Fitting an additional hard drive

[Keithchr]

I have just enough knowledge to be able to physically install an additional hard drive in my computer i.e I can screw it in and connect the cables.
My question is: what will happen when I turn my machine back on? What do I have to do then? I have no Windows CD's etc as they are all stored in CAB files in my m/c apparently.
I appreciate your time and help for a newbie....please, nothing too technical in reply.

Many thanks

[DVD_Ripper]

install an additional hard drive

So, you already have a primary drive in there with the OS on it? If so, then this will be drive #2 (Slave as it's called)..

If that is the case then when you turn on the computer nothing will happen .... but you will need to go into computer management and format the drive to allow it to be written to.

Now if this will be your primary drive, and since you are a newbie, find a nieghbor that's a propeller head to help you FDISK (if needed pending OS), Format and and load the OS

[jeex]

your mobo will detect the harddrive and windows may aswell.

right click my computer icon, select 'manage'. it will bring up the 'computer management' window. click 'disk management' below the 'storage section'. in the right hand side of the window it will list the drives connected to your computer, you should be able to spot the new drive easily, right click it and select 'format'. it will then format the drive and shortly after it should be recognized and usable.

[Keithchr]

Thanks Guys
Amazingly quick replies.
So when I have done what you say and I look at "My computer" I presume I will have an additional drive showing - "B" or some other drive letter? So when I want to store Digital Video from my camcorder on the new bigger hard drive, I just tell my Pinnacle 8 program to store it there?
This is where I get lost!

[jeex]

i doubt it will be "B:", that is usually reserved for floppy drives.. but in 'my computer' it should display a new drive.

[gmatov]

Kieth,

Are you planning on using it as a full size drive, ie, 200 gigs or whatever, or would you prefer to partition it into 2 or 3 fairly large pertitions?

Cheers,

George

[Keithchr]

your mobo will detect the harddrive and windows may aswell.

right click my computer icon, select 'manage'. it will bring up the 'computer management' window. click 'disk management' below the 'storage section'. in the right hand side of the window it will list the drives connected to your computer, you should be able to spot the new drive easily, right click it and select 'format'. it will then format the drive and shortly after it should be recognized and usable.

Does this mean I don't have to partition the new drive (which will be the slave on the primary ide channel) I want to add 120gb hdd for my camcorder dv footage. In other words, is all I have to do what Jeez has written above?

[dxj40c]

I think you may have to format the new hard drive before the motherboard will find it, at least you had to with Windows 98 using the fdisk command (i don't know what you do with WinXP).

If you are lucky, the new hard drive will come with a disk to set everything up. If you bought a 'bulk' drive you may have to format it before it will be recognized. Don't forget to check the jumpers.

[Gritz]

Your new hard drive will probably be "F", being named after your 2nd CDROM. Your new drive probably came jumpered for "Master" or "Cable Select". Be sure to move the jumper to "Slave" as it will be on the same ribbon cable as your boot drive. After you format it as Jeex said you can create Folders to store your digital video in.

[Keithchr]

Thanks for the help chaps.