Reconfiguring a pc(HDD issues)

[techresc6]

Alright guys I need some help. Here is my current configuration.

Asus P4S8X mobo
p4 2.4
1GB PC 2100
MSI Dragonwriter 48-24-48
Lite-on 16x DVD-ROM
MSI 4800SE 8X
40GB 7200 Seagate

Now I'm soon going to change my case...but my problem is HDD related. I recently came across a 10GB 7200 Maxtor, and another 40 GB Western Digital HDD. I'm thinking about installing the OS (Win2K Pro) on the 10GB and using the 2 40 Gig drives simply as storage. I was given a PCI IDE controller card that should make things easier seeing as my two ide connectors on my mobo arent' enough. Problem is the theory is great but i don't know how to do any of it. Format the two new drives, reformat the old drive, use the PCI card. The pc in its current config was built for me...i'd like to do this project myself. Any suggestions on alternate configurations, pros and cons, and on how to actually do it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[bailey]

interesting

there may be better ways to do all this, but what I would do is this to make it easyiest

install the first hd that you want the o/s to be on, fdisk and format, install the o/s get everything workinf the way you want it.

install the ide controller and its software, the boot hd must be on the added contorler slot 0 reboot to make sure that it works ok

install the other hd drives olso on the added controlerslave one off your first drive

master and slave the other two on the second port.

reboot to make sure that it is all working good

put your cd writer as master on the first ide port on the mother board and your other cd rom drive as master on the second port on the mother board,
reboot and check that all is working ok
that should work real good for you
as that is how I have mine set up

[reboot]

In order to boot to the IDE controller card, you will have to specify it in BIOS setup.
Boot drive on the card, IDE 1.
Other two drives on the card, IDE 2, master and slave.
Optical devices on the motherboard IDE, any position will do, although if you have a CD or DVD and a burner, putting them on separate channels will allow faster "on-the-fly" copying.

[techresc6]

Guys thanks for the prompt response. So far I'm understanding this. 10GB Harddrive on PCI IDE 1 as master. 2X40GB HDD as master and slave on PCI IDE 2. Configure Boot sequence in BIOS to boot from PCI IDE controller. DVD-ROM on Onboard IDE controller 1 as Master and CDRW on Onboard IDE 2 as master. Ok. I think I have that..but now software wise...how do I delete all the information on the 40G HDD i'm using now....also do I have to install the OS on all 3? if not how do I set up the other 2? I'd like to have the OS only on the 10GB drive and use the 2 40GB drives as the storage. How do I set that up? Thanks again.

[reboot]

Just install the OS on the 10 gig.
Once installed, go into Admin tools, Computer management, Storage, disk management, right click on either of the other drives, and you can then fdisk/format right in Windows. They will then show up in device manager, and you'll be able to use them for anything you want.

[techresc6]

Reboot, Bailey.

Thanks for you're help....I'll give that a shot and write back.

Technical Rescue 6