Hard Drive Install Problems

Question

I recently purchased a Western Digital ATA internal hard drive to add to the existing one I have for my Dimension 4550 and I've had some problems with the install.  I see where the extra slot is below my current hard drive but the second connector (not the power connection) doesn't fit into the back of the new hard drive; doesn't match up.  Are there adapters for it or what?  People told me any WD would be fine for my computer when I told them what kind I had, as long as it was an ATA as well but it's obviously not at the moment.  Please help :/

ejn63 · Answer

A SATA controller isn't expensive - about $30 or so for a non-RAID version.

BillLesesne · Answer

Yes, it's the narrow one :(   I'd rather just buy the SATA card IF it's easier and not that expensive.  What you think?

JimmyMac43 · Answer

I think it is necessary to move your original hard drive with the operating system to the lower slot and leave it attached to the end connector of the ribbon. Then the second drive or slave drive will line up correctly to attach to the second connector on the ribbon. Make sure the new drive jumpers are set the same as the original drive which is cable select or sc. Western Digital ships their drive set cable select, so you should not have to change the jumpers. After the install, the new drive will have to be partitioned and formatted before it will appear and be able to be used. With Windows XP, you can do that through conrol panel, open administrative toos, then computer management, and then under Storage click on Disk Management. Partition and formatting can be accomplished here. Right click on the new drive and proceed.

BillLesesne · Answer

Keep any suggestions coming please :)

osprey4 · Answer

Bill: Take it back and get an EIDE drive.

ejn63 · Answer

Did you buy a serial ATA hard drive (will have a small, narrow connector, instead of a wide, 40-pin connector)?

If so, either return it for an EIDE (parallel ATA) unit, or you will need to buy a SATA card for the system.

BillLesesne · Answer

Taking it back is a lot easier said then done, b/c I ordered it online from the Dell website :/  I know I can still do it, but sometimes the hassle alone is worth paying the $30-40 to make it compatible instead of shipping it back.  So where could I buy this to make it work; Best Buy, Office Depot, etc.?

persisubuntu · Answer

Or if you don't want to use XP to Partition you can download a copy of System Rescue and burn it to a CD - then boot up with the CD in the drive and partition your drives from there. Depends how much partitioning you want to do and if you're setting up a dual boot system that doesn't rely 100% on XP. Anyone here running any flavors of linux?

BillLesesne · Answer

I actually didn't buy this hard drive to be that much better, I just made a mistake of buying the wrong kind (not IDE).

persisubuntu · Answer

Hey - you can get the PCI SATA Adapter card from all of those places I imagine. Although - personally, I don't think you're going to notice much of a difference between IDE (PArallel ATA) and SATA. If you get a good IDE drive with a lot of storage you should be set. I'm in the same position - motherboard isn't SATA-ready you could say - I had the option of getting a PCI card / SATA Adapter, but choose against it, since I didn't know how my power suppoly would react and if the motherboard might go fooey.

I own a 2400 s - and gonna keep IDE hard drives in there, until I absolutely need to get a whole new system/motherboard - which will undoubtedly be fully SATA.

YOu can try getting the PCI Card / SATA Adapter unit for around 50$ from best buy or one of the computer places. But just keep the receipt in case it doesn't work.

Best -
persis

osprey4 · Answer

Bill:

If you call Dell and use the P&P approach (polite and persistent), I'm quite sure they will swap drives with no cost to you. They will even cross-ship!!

Message Edited by osprey4 on 03-31-2005 12:56 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

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