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Dan2356

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9 years ago

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Dan2356

4 Posts

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2334

June 5th, 2017 10:00

I need to install a third drive.

I got my Alienware Aurora R5 with two drives: a two terabyte hard drive and a 512 gig PCIe SSD. I filled it up (had a lot of games that a moved from my laptop) and need a three or four terabyte hard drive. Do I still have room for that, and what hard drive would be compatible?

  • Eimy_B

    6 Operator

    4365 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 5th, 2017 11:00

    Hi dan2356‌,

    Yes, the system does have room for another drive. This is the HDD table for the Aurora R5:

    Storage

    Interface SATA 6 Gbps
    Externally accessible One 5.25-inch drive bay for DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc combo (optional), or Blu-ray Disc writer (optional)
    Internally accessible
    Solid-state drive (SSD) One M.2 drive
    • NOTE: If you purchased an M.2 drive, it is assigned as primary drive and all other SATA drives in your computer are assigned as secondary drives.
    One 3.5-inch drive bay For one 3.5-inch SATA drive or two 2.5-inch SATA drives (optional)
    • NOTE: If your computer is shipped with one 3.5-inch SATA drive, it is the primary drive. If your computer is shipped with two 2.5-inch SATA drives, one is primary drive and the other is secondary drive.
    Two 2.5-inch drive bays For two 2.5-inch SATA drives
    • NOTE: The SATA drives installed in these drive bays are secondary drives.
  • speedstep

    11 Legend

    46969 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 5th, 2017 11:00

    Installing a bootable hard drive that is larger than 2.5 TB requires GPT partition and 64 bit windows as well as INTEL RST version 10.1 or Higher and a complete reinstall of the OS.  Mere mortals are not able to do this install.

    Western Digital 3TB Hard Drive Installation Guide - YouTube 

    Expectro Petronis


    Seagate - Beyond 2TB <-- read and use DiscWizard
    http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/beyond-2tb/

    Seagate - Support
    http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/

    Seagate Knowledge Base
    http://knowledge.seagate.com/

    Seagate - Contact Us
    http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/about/contact_us/

    Seagate - Community Forums
    http://forums.seagate.com/

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    Understanding the 2 TB Limit in Windows Storage
    http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2010/02/18/understanding-the-2-tb-limit-in-windows-storage.aspx

    Everything You Need to Know About 3TB Hard Drives
    http://www.pcworld.com/article/235088/everything_you_need_to_know_about_3tb_hard_drives.html

  • Tesla1856

    10 Wizard

    17985 Posts

    71600 Points

    2013

    0

    Posted June 5th, 2017 12:00

    You can install more "laptop" 2.5 inch spinning drives down there.
     
    If good at modding, should not be too hard to install another 3.5 inch spinner down there instead (likley turned 90 degrees).

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • Dan2356

    4 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 5th, 2017 14:00

    So I think I'll just get another 2 terabyte hard drive.

  • Dan2356

    4 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 29th, 2017 11:00

    I got the 2 tb HDD and put it in the system. It won't show up on Windows. How do I get it to work?

  • speedstep

    11 Legend

    46969 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 29th, 2017 12:00

    Raw Drives must be partitioned and Formatted to "show up".

    They also need data and power cables.

  • Dan2356

    4 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 29th, 2017 19:00

    For some reason there is no power cable. Bought separately or is it

    supposed to be there?

  • Tesla1856

    10 Wizard

    17985 Posts

    71600 Points

    2013

    0

    Posted June 29th, 2017 19:00

    Where are you trying to put it? Mine came similar to yours (PCIe-M.2 and 3.5in-1tb) and it had a spare power cable for those empty 2.5" bays down there.

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • tktnuri

    35 Posts

    2013

    0

    Posted June 30th, 2017 11:00

    Mine came with both bottom power cables I only had to add sata cables. If you add drive shoot for getting the right angle plugs to avoid bent cables.