Windows 7: Need help setting up with SSD & HDD duo setup

I just upgraded to a brand new SSD and HDD. I did a complete new installation of Windows on my SSD. Now that I'm set up I don't know where to locate my HDD. I would like an explanation about how this system works. I installed my OS on my SSD and all of my other programs/games everything on my HDD ideally? The purpose of this is to have a fast operating system? I go into BIOS>CMOS settings and IDE channel 2 master is my HDD and ide channel 3 master is my ssd with no slaves on either. I have no idea what this means. That is about as much information as I can give you now, if you can help by showing me something to read or explaining to me how to setup this system and how it works that would be greatly appreciated.

I am new to worrying about my HDD's. In the past I would just get one big HDD and not have to worry about a thing. Thanks for all your help

I only see my SSD when I go to My Computer

Are you using a computer that has IDE drive interfaces? Or are you just calling them IDE when they are really SATA interfaces?

Whenever you change out a drive that Windows is going to be on, that you are going to install windows to, connect ONLY that ONE drive to the system to do the install and make sure it is on SATA port 0 (zero, which in the computer world is really port 1). Do the install of Windows and then connect other drives as needed to the other main SATA ports, ports 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on.

Depending on how large a SSD is that you install I would install all normal programs to the SSD for faster loading. Games may be better installed to larger spinning HDDs. That is really up to you and the size of the SSD.

If you are still working on a computer that has ALL IDE drive interfaces then I suggest you buy a new computer. No IDE interface can benefit from having an SSD. The interface is to slow.

Good Luck.

1: Fill out your system specifications so we can see what type of PC you have. At this point, we know nothing at all about it.

2: Post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management.

Go to device manager Locate the other hard drive right click on it for options

After that choose populate then select disc letter If i remember correctly it won't show as a drive in my computer but will show up in Device manager and from there you have to activate it and populate the size and name it

That should be it good luck

Also look into this as these settings are better for a SSD set up AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

So I bought a Corsair 60 GB SSD sata 3 and a 350 GB Western Digital HDD. I have a gigabyte 880gm-d2h mobo, amd phenom 2 x4 processor. My mobo doesn't have any IDE ports so no I'm not using IDE but I am using sata 2 ports which I hope isn't a problem. I clicked to populate the drive, but I can't see where to name it. It also doesn't appear under My computer still. I also had both drives in when installing Windows, is that going to be a problem? Because I can easily reinstall if so. I attached a picture of disk management. I have a feeling it is wrong. Thanks for all your help everyone.

It looks like the same hard drive is divided 3 times how did you get that to happen ?

I think you are good doing a clean install with out the other HD hooked up then after then install make sure you hook up the other hard drive

then reboot it should work and also don't forget the Achi feature it will improve performance

Okay so I'm going to do a reinstall with only my SSD connected. I'll post back in the next day with the same device management just for confirmation that it looks correct if y'all don't mind. Thanks again

It's best to have the SSD as disc 0, so swap the drive cables where they connect to the motherboard. The SSD should then be disc 0 and the HD should be disc 1.

Leave the HD unconnected.

You want to end up with a System Reserved on the SSD.

After you finish, check what you see in Disk Management.

so i just reinstalled windows on my ssd. i have not yet plugged in my second hard drive but my ssd is in port 0 on my mobo. i wanted to post this picture to make sure everything is correct before i put in my second hard drive thanks