Windows 7: Slave drive & bios

Hi,

I just got a new pc and would like to use my old hard drive as a slave drive to transfer items from it to the new hard drive (I have 3 programs to back up this pc and none will work). I know that I have to do something in bios for this, but I dont know what. Can someone help?

Thanks,
Lea

Could we get some more information?

What is the model # of the HP PC? Is it a desktop?
What kind of hard drive(s) are in the new PC - SATA or IDE?
What kind of hard drive is the "old" hard drive - SATA or IDE?

When you say that you have tried programs to back up, what are you trying to back up?
Care to expand on "none will work"?

This is the info from the webbie.

ZT Affinity 7552Ma Desktop PC:
Key Features and Benefits:
AMD Phenom II 955 Quad-Core processor
3.20GHz
8GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory

Gives you the power to handle most power hungry applications and tons of multimedia work
1TB SATA hard drive

Store 666,000 photos, 285,000 songs or 526 hours of HD video and more
22x DVD /-RW optical drive

Watch movies, and read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Connect to a broadband modem with wired broadband router with wired Ethernet
Integrated ATI Radeon HD 3100 series graphics from AMDAdditional Features:
19-in-1 memory card reader
8 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x VGA port, 1 x DVI port, 6 x audio ports, 2 x PS/2 ports, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 x display port
1 x PCI Express (x16) slot, 2 x PCI slots, 1 x PCI Express (x1) slot, 2 x external 5.25" bays, 1 x external 3.5" bay, 4 x internal 3.5" bays

I've tried to burn with windows 7, Real player, and Veritas Record Now. It always tells me there is an error with the disk. I'm trying to back up things I want to take with me to the new pc - Word docs, music, pictures, videos, program applications, etc.

I cannot answer your question about what hookups ... nevermind, I looked up SATA and IDE. My current hookups are SATA. I believe what was in the new pc was the same.

Thank you

With SATA there is no such thing as a slave drive, all drives are master. The question is whether the drive is recognized in the BIOS and in Windows? If it is, what do you see when going to Disk Management...screenshot? Have you initialized the drive?

I don't know how to do any of this

I had a computer guy who vanished. I saw him adding another drive to my current pc and I saw him work in bios. Ok so I should try hooking up my current hard drive in the new pc along with the new hard drive and take it from there?

Yes. If the old hard drive is a SATA hard drive you will just plug it into one of the SATA ports on your motherboard, supply power, and start your computer.

Once on the desktop you should be able to access the drives, files, and folders just like any other.

Ok thank you. I'll do this on the weekend. I might be back. I can't see it going too smoothly for me lol Thanks a lot.

Take a look at this:
ztsystems.com > Setup & Troubleshooting: Hard Drive Removal
It could help.

Are you comfortable inside a computer case?

I've installed a dvd drive, hard drive and video card. I didn't have a hard time with it, but that new pc looks a lot different inside, in that there are a TON less wires. I'm a bit confused That link might help, though - knowing the reverse procedure, how to install. I've never added a second drive myself. It's easy to take one out and attach another yanno? It's another thing (for me at least lol) to add one and have to hook up cables and mess with the motherboard.

Thanks

Nah. Wicked easy!

You will need your old drive and a SATA cable (Top Left Pic).

Slide the drive into it's bay and use whatever connectors your case uses.

Find a spare SATA power connection (Bottom pic) and plug it in where it goes.

Plug one end of the SATA cable into the drive (Top Right Pic).

Plug the other end into the motherboard (Mid Pic). It doesn't really matter which SATA port on the motherboard you plug it into.

All this with the power off of course!