Add 2nd Hard Drive to GX620?

Question

I just purchased a new Optiplex GX 620 with a 160gb SATA hard drive.   My old computer was a Dell Optiplex SX 270 Small Form Factor.  When I powered down the SX 270 to install my new computer, it wouldn't power back up.  (I assume because of the well-known bulging capacitor problem)  But the hard drive is fine.  How can I connect the hard drive as a second (slave) drive in my new Optiplex GX 620 so that I can copy files and information over to the new GX 620   Thanks for any help you can give me, Jim

Hackatgolf · Answer

Thanks for your help. I should add that I am not trying to permanently install the drive out og the SX270, just trying to copy some files off of it to my GX620 drive. I opened the case on the GX620, but it doesn't look like there is a second connection on the DVD/CDROM cable. Can I just unplug the cable from the DVD/CD ROM and plug it into the SX270 hard drive? Also, what about power for the SX270 hard drive? (There was not a separate power cable connected to the SX270 hard drive when I removed it from the computer)

Thanks!

Hackatgolf · Answer

I'm not an expert, but I don't believe it's a 'standard' hard drive. It's out of a Dell SX270 Small Form Factor, it looks more like the type of disk you would find in a laptop. (sorry, I don't have a picture)     Thanks

EMT64 · Answer

The hard disk is a 'standard' P-ATA hard disk? It may has a 40-pin (39-pin) data connector (for IDE cable), a 4-pin power connector and few jumpers, like this:     40-pin IDE connector    4-pin power connector

EMT64 · Answer

It seems your SX270 has a ATA100 IDE hard disk. Your GX620 may have a UDMA IDE cable with the master connector connected to CD/DVD drive and a slave connector free. You can change your HD jumpers to CS (cable select) mode, and connect it to slave connector. But to fix it permanently into your GX620, you need a adaptor to fix it in the second CD/DVD bay (it exists only if your have a mini-tower GX620).

EMT64 · Answer

The mobile IDE hard drive connector isn't equal to 'normal' IDE hard drive. You need a adaptor like this:   Message Edited by EMT64 on 05-02-200609:50 AM

Hackatgolf · Answer

Yes, that's very close (here is a link to the Fujitsu page for this Model number drive)  http://www.fel.fujitsu.com/home/v3__product.asp?pid=366&inf=cfg&wg=15   Again, all I'm trying to do is retrieve some data off of this drive.  It has a standard 40 pin connector, so if I use the cable that is now connected to the DVD/CD ROM, when I start the computer up, would it 'find' the Fujitsu hard drive?  And then once I'm done and re-connected the DVD/CD ROM, would it then again find that device?   Thanks again for all of your help

Hackatgolf · Answer

Thanks, that makes sense.... any idea where I can pick one of those up? Radio Shack? Micro Center? Best Buy? (one last question... from what I understand, I should set the jumpers on the hard drive to "cable select". http://www.fel.fujitsu.com/home/v3__product.asp?pid=366&inf=cfg&wg=15 Can I purchase a jumper at the same place? Or, if I am only trying to temporarily install this drive to copy information from it, could I just connect it to the DVD/CD ROM cable, and then I wouldn't have to change any of the jumpers?

Thanks again!

EMT64 · Answer

Check if the SX270 HD connector is like this:

EMT64 · Answer

You only need the RTCRST jumper plug to clear the CMOS settings. It isn't necessary to use the computer.

By the way, you MAY need to reset the CMOS after install the 2nd HD (I don't know if it will be necessary). To do it, turn of the GX620, remove all cables from the back of it (power, monitor, network, modem, ...) and press the power button. Then insert the jumper plug into RTCRST jumper and wait few seconds. Then remove the jumper plug from RTCRST, put back all cables and turn on your computer. The GX620 will try to detect again all IDE and SATA devices.

EMT64 · Answer

I don't know where you can find this adaptor, but about the jumper...   You can remove the jumper plug to clear CMOS (RTCRST) in the GX620 motherboard. After you can put it back in GX620 motherboard, but it must be connected only to one pin of the RTCRST jumper.     GX620 USFF - Item 9     GX620 SFF - Item 9     GX620 Desktop - Item 10     GX620 Mini-tower - Item 10

Hackatgolf · Answer

Thanks, I think I understand... I can use that jumper 'temporarily' on the Fujitsu hard drive and then replace it back on the GX 620? (BTW, I have a mini-tower... sorry to ask so many questions, but I just got the GX620 4 days ago, and I don't want to screw anything up on it)  Also, I found a few places online that carry that adaptor for less than 10 bucks, but with quick shipping that price basically doubles. (still, pretty cheap fix to retrieve all of my files!  I didn't have a backup, but was only using the SX270 as a 'loaner' till I got my new one)   Thanks again for ALL of your help!!!

BBraxton · Answer

Hackatgolf

I don't know how far you have gone so far. Also, I don't know if this pertains in this instance. There are USB enclosures where you can mount a standard hard drive and then get to data through the USB.
On older Dell computers I have even been able, connecting the CD drive's cable, to recover a hard drive from the old Windows 3.1 !
Some Dell Talk person suggested that, after my total failure to be able to connect as secondary hard drive on the Primary EIDE. Of course the Dell Optiplex I used for that did not have SATA

speedstep · Answer

There are also cheap external drive systems some without a case. http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=306130&pfp=SEARCH

Storage, Drives & Media

Add 2nd Hard Drive to GX620?

Was this post helpful?