Installing double drives?

[BillB]

1. Is it possible to install a DVD drive and a CDRW drive on the same computer? I have a D850gb mb, with a HP 9100 CDRW and a std CD. Can I drop the Cd drive and replace it with a DVD recorder drive?

2. Is there such a thing as a DVD recorder ONLY drive w/o the CDRW?

Use for this setup is to copy hundreds of data Cd's to DVD's w/o all the switching.

Suggestions please.

BillB

[gmatov]

Sure you can. You can also replace the CD with a DVD-ROM drive and use the CD-R function of the DVD burner.

That way, if you should rip DVDs you would have less wear and tear on the DVD burner in read-rip mode. DVD-ROMs can be had for less than 40 bucks.

If you put them on separate IDE cables, you can record on the fly from CDs to a DVD RW or R, in multisession mode. (I think Nero will do multisession in DVD. Haven't tried.)

Cheers,

George

[BillB]

Hi George;
Why would I replace the CD drive with a DVD Rom drive, if I want to copy the data files from CD's to DVD's? The files are all WORD and BMP image files.


Please explain installing two IDE cables and the set up, further!

Thanks Bill

[DBeeD]

The DVD-ROM can read your cds too.

[gmatov]

Like he said.

The DVD burner will burn CDs, and a DVD ROM will read CDs.

You only have a 30 gig HDD in your Comp Details. I don't imagine you're into DVD ripping, yet.

You have 2 IDE connectors in the machine. HDD is on IDE1, probably the CD-RW on the other. Actually, if it's a Dell or some OEM, there might be just 1 ribbon cable, both devices on the same cable.

Your new drive should come with a new ribbon cable, DVD burner, probably 80 wire. Plug the blue end into the board's second IDE connector, the other end into the Burner, after you change the jumpers on it to MA, Master.

Now, you can connect the CD to the center of the cable as SL, Slave, since you will probably be burning from Images on the HDD.

Make 5 or 6 CD Images in a folder on the HDD, 1 IDE channel to the other, maximum speed is available that way, then Burn Image, in Nero or whatever you use, again from 1 IDE channel to the other, this time you may need all the speed available to keep the DVD burner buffer filled.

If you should get into DVD rips and backups, you should still be good with a new, large drive. Rip to the drive, channel to channel, Shrink it with your fave program, send it channel to channel to the burner..

You'll be in good shape.

Again, this is not rocket science. You'll get it. And a diagram DOES come with a boxed drive.

Cheers,

George

[BillB]

Thanks George!
About a new larger HD, I am planning to buy a WDXF2500JB, ext 250 GB USB2/FW, which I think will do everything I need. Comments on this drive are welcome before I spend $400+!

Also I plan to buy a Plextor PX 708 UF, ext DVD burner. Comments.

I have a Intel D850GB mb, w/ RDRAM. This mb does not have USB2. What aux board do I need for the DVD burner above, and the USB HD?

Or is it more advisable to buy internal drives?

Again thanks for all your help!
Bill

[gmatov]

BillB,

Cheaper to buy an internal. More convenient to buy an external. Cheaper to buy an external enclosure, even one with USB 2.0 and Firewire, about 50 bucks, and tuck a drive into it.

If you have an empty PCI slot, you can buy a card, USB 2.0, Firewure, or evan a combination card, I do believe I have seen at my local CompUSA.

By the same token, you have an external enclosure into which you can swap drives, when/if you fill up the 250. I've seen 200s for 150 bucks after a hellacious rebate, and gotten 160s for less than 80 after rebate.

Since you are buying an external burner, also, forget the comments on IDE setups. Leave your optical drives in the case as they are. There will be no interference from the external devices.

Cheers,

George

[BillB]

Hi George;
I just recd a email from a friend wanting to do the same. He remarked that the W2k OS has a 137 GB limit and if I buy the ext wd250, the USB/FW will have a 40 GB limit. What's this all about? Seems strange to have a limit this way.

I like the External enclosure idea for swapping drives. Since they take any size drive, it's more logical $$ wise! Does this type ext enc take any mfg's drives?

Thank for the help!
BillB

[SLICK RICK]

BillB,

As George already stated, its cheaper to buy and external enclosure and install your own hard drive into it. Just a suggestion, not sure about W2k OS having a 137 GB limit, but if that is the case, the price you were thinking about spending on the ext 250 GB ($400) you could buy 2 external enclosures and 2 seperate 120GB hard drives (that being under the 137 GB limit) and still have about the same hard drive space but you are saving about $100.

SLICK RICK

[gmatov]

Rick,

Right you are.

However, go here, http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305098

and read all about enabling 48 bit LBA for drives larger than 137 GB. If you read deeply, it looks as though it won't take >137 drives, at least w/o a BIOS capable of it, and BillB's machine seems old enough not to have USB 2.0.

However, your suggestion of 2 120s is good, but I think I would save the 50 or so and swap the drives as needed. Fill one up, put in the other.. Or you need the data on the other, swap 'em.

Another option is the removable tray, installed same as a CD drive, but with extra trays to put the second, third drives in. Swap the tray with the drive you need.

Ah, well, lots of things you could do.

BillB,

All drives are connected in the same way. One data cable fits all, one power cable fits all. No problem, in that respect. (No, I am not forgetting SATA, it's not germane to the discussion. )

You may have to buy an ATA expansion card to add the trey drive to your machine if you don't have a free IDE channel, and now we're moot, again, as I do believe the card WILL see a > 137 GB drive.

Wow. Complicated, no?

Cheers,

George

[lordsmurf]

ATA card

[Sparkplus]

I bought a 160gig maxtor at Compusa (I saw it at Staples too) which came with pci adaptor (which gives me 4 added connection ports) and software, now my Win2K OS fully recognizes my drive.

Yuo might have to do some reaserch because not all drives at store included this free board, I think some WD have it included too.

[gmatov]

Sparks,

I think these are periodic bonuses, you will see them, then you won't. I recently saw a card with a combo of ATA/SATA, with a Maxtor drive, kinda a kead in to, well, you're eventually gonna have to go SATA if we can force you into it.

But, yes, I have bought 3 drives so far with an included ATA 133 card, 2 in the box, the other, buy the drive, buy the card, get a 50 buck rebate on each. The card was 50 bucks, so 50 rebate was free. The drive was a "tiny" 80 gig, so no bargain there, except you couldn't get anything bigger.

Promotional stuff is usually a good deal. Clear it out, not so good. Old crap. Last gen.

Cheers,

George

[Sparkplus]

I forgot to mention that boxes containing hardrive and bonus card usually have a label showing it my drive came also with a rebate added.

I already tried my 160gig doing some dv video capturing with good results (no frame drops).

[BillB]

http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=75

This link is to the WD 250gb drive I want. Openions?



http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/serialata/
For those who mentioned SATA drives: This link goes to WD's System Builders Guide.


I do like the twin 120 setup you guys mentioned, for b/u safety if anything else!
Thanks for the help!
BillB

[SydneyPup]

You might try Sams Club. I just bought the Western Digital 200GB drive (WD2000JBRTL) with an Ultra ATA controller included for $100.00 plus tax.

[ofbarea]

In regards to external enclosures, most of the older ones can only support up to 137 GB. If you decide to get an external case and a big drive remember to get the right case.