I'll quickly sketch a couple of situations:
1. You bought yourself a new hard drive, disconnected the old one and installed the operating system on the new one. After that screwed in the old hard drive and the system stopped booting.
2. You got a new or used hard drive in exchange for beer (nashar, inexpensively), you installed it and the system stopped booting...
And now, let's begin to understand what happened in more detail:
Most likely you have a new and larger SATA hard drive (1.2 doesn’t matter) and the PC is not ultra modern, like most users.
The thing is that according to the standard (I don’t know which one), motherboards accept hard drives connected via IDE as main and boot ones. New versions of motherboards have already received corrected versions of the BIOS and the problem is slowly going away.
Solving the problem with connecting a second hard drive:
First, you need to make sure that the hard drive you need is set to MASTER mode. To do this, go into the BIOS when you restart the PC (usually you need to press the Del or F2 key immediately upon boot).
The hard drive I need is highlighted with an arrow in the figure and it is set to “master” mode. If this is not the case for you, you need to try these options:
1. We set the hard drive jumper correctly.
Check the position of the jumper on the hard drive and set it to master mode. To do this, remove the hard drive and look on its case for instructions such as in the figure below:
We are interested in the MASTER mode and, if your jumper is installed in the wrong place, move it.
It is very easy to understand the diagram - look at how close to the key the jumper is installed (the key is one KEY square), and on physical device— it's just one protruding contact.
If you have lost the jumper for the hard drive or it simply isn’t there, then we do the following - we find the following things (the staples for the stapler are the smallest):
And bend the bracket so that it fits tightly onto the contacts of the hard drive. If the method does not work, try cleaning the bracket carefully with a knife.
It should come out something like this:
Here we have the MASTER mode set for the circuit above. To be sure, tighten the bracket with tweezers or a stationery knife so that it does not fly off due to vibrations, etc.
2. Setting it up Hard Disk Boot Priority.
Let's go back to the BIOS and check whether our main hard drive is there or not. If the hard drive is displayed as Master, but the system still does not boot or start, then it’s time to tweak the BIOS settings.
We are looking for an item Hard Disk Boot Priority
And we make sure that the hard drive we need is first on the list. If not, then move it up. To figure out which is which, look either at the markings on the hard drives themselves, or look for the size by number (here I have 1600 = 160 gigabyte and 1200 = 120 gigabyte hard drives, respectively).
3. Setting up the BIOS OnChip IDE Device item
We look for the above item and install the main SATA port, in the case where one hard drive is on SATA (main), and the second is on IDE (secondary).
If you do not have such an item, you will have to physically move the red sat cord to the adjacent SATA port on your PC.
After all these moaning, the system should start from the hard drive you need. This happens most often either when the jumpers are set incorrectly or when the main screw is installed on the sat interface, and the IDE hard drive is placed second.
In any case, ask what is not clear. Have a good day...
The time has come when one hard drive in a computer is no longer enough. More and more users decide to connect a second HDD to their PC, but not everyone knows how to do it correctly themselves to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disk is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount the hard drive - it can be connected as external device, if there is a free USB port.
Connection options second hard disk are as simple as possible:
- Connecting the HDD to the computer system unit.
Suitable for owners of regular desktop PCs who do not want to have external connected devices. - Connecting a hard drive as an external drive.
The easiest way to connect a HDD, and the only one possible for a laptop owner.
Option 1. Installation in the system unit
HDD type determination
Before connecting, you need to determine the type of interface the hard drive works with - SATA or IDE. Almost all modern computers are equipped SATA interface, accordingly, it is best if and hard drive will be of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be available on motherboard. Therefore, connecting such a drive may cause some difficulties.
The easiest way to recognize the standard is by contacts. This is what they look like on SATA drives:
And this is how the IDE does it:
Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit
The process of connecting a disk is very easy and takes place in several stages:
Boot priority for SATA drives
The motherboard usually has 4 connectors for connecting SATA drives. They are designated as SATA0 - the first, SATA1 - the second, etc. The priority of the hard drive is directly related to the numbering of the connector. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to go into the BIOS. Depending on the BIOS type, the interface and controls will be different.
In older versions, go to the section Advanced BIOS Features and work with the parameters First Boot Device And Second Boot Device. In new BIOS versions look for the section Boot or Boot Sequence and parameter 1st/2nd Boot Priority.
Connecting a second IDE drive
In rare cases, there is a need to install a disk with an outdated IDE interface. In this case, the connection process will be slightly different.
