7200 rpm models, the latter deliver a genuine performance boost in the form of quicker access times and improved data transfers. Still, if you want the best performance out of your new drive your PC must have onboard Ultra DMA/100 support.
Because your new hard drive will be bigger and faster than the one your PC currently uses, plan on making the new drive your primary drive the new home for your operating system and applications. You can attach your old drive as a secondary hard disk and use it for archives and less frequently accessed data.
Installing Internal Hard Drive|
(1) Locate the primary IDE controller (or IDE 1) on your motherboard. (See photo 1)
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(2) Identify and locate the Ultra ATA/100 cable. Ultra ATA/100 cable is different from the regular IDE cable. Ultra ATA/100 cable is denser. (See Photo 2)
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(3) Now locate the power connection, jumper settings and 40-pin connector for the Ultra ATA/100 cable. (See Photo 3)
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(4) Next, set the jumper setting on the hard drive to primary or master drive (default setting). If it is not, simply move the jumper over to master. If you are using the drive as secondary hard drive move it to the "slave" jumper setting. Refer to the documentation for proper placement of jumper settings.
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(5) Install the hard drive into an open 3.5 drive bay. (See Photo 5)
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(6) Install the hard drive power connector onto the hard drive. (Photo 6) | |
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(7) Connect the Ultra ATA/100 IDE cable to the hard drive. Note: Make sure that you connect pin 1 on the hard drive to pin 1 on the Ultra ATA/100 cable (marked by a red strip). Your system will not boot if you inverse the cable. (See Photo 7)  |
(8) Next, connect the Ultra ATA/100 cable to the primary IDE connection on the motherboard. Note: Connect pin 1 with pin 1. (See Photo 8)  | |
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(9)
Finally, install your operating
system. | ||
Disclaimer: System and hard
drive configurations may vary. These instructions are provided for
reference only, please refer to the manufacturer's manual or web
site for instructions on their specific
drives.
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