The simple guide to connecting stuff to your computer

[Alliance]

after many EVE downtimes of experimenting with my old computer, I have learnt alot about installing new hardware into your PC.

HDDS:

ok, assuming you got a new, blank HDD, all you'll need to do is stuff it in, and the computer should do all of the work by itself these days.

step A.

open your tower(after dissconecting it from the power!), and find the HDD. they all look pretty much the same, so that should be simple.

step B.

there should be two bolt holding the HDD into its holding possition, so unbolt them, and release the hdd from its possition.

step C.

leave the HDD connected, and look at the back, you should see 16 pins between the two connections. find the master/slave instructions on the HDD, and set in the jumper (little thing that connects two of the pins together with a copper plate) into the correct pins. there are different settings for different HDDs, so make sure you got the right ones.

step D.

do the same as above to the new HDD, but set the jumper on the SLAVE pins.

step E.

connect the HDD to the same power lines that are connected to the old HDD, you should have one extra conection line for each of the lines.

step F.

return the HDD to its place and rebolt it, and the new HDD too if you have room. (not important, but helps with keeping clutter to a minimum.

step G.

close to tower and turn the computer on, on most computers, windows will identify the HDD alone.


thats it. check your my computer file, and you should now have an extra drive.

P.S. if anyone notices that I forgot something important, please just post the problem, since I might of missed something.

more later! EVE is back up!

[Homdax]

Thats a little too simple, allow me to add some points to that:

Step A: Disconnect all cables leading in to your tower. It will give You better room if You move the tower to a place with lots of space and good lighting.

Step B: There might be 4 bolts holding You HDD, to access the rear part You might have to remove more covers to Your tower.

Step C: Does ONLY apply to IDE connectors and connecting a HDD to an IDE interface. Will not apply to Serial ATA. The number of Pins for master/slave differ between manufacturer.

Step D: same as above

Step E: if an extra is not available?

Perhaps the proper IDE/SATA connector should be connected to the HDD before closing tower?

[Alliance]

home, im writing things I learnt from my own experience, Im sure experts see thing differently.
and as proof of my way working, I can present 4 computers with an extra hdd conected to them.(and working!)

I've never worked with a SATA hdd, so I couldnt know about that.

if an extra is not available, Its possible to just leave it on the towers bottom, assuming it reaches all the way. and as I said, Im only learning, I dont claim to know everything, or proably even half of what there is to know about computer hardware, but this isnt the place to argue, meet me on IRC if you want to talk about it more.

and btw, there's no shame in askign for help! its better than being stuck with a broken computer.

[Homdax]

Sorry, seems I forgot a smiley somewhere. No offence intended...;)
Considering most new PC's come with SATA today I thought it was important.

[Alliance]

no offence taken, maybe I should of added a few smilies too.