Connecting a second IDE drive to the first SATA drive
When you need to connect an IDE drive to an already working SATA HDD, use a special IDE-SATA adapter.
The connection diagram is as follows:
- The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
- The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.
- The red SATA cable is connected with one side to the adapter, and the other to the motherboard.
- The power cable is connected on one side to the adapter, and on the other to the power supply.
You may need to purchase a 4-pin to SATA adapter.
Initializing the disk in the OS
In both cases, after connecting, the system may not see the connected disk. This does not mean that you did something wrong, on the contrary, it is normal when new HDD not visible in the system. The hard drive must be initialized before it can be used. Read about how this is done in our other article.
Option 2. Connecting an external hard drive
Often users choose to connect external HDD. This is much simpler and more convenient if some files stored on the disk are sometimes needed outside the home. And in the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for a second HDD.
An external hard drive is connected via USB in exactly the same way as another device with the same interface (flash drive, mouse, keyboard).
A hard drive designed for installation in the system unit can also be connected via USB. To do this, you need to use either an adapter/adapter or a special external case for the hard drive. The essence of the operation of such devices is similar - the required voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and the connection to the PC is made via USB. Hard drives of different form factors have their own cables, so when purchasing you should always pay attention to the standard that specifies the overall dimensions of your HDD.
If you decide to connect the drive using the second method, then literally follow 2 rules: do not neglect safe removal devices and do not disconnect the disk while working with the PC to avoid errors.
We talked about ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer or laptop. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and it is absolutely not necessary to use the services of computer specialists.
When you purchase a new HDD, the question arises of how to connect second hard disk to computer. This is not difficult to do, but before you get started, you need to make sure that your system unit is not under warranty. The fact is that in order to install a second hard drive, you need to remove the side cover of the computer. This will break the seal and therefore void the warranty. To avoid such a situation, you should contact a service center.
If the warranty has expired or is missing, feel free to remove the side wall. It is secured with two screws on the back of the PC. Be sure to turn off your computer and unplug it. An additional hard drive can only be installed when the system unit is turned off. This is not a flash drive, and the HDD may simply fail.
You need to inspect the motherboard and the place where the hard drive is already installed. Majority modern computers has SATA connections. Trace where the cable of the existing HDD is connected to the motherboard. There should be at least one more similar one next to this connector. This will depend on the type of motherboard you have. Large ones have up to 5-6 connectors, small ones can only have 2.
If you are the owner standard type motherboard, then you just need to select the socket to connect. If you have a combo (that is, a small one), then slight difficulties may arise. The fact is that the first hard drive and optical drive may already be connected to the slots. And it may turn out that there is simply no other place to connect an additional hard drive. These are budget motherboards, and sometimes they do not provide the ability to connect several hard drives. How to install two hard drives in this case? You'll just have to unplug the DVD-ROM to free up the port.
If you have old computer with type IDE connections and there is only one slot left, you have the opportunity to install two equipment on one cable. This can be either 2 HDDs or a hard drive with an optical drive. When connecting on one cable, it is advisable to follow the sequence in which the system disk will be connected to the master connector, and an additional one to the slave. Master is the outermost connector on the cable, slave is in the middle. The instructions for the HDD should indicate in what position the jumpers should be set for a particular mode.
After we have figured out where to connect the second hard drive to the computer so that it recognizes it, we move on to the next point. This powers the device with electricity. Take a close look at the wires that come from the power supply. In old system units type of connections IDE, in the new ones - SATA. Some PCs have both types at the same time. If the hard drive has a SATA port, and only IDE is left free in the power supply, do not worry. You need to purchase an adapter from one connection type to another.
We found out which connectors the second hard drive is connected to. Now it needs to be installed and secured. Find where the first hard drive is located. Depending on the size of your case, there may be one to three drive slots nearby. If there is a lot of space, it is advisable to connect two HDDs so that they are located further away from each other. Hard drives can get very hot during operation and require ventilation. The more free space around them, the better ventilation will occur.
In a small case, installing a second hard drive will mean that both hard drives will get very hot. Especially in the hot season. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a cooling system for them. When connecting a second drive, do not forget that it must be screwed to the case. Unlike solid-state drives, HDDs have mechanical parts that can be easily damaged. During transportation, the hard drive may fall out of the slot, and this will damage not only it, but also, possibly, the motherboard.
Second hard drive on a laptop
Hard drives on laptop computers do not have the same large capacity, as on stationary ones. And sometimes users want to increase space, but the laptop does not have a slot for an additional hard drive. in that case? This can be done by installing HDD instead optical drive.
