A second HDD

[dino13]

I have an 320 GB HDD that came in my computer. Now i want to add the HDD (80 GB) that was in my old computer to install another OS on it. (i know that i can install two ore more OS on a single HDD using partitions but i don't want to do this). So i googled about adding a second HDD and in every post i found was this that i need to add something on the pins so that the HDD knows if it is main or secondary.

So if anybody can explain me step by step what i need to do it install / add to second HDD to my PC.

 

[DocBrown]

Is you old 80gb HD a Sata or IDE HD ?

Sata HD's have small thin data cables like this.


IDE HD's have wide flat ribbon data cables like this.



Sometimes pins have to be jumpered on IDE drives depending on the configuration.

 

[dino13]

thx you for the fast answer,
its an IDE HDD

I have set the jumpers to Cable select and not to slave or master.

 

[DocBrown]

Is it the only HD on the flat cable? No other HD or CD/DVD drive on the cable? How many IDE 40 pin connections are on your motherboard? Is your SATA HD on the first SATA connection on th MB ?

 

[dino13]

there are no other hdds or dvds on the cable.
4
yes

 

[DocBrown]

I would set the 80gb IDE HD to master, & then connected to the Primary IDE connection on MB by its self. Then make sure both HD's are recognized in the bios setup. Then follow one of our tutorials for setting up the second operating system you want to do on the IDE HD.

 

[dino13]

What do i need to do after i have connected the HDD to the PC.
Do I have do setup the new HDD or is this done automatically ?

I want the 80gb to be secondary / the slave of the 320 gb

 

[DocBrown]

Are you going to erase / Format the IDE HD? Have you saved any data & files from it that you need to keep? What is the second OS you want to install ?

 

[dino13]

Yes i will format the 80 gb ide hdd (that that i want to add) and install windows 7 x64 on it.

On my 320 gb hdd i have running windows 7 x86

 

[DocBrown]

Our Guru installer gregrocker knows how to do this best. I am pretty sure he usually disconnects the first 320gb sata drive & does a complete clean install on the second IDE HD.

Do a search for his posts, I'll see if I can find one of them. Plus I'll leave a message for him to view your thread here.

 

[dino13]

Thx you very much. You helped me a lot.
And thx you that you have answered that fast.
I've added you some rep.

 

[DocBrown]

Glad I could help with some of your questions. Thanks for the +rep.

You might want to read this tut on Dual boot 7 & xp just for some basic knowledge, as some will pertain to to dual boot 32bit & 64 bit.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Gregrocker should be on later today, I left him a message.


I'll check on this thread later also.

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Dino. Doc has it right (per usual) that you would unplug the 320gb HD while installing Win7 on the newly-added HD so that Windows will not configure the dual boot. It's best to boot via BIOS when you have two HD's so that they remain independent and can come and go as you please.

So when you're ready to install Win7, unplug the 320gb, set the 80gb as first HD to boot in BIOS setup, boot the Win7 DVD to custom install to the target partition, or use Drive Options to delete, repartition and format before install. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

If you have an Upgrade version key, then the DVD will scan the HD to see if any prior OS exists which will then allow use of the Key upfront. If there is no OS on the HD, or you wipe the HD first before install, then in order to use Upgrade version you'll need to skip inserting the key until after install. Then do one of the workarounds given here before activating at Computer>Properties link: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

If you have to do the workaround anyway, then I'd take the extra step of wiping the HD of all code first to get it cleanest before reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

After the new install, power down to plug back in the other HD, boot the preferred HD by setting it as first HD to boot in BIOS setup, then boot the other HD using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key which every computer or mobo has. This keeps the HD's independent.

If you prefer a Windows Managed Dual Boot (which interlocks the HD's) then install EasyBCD 2.0 and Add the other OS to a Dual Boot menu.

Some tips for a perfect install based on hundreds done here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[dino13]

thank you very much.

To you dr emmet brown too

 

[dino13]

hey guys, i've opened my PC two minutes ago and i have the problem that i have no excess power cable so that i can only use one HDD at a time...

how can i get another power cable?

 

[DocBrown]

Power Y splitter cables

EBay, NewEgg, TigerDirect, etc


for IDE




for SATA