Adding a HD

[moose48fox]

I have an 80GB HD (see below) and I have gotten alittle song crazy and have filled the entire HD, so I want to add an additional HD.
My questions are:
Is there anything I need to know? I will probably get another Western digital, and was thinking about a 200 GB 7200RPM Maybe SATA I know my current HD and mother board support it, but I do not have that or RAID set up.(Sound OK ??). I can just make it the slave and dump a bunch of stuff on it right?? Is there any additional steps I will need to take?

Thanks in advance,

Randy



These are the components of my system:

Intel Pentium 4 (800 FSB) Motherboard Model D875PBZLK
Antec 430W Power Supply TRUE430
Intel Pentium 4 / 2.8CGHz 512k socket 478 Hyper Threading Technology 800 MHz FSB
(2) CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency 512MB 64MX64 PC-3200LLPT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader
VGA HERCULES|9800 PRO 128MB
SAMSUNG 1.44MB BLACK FLOPPY DRIVE Model# SFD321B/LBL
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE
Lite On LTR-52327S Black 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive, 2MB
LITE-ON XJ-HD166/XJ-HD 165H 16X DVD ROM Drive BLACK
Creative Labs sound card with live drive (from old computer) it is about 3 years old cant remember the model #.
Matrix aluminum case PSR5601SL-W

[Pounder]

I would partition it and put my os on it if your going to get a sata drive things would run a bit faster

[codered6651]

SATA data cables

SATA drives use the new SATA interface and so don't connect to the Motherboard using normal IDE cables used by IDE HDs and optical drives. However, most Motherboard's come with 1 or 2 SATA data cables in the box and if they are not included you can purchase them separately.

SATA power cables

SATA drives also use a new type of power connecter rather than the standard 4-pin Molex connectors used by IDE HDs and optical drives. Most newly developed PSUs include the SATA power cables but if your PSU does not you will need an SATA power adaptor which can be found cheaply and easily.


Installing Windows

Once you have the drive(s) connected you are ready to start installing XP.

Master and Slave

Remeber since it's serial you can only have one device per SATA port/cable so SATA drives don't have jumpers. On the Motherboard SATA1 Port is for the primary device, SATA2 port is for the secondary device etc.

SATA controller driver

Your Motherboard or SATA controller card requires a driver to work properly. If you did not get a Floppy Disk with the SATA driver included with your Motherboard you will have to make one. The SATA drivers can be located on the installation CD that came with your Motherboard or preferably, download the latest SATA controller drivers from the manufacturers site. Once you have located the drivers copy them to a formatted floppy disk. Make sure they are in the root directory i.e. not contained within any folders.

BIOS settings

When you turn on the PC hit the Delete key when prompted and you will enter the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). Here you set the first boot device to be the CDROM drive, the option is usually found under the Advanced Options section but this depends on your BIOS and you may have to look around for it. Once you have done this save and exit.

Installing the SATA controller driver

Once you have set the PC to boot from the CD make sure the XP CD is in the CD drive and start the installation as per usual. Within the first minute or so of the installation Windows will prompt you to press F6 to install RAID or SCSI drivers, do this. Windows will continue to install then ask you to locate the driver. now with the floppy disk created earlier in drive A: select the driver and hit Enter.

With the SATA drivers installed you can now continue the Windows installation as usual.

BIOS settings revisited

Once Windows has finished installing you will need to make sure the PC is set to boot from the SATA drive. To do this make the first boot device SATA if the option is available. If not you have two options: HD0 - If there are no IDE HDs present, or SCSI if you do plan on running an IDE HD as a secondary device.

I think this all you need to know if I left something out I hope someone jumps on board.

[moose48fox]

Do you have to reinstall windows to set up SATA??

[moose48fox]

I am looking at this HD:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...144-153&DEPA=1

Western Digital 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD2000JD, OEM

What do you guys think??
Plus OEM means it will not even come with the SATA cord right??

Thanks,

Randy

[Jaggannath]

Looks good.... and yes, you will need to buy a SATA cord if it's OEM

[moose48fox]

Sorry to ask again, but to change my HD to SATA do I have to reinstall windows?? It does not seem to me that I would have to because in my understanding the only difference is the cable from the HD to the motherboard. Am I missing something?

[codered6651]

If the SATA drive is going to be a slave, no you don't have to reinstall windows.