Hard Drives

Andy

Andy

Messages
2,562
Name
Andy
Edit My Images
No
I just found my old computer from about 6 years ago. It has loads of photos and personal stuff on there i do not want to lose! But when i boot it up it cant find the hard drive, i have checked inside i cant find anything out of place. So i thought i could add the hard drive to my main computer. However i got no idea what i should do or if its possible. Could anyone link me to a guide or step by step instructions? Thank You!

Andy
 
Should be possible, as long as you've not used up all your available connection on your current motherboard.

I'm assuming your old drive is an IDE drive?
IDE connector looks like this:
IDE-HDD.gif


And is your current one the same, or is it a SATA connector?
SATA connector:
sata-hdd.jpg


Depending on what type of connector you have on your current PC makes a difference to what you need to do.

What you need to do is:
Find an IDE cable (you might use one to connect your CD/DVD drive to your PC, and/or your current hard drive might use one),

If used by another device, you need to configure one device as a master (this should be your boot drive if applicable), and the other as a slave to use a single cable. This is done by arranging the jumper(s) around to the correct position (google your device if it doesn't have it printed on the label),

If you are already using 2 devices, and only have 1 available connector on your motherboard, you need to remove one of your current drives whilst you copy the data over (CD/DVD drive is recommended here).

Plug the cable into the motherboard, and drives (there should be a small lump of plastic on one side to let you know which way to plug it in. And the largest length of wire should be between the motherboard, and the first drive.)

If you have multiple connectors on your motherboard, you can repeat the process with the other connector.

Connect power connectors.

once all that is done, you just boot your pc up, and the drive should appear in "my computer"


If both drives are the SATA kind, and you have a spare connector on your motherboard, it's simple, just plug it in, boot your PC, and it should work.


If you have any problems, or questions, just ask :)
 
Last edited:
Connect HDD to PC using above info

Turn PC on

press whatever button you need to access the bios

go to the hardrive section and make sure its showing in there

save and exit bios

you should now see it in windows
 
Or if you're not comfortable inside a PC got to maplins etc and buy a HD - USB enclosure then just plug into the new PC :)
 
As well as enclosures you can also get devices that you can just plug in to the HD with a power supply and USB. I have one with a slot that takes SATA drives, and cables for IDE. I attach backup drives to it, then put them back in their storage box once done.
 
Thanks for the help but still cant get it working, may have to buy a USB enclosure.

Its the hard drive in a dell optiplex.
 
What stage have you got to when you say it's not working? Any form of error messages?
 
It is possible that the CMOS battery has died and that you will simply need to set up the bios to 'see' the hard disk.

Or download a copy of linux (ubuntu desktop for example). Boot off that cd and you should be able to see the disk that way....
 
It loads up pass bios then on the windows xp loading screen it crashes to the blue screen of death. But as it loads on the bios it says unable to find hard drive, or something like that. Ill try the linux idea. Thanks
 
Does it defiantly have all the connections plugged in properly, and the jumpers set to the right position? If the BIOS can't detect the drive at all, Linux won't either.
 
Andy said:
Thanks for the help but still cant get it working, may have to buy a USB enclosure.

Its the hard drive in a dell optiplex.
Click to expand...

Is the Hard Drive IDE or SATA ?
if IDE there is a jumper setting for MASTER, SLAVE and another one which I can not remember.
This may cause your PC not to see the HDD.
Also when you poot up can you feel the Hard spin ! ?
As BIOS does check all know drives plug it.

If your HDD has jumper settings, then is needs to be set to SLAVE and put on the middle plug of the IDE ribbon cable.

If this does not work, then get a Hard Drive enclosure. As later one you can put any HDD in these. Which is what I do when up grade my PC.
 
Are you using a separate cable to connect this old drive to the new PC or "daisy-chaining" it on the same cable as the existing hard drive?

If you're daisy-chaining it, you'll almost certainly need to move the jumpers on the block of eight pins to change it from a Single/Master to a Slave or Cable Select. This will be a case of trial and error as it will depend on the model of the current drive and how it is set up.

It's probably easier to just use the cable from the Dell PC and find a spare socket in the new PC to plug it in to.
 
you are plugging this in as a second hard drive and not putting it in place of your existing drive are you?

or its trying to boot from this second disk, check your boot priority in the bios. if its trying to load the copy of windows off the old drive and the hardware is too much of a mismatch to what its expecting it will bluescreen.
 
Last edited:
im daisy-chaining it to my current drive, although im not to sure what else to plug in
 
Andy said:
im daisy-chaining it to my current drive, although im not to sure what else to plug in
Click to expand...

Without fiddling around with the jumper settings, it's unlikely that the two hard drives will work together on the same cable (or channel). It's probably simpler to connect the old drive using a separate cable.

Follow the existing hard drive lead down to the motherboard. With any luck, you'll find a second identical socket as the one that lead is plugged in to. If you do, using the lead from your Dell, plug your old hard drive into the second socket.

Then fire up Windows and see if it appears.
 
Re; the daisy chaining, existing drive thing.

Some drive have separate setting for Master with a slave present or Master no slave present. You might have to change the jumper on your other hard drive as well.
 
Is that picture of the drive your trying to add? If it is, you want to completely remove the jumper from the pins at the back, and make sure your current drive has it's own jumper in the "Master" position, does that drive also have instructions for placement of the jumpers too?
 
thats the drive im trying to add yes, i have no idea about the jumper in the mater position
 
On the back theres little pins with a clip across some of them, thats the jumper (by the other connections) depending on which pins it bridges decides whether it's master or slave or other, on the instructions you posted (on the drive) theres a little diagram showing which ones need the clip across for different option.
Wayne
 
Last edited:
Thank you wayne i get you guys now. Just get can't it out :D ill post back when i do
 
Im pleased to say its working in my computer! Drive F! :D

Thank you so much for everyone's help!! :D If I could make it up to you guys I would. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top