| Configure
the Drive
ATA/IDE drives have their own on-board controllers so
you must decide if you are going to install the drive
as a 'Master' or a 'Slave' drive.
There is no real difference between the two, however,
without going into too much detail, if it is the only
ATA/IDE drive in your system then you should set it
to 'Master'.
If you are adding a CD or DVD Rom you will probably
want to set the drive as the 'Slave' if it is to be
connected to the same IDE port/cable as the hard drive,
or as 'Master' if you are to connect it to a separate
IDE port/cable.
Usually both ATA/IDE drives and CD/DVD Rom's have a
hardware
jumper which is set to select the drive as 'Master',
'Slave' or 'Cable Select' (As we are not concerned with
SCSI drives in this article you shouldn't be concerned
about 'Cable Select' either!).
There should be information about the jumper settings
for the drive in the documentation that came with it.
If there are no instructions enclosed with the new drive
then there may be a guide printed on the drive itself.
This is normally a large printed sticker or an impressed
guide on the case of the drive.
If you do not have the correct jumper settings to hand
you should be able to find them on the manufacturers
website (See my CD
/ Hard Drive
/ DVD Data-sheets
for links).
Physically Install the drive
Before you attempt to install the drive, make sure you
have all the necessary screws, brackets and/or faceplates
as identified when choosing a bay.
There are a multitude of case types requiring that drives
have special runners, brackets or boxes attached before
the drive can be attached to the case. If you have one
of these cases make sure you have the necessary bits
and pieces before you begin.
Most cases simply allow the drive to be inserted and
screwed into place through the side of the drive.
- Check your motherboard for an un-used
ATA/IDE connector. Most motherboards now have two
ATA/IDE connectors which support up to four devices.
If you are installing the primary drive, it is advisable
to use the Primary IDE slot for the first two drives
in a computer. Your motherboard documentation should
help to identify which is the Primary and which is
the Secondary IDE slot.
- Attach any additional brackets,
attachments or rails onto the drive as required.
- Attach the data cable to the drive.
Most cables and drive connectors are keyed so that
the cable cannot be incorrectly inserted, however
make sure that the coloured edge of the cable (Usually
red) receives pin 1of the connector.
- Slide the drive into the spare bay.
- Attach the drive to the case bay
using the supplied screws - if you don't have any
screws supplied with your drive and are using your
own. Make sure they are not too long and will damage
the drive when you screw them in completely!
- Attach the cable to the ATA/IDE
slot on the motherboard - again these are normally
keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.
- Attach a spare power cable to the
drive.
- Attach a sound cable to the drive
if required and attach to the sound card (CD/DVD Rom
only).
|
Physically Installing New Hardware