New Computer Hard Drive Question

I have a new Dell 8400 ordered with a 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive. Now my question is I have a 60 GB WD ATA drive in an Enclosure that I want to use. I'm not sure ,but I believe the drive in the new Dell is a Seagate because of the Native Command Queuing that it is supposed to have. Will I be able to use the enclosure with the ATA drive?

 

If you are talking about a External Hard Drive Bay with a Hard Drive inside, then yes, you shouldn't see an issue.

Cheers

 

Hi Blackspear. I have a Storcase enclosure and carrier with the 60 GB drive to store digital pictures. It was originally internal, but I wanted the enclosure so I could swap drives without going into the computer. The enclosure is connected to the IDE cable as a secondary, set up cable select. On the Seagate web site they talk about a different cable than the IDE. I don't have the new system yet so I am not sure what it will have in it. I was concerned about the cable and the fact that one is ATA and the other SATA.

 

I E Mailed Dell and they said it won't work.

 

It depends on the motherboard, if you can you should be able to change your motherboard to one that has both Serial ATA and ATA (IDE). Then it will work, most of the main motherboards out there have both during this transitional period.

Cheers

 

Hi, WilliamP

That is Correct the Sata cable is different than IDE it only has 4 wires as to IDE's 80.

But there should be IDE Connectors on the Mother Board for IDE Cable Devices. ie, CD, DVD, HDD ect.

Take Care,
TheQuest

 

I am glad to hear that I will be able to use my second HD. If I connect it to the same cable as the CD/DVD RW drive at what position should I put it? It will be used as a storage drive for digital pictures. Should it be in the middle or at the end?

 

HD at the end:set it as master > leaving middle for CD set as slave
HD in the middile :set it as slave > leaving end for CD as master

Check which line above suits your need. some CD/RW works fine if set as master

 

BTW have you checked the motherboard whether it has another IDE for HD's. Only some ofthe newest BIOSes can handle 4 HD's =2 SATA's + 2 PATA's (IDE)
if MOBO has an IDE place "free" then check BIOS you can configure it in most cases as

2 IDE HD +2 CD + floopy
or
2 SATA + 2 CD + floppy
or
2 SATA + 2 IDE HD + floppy CDROMs ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE

SOME NEWEST BIOSes can handle 4 HD's =2 SATA's + 2 PATA's (IDE) + 2 CD's + floppy

 

I am going to have one SATA drive on a serial cable and a ATA drive and a CD/DVD RW drive on an IDE cable.

 

That should be just fine, you might have to replace the IDE cable if it comes with only 1 connector.

Cheers

 

On the IDE cable,where should I put the drive ? Middle or end? On my present computer I have my system drive and this enclosure on the IDE cable set cable select. How should the enclosure and CD/DVD drive be set on this new system?

 

It really doesn't make a difference it depends on the length and the positions of each connector.

I would set the CD Burner as a Master, and the 2nd drive as a Slave as some Burners require this.

Cheers

 

Well my friends it came in today. Now I haven't plugged it in yet. I did open it up and installed my Storcase. The CD/DVD drive was in the top bay,so I put the enclosure in the second bay from the top. The IDE cable had the two connectors, so I don't have to get another. The DVD drive was connected to the end and was set cable select. I left it at that and connected the enclosure to the middle connector. I am not going to put the carrier ,with the hard drive in it in until I get everything working. I will set it cable select to try it. Dell seems to like cable select.

 

Help Please New Computer

I have my new computer and installed my enclosure on the IDE cable along with the CD/DVD drive. The DVD drive on the end and the enclosure with the hard drive in it, in the middle both set to cable select. When it boots it looses both drives. I went into set up and tried to get it to recognize the new drive but so far no luck.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

I would suggest you set the jumpers accordingly....and see what the bios does then.

Hard drive=Master
CD/DVD=Slave

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

This drive is only used to store digital photos. Will it's use make any difference?

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

The use of a hard drive should make no difference.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

Thank you Bubba. Should I leave them connected as they are ,with the DVD drive at the end of the cable?

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

That should be no problem....but be sure while you are there and take the time to double check your connections.
Nothing worse than to proceed forward....hardware does not get recognized and it points back to a loose connection....been there done that with t-shirt

Also....I want assume....but you do have your bios settings properly set so that it will auto-select for Primary IDE port in regards to Master\Slave drives

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

Bubba ,how do I do that . I believe that is probably my problem.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

The ability to enter the Bios setup in regards to what key-strokes to use varies according to motherboards....F2, F10, Del....etc....but should be visible to you as you turn your PC on in the form of Press F2 for setup....for example.

If this is a major brand PC....who's the Mfg. and model.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

This is a Dell with XP Pro. I clicked on F2 and went into set up but not sure of what to do when I got there.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

Ease my mind about what brought you to this point Please.

You have a new Dell....what of these hardware items did not come with it and\or what caused you to get into the case

Also....for possible later use in case I or others wish to post a pic of the page that would help you from your owners manual....where this BIOS info can be viewed....what type Dell did you get....Please Model # and such.

 

Re: Help Please New Computer

Ok my friend it is a Dell 8400. I had a StorCase enclosure with a 60GB HD that I transfered from my old computer which was aDell 8200. On the old computer it was on the IDE cable with the system drive in the middle,both set cable select. Of course the StorCase takes the place of an optical drive. I think that I am going to have to set the DVD drive as master and the enclosure as slave. The DVD is at the end of the cable.