Slