Currently I have 1.2 GB memory. Yesterday I ordered 4 GB from Dell to fill up all four slots in the computer. This was my first attempt to speed things up.
"NOTE: Install only IDE hard drives or serial ATA hard drives in your computer. You cannot install both types of drives."
Well, I did install both and they work. Perhaps the Dell technical document is suggesting that performance is degraded if mixing the two drives. Assuming this is true, Is there a different drive configuration that will increase performance? I'm not opposed to buying new drives if that would help.
OK, will do. Do you have a suggestion on what is the least painful way to change my boot disk from the IDE to the SATA? My first thought is that I will need to reinstall Vista on the smaller drive.
shesagordie
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January 23rd, 2011 09:00
tomsbradford
How much RAM do you have installed?
Bev.
tomsbradford
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January 23rd, 2011 09:00
Currently I have 1.2 GB memory. Yesterday I ordered 4 GB from Dell to fill up all four slots in the computer. This was my first attempt to speed things up.
bacillus
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January 23rd, 2011 10:00
I hope you are using vista 64 bit with all that ram...
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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January 23rd, 2011 12:00
tomsbradford
For Vista you need at least 3gb of RAM.
Did you make the SATA hard drive, the primary C: / 'boot' drive and the IDE hard drive the secondary?
Bev.
tomsbradford
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January 23rd, 2011 12:00
I've done some research and found that Dell gives the following warning at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/drives.htm :
"NOTE: Install only IDE hard drives or serial ATA hard drives in your computer. You cannot install both types of drives."
Well, I did install both and they work. Perhaps the Dell technical document is suggesting that performance is degraded if mixing the two drives. Assuming this is true, Is there a different drive configuration that will increase performance? I'm not opposed to buying new drives if that would help.
tomsbradford
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January 23rd, 2011 13:00
Bev,
If I'm reading the boot setup screen right (F2 key at startup): The SATA Primary Drive is 160 GB and the Primary Master Drive is 250 GB.
The drive properties show that the 160 GB drive is "D" and the 250 GB Drive is "C".
I believe that means the "C" Drive is IDE.
tomsbradford
5 Posts
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January 23rd, 2011 13:00
OK, will do. Do you have a suggestion on what is the least painful way to change my boot disk from the IDE to the SATA? My first thought is that I will need to reinstall Vista on the smaller drive.
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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January 23rd, 2011 13:00
tomsbradford
Yes, it does.
Try making the SATA 160gb hard drive the primary C: / 'boot' drive and the IDE the secondary and see if it makes a difference.
The SATA primary C: / hard drive must always be connected to the SATA_0 connector on the motherboard.
Bev.
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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January 23rd, 2011 14:00
tomsbradford
Unfortunately I don't, maybe another member has.
Bev.