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Computer Forums > Computer Hardware Zone > Hardware Troubleshooting » How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?
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Old 08-18-2008, 06:55 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Default How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

Hi I got a new pc and I want to use my old hard dirve for extra storage and to get my old files off of it.

I'm not sure where to plug in the old hard drive on the new system. The small plug that runs from the hard drive on the new system has 2 slots next to it where it plugs into the motherboard or whatever.

Does it matter which slot I plug the small cord from the old hard drive into?

Here is a pic

http://www.tarantuladatabase.com/IMG00020.jpg

Also the big plug I think the power supply only has one cord on the new system then it runs into a nest of wires. But in the nest of wires there are some loose plugs that look like they may be extra power supply cords are they and does it matter which one I use?

Here is a pic

http://www.tarantuladatabase.com/IMG00019.jpg

The reason I'm asking is that in the old system the power supply was a flat plug and the loose cords on the new system have 4 prongs in them. Now the old hard drive i'm trying to connect also has a 4 prong port that looks like it would plug right in.

Thanks for all the help with this!!!
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Old 08-18-2008, 07:25 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

A question. Is the "old" drive an SATA like the new drive or is it an IDE drive with a 40 pin data connector?
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Old 08-18-2008, 07:27 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

its a sata
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Old 08-18-2008, 11:22 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

just plug it in, using the 4 pin power connection (molex)

and after you hook it up and it tried to boot off your old one, go into the BIOS and set the priorities to boot off your original drive.


EDIT: I see that you also have SATA power connections...... DO NOT PLUG BOTH THE 4-PIN white connections AND THE SATA POWER CONNECTION!!!!!! You could RUIN THE DRIVE........

Last edited by uzi9mm; 08-18-2008 at 11:34 PM.
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Old 08-18-2008, 11:35 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

The way you described it sounds like you have a ide as your old hd and the new one is a sata. On the old hd is there a ide connecter e.g. 20 pin connectors as shown in: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/..._hard-disk.gif

Otherwise if not and it is a sata the setup and configuration should be the same for both drives.
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Old 08-18-2008, 11:57 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: How to plug in a 2nd hard drive on my pc?

I'm sure ts a sata drive but the power plug was flat i dont think it had any pins. Kinda like a micro sd card just the little plates

it kinda looks like this one

http://www.mysuperpc.com/build/sata_...rs_jumpers.jpg

but there are alot of different ports on the back its got the same exact ports and the new hard drive.


I got them hooked up but when I access the drive none of my files are there... Well its showing the drive is 747mb on the old pc the drive was over 100gb

Is there something I can do to make the rest of my files show up?

There is a small chance that techsupport had me delete it when they were trying to walk me through reinstalling windows.

Last edited by BossChase; 08-19-2008 at 12:00 AM.
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Old 08-19-2008, 12:04 AM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Default

it is definatley possible when you re-installed the os that the hd could have gotten overwritten.. Do you remember deleting any partitions on the old drive or re-installing the os on that old drive?

Also, does the old hd and your new hd have the same os on them.. Or simpler put did you use to run the same OS as you are now?
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Last edited by Trotter; 08-19-2008 at 01:54 PM. Reason: Merged posts
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