To install the new drive in your box, follow these directions:
- With the power supply still unplugged, place the new drive into its available location.
- Mount the drive to the computer by screwing two screws on both sides of the chassis.
- Connect the four-prong power supply to the back of the hard drive.
- Connect the IDE ribbon to the back of the hard drive. The IDE ribbon cable should be key, meaning that you can attach it in only one position. If it seems that it doesn't want to fit, don't force it. You might have it backward. Also be careful that you're not bending any of the drive pins.
The ribbon cable goes from the primary IDE controller of the motherboard to the drive. Match red stripe on ribbon cable with Pin 1 (left bottom pin) on drive connector. If cable has a twist in one end, connect other end to floppy drive.
If you can't see Pin 1 marked, then it is the pin closest to the power connector. If you place the cable on backwards, you may get strange errors that make your new drive sound like it has died already.
If you are adding a second drive, simply choose a connector on the same ribbon cable that is not used. Most ribbon cables come with two connectors: one on the end and one mid-way. In this case, it doesn't matter which plug goes in what drive.
The computer looks at the master/slave jumpers to see which one is 'C'. Make sure to connect the other end of the ribbon cable to the primary IDE connector on the motherboard. Pin 1 will be labelled on the motherboard, and align the red edge of the cable with it.
- Master or slave - Your motherboard has two IDE channels, each supporting two devices. So, if you want two Hard Drive, for example, you should have one be the 'master' and the other be the 'slave'. Have your main hard drive (the one with your operating system) be your 'master' and the other one will be your slave.
If you will only have one hard drive, then you will have it configured as the 'master', or on some drives, you would choose 'single' or 'cable select' to tell the IDE bus that it is the only drive on that chain. The same procedure goes for your secondary IDE channel, where you will be running your CD drives, tape backups, or if you have a number of Hard Drives, other Hard Drive.
Configuring these drives is very easy. Often the jumper settings are printed on the top of the drive itself. On CD drives, the settings are described right above the jumper pins. On Hard Drive, the information is printed on the top of the hard drive, if it is printed at all. If not, then consult the manual for it or go online to try finding the specs. The manuals will also outline any special jumper settings such as use of the limiter jumper on Maxtor Hard Drive. In general, have Hard Drive on a separate channel than the CD drives.
If you have a second hard drive, set it as slave on IDE 1. Likewise, if you have a second CD drive, such as a CD-RW drive or a DVD, then install it as a slave on IDE 2. Keep in mind you can use a CD-RW or a DVD drive as a CD-ROM drive, although it won't be as fast in some cases (usually older ones).
- Remove all screwdrivers and additional screws from inside the case before closing it.
- Close the case.
- Insert your computer's plug back into its power supply.
- Now, turn you computer on.
If it doesn't recognise the new drive, then you'll need to go into the BIOS to designate the new drive as a primary IDE slave.