There are special adapters for this. Without them, you won’t be able to connect another hard drive, since the DVD-ROM and HDD connectors are different. The first thing you need to do is figure out the thickness of your drive. On different laptops it may differ. The most common are 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. You can find out this way:
Use a program to diagnose equipment like Everest or AIDA. View the optical drive model and find the specifications on the Internet. The exact dimensions must be indicated on the manufacturer's website. Unscrew the drive and take measurements manually.
After purchasing the adapter, you can begin installing the hard drive. Unplug your computer and turn it off. It can only be untwisted when not in use. Pull out the optical drive. In most cases, it is secured with 2-4 screws.
Take the adapter and remove the stop, which is located on the opposite edge from the connectors. Some people try to turn on the second drive by connecting it to the adapter at an acute angle. This can break the contacts. The support is removable and is needed to fix the hard drive. Then press the hard drive firmly against the contacts. Sometimes this requires effort.
After installation and fixation with the stop, screw in the bolts to more firmly connect the adapter to the disk. So as not to spoil appearance laptop, you need to remove the front panel from the optical drive and attach it to the hard drive adapter. Carefully insert the device into the laptop and put all the covers back. If everything was done correctly, the BIOS will display the new hard drive.
Disk system settings
You learned how to install a second hard drive in a PC. But this is not enough to fully work with it. Now you need to configure it so that the system recognizes it. After all, if the disk is new, it does not have marked areas and will not be displayed by the operating system. If you have Windows installed, you can do this by going to Disk Management. You can get to this menu by clicking right click mouse over the “My Computer” icon and selecting “Manage”.
All connected drives and their capacity will be displayed in the lower central part. New disc will be labeled "Not distributed". You need to right-click on this area and click “Create simple volume”. The “Setup Wizard” will appear, following the instructions of which you will determine the space of the future disk, file system and assign a letter to it. Remember that two partitions cannot be assigned the same letters. To avoid having to deal with OS freezes and process failures, close all unnecessary programs. At the end of the procedure, the new hard drive will be displayed in the system.
We looked in detail at how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer. By watching the video below or above in the text, you will be able to understand and consider in more detail incomprehensible points.
Buy an internal SATA hard drive. Do this if you don't already have such a disk.
- It's better to buy a hard drive made by the same company as the computer (such as HP).
- Some hard drives not compatible with some computers. Before purchasing a hard drive, find your computer model and hard drive model (for example, search for "HP Pavilion L3M56AA SATA Compatible") to see if they will work together.
Turn off your computer and unplug it from the electrical outlet. Do not work inside your computer while it is turned on, as you may damage the components or cause injury.
- Some desktop computers turn off within a couple of minutes. In this case, wait until the computer fans stop working.
Open the computer case. This process depends on the computer model, so read the instructions for the computer or find the relevant information on the Internet.
- In most cases, you will need a Phillips screwdriver.
Ground yourself. This will prevent you from accidentally damaging sensitive internal components of your computer (such as the motherboard).
Find an empty hard drive bay. The main hard drive is installed in a special compartment of the computer case; Next to this bay there should be a similar empty bay into which you will install the second hard drive.
Insert the second hard drive into the bay. The compartment is located under or above the compartment with the main hard drive. The disk must be inserted so that its side with connectors for connecting cables is directed into the computer case.
- In some cases, the disk must be secured with screws.
Locate the hard drive connector. Follow the main hard drive cable to find out where the hard drive connectors are on the motherboard. (The motherboard is a large board that other boards and devices connect to.)
- If the main hard drive cable looks like a wide, thin ribbon, it is an IDE hard drive. In this case, you will need an adapter to connect the second hard drive to the motherboard.
Connect a second hard drive. Connect one end of the cable to the other hard drive, and the other to the connector on the motherboard (this connector is located next to the connector to which the main hard drive is connected).
- If your computer's motherboard only has IDE connectors (connectors a few centimeters long), buy a SATA to IDE adapter. In this case, connect the adapter to the motherboard, and the cable of the second hard drive to the adapter.
Connect the second hard drive to the power supply. Connect one end of the power cable to the power supply and the other to the second hard drive.
- Typically, the power supply is located at the top of the computer case.
- The power cable plug looks like a wider SATA cable plug.
Make sure all cables are connected securely and correctly. Otherwise operating system The computer does not recognize the second drive.
Connect your computer to power and turn it on. Now you need to make Windows recognize the second hard drive.
Open the Disk Management window. Right click on the Start menu
In the lower left corner of the screen and then from the menu, select Disk Management.
- You can also click ⊞ Win + X to open the menu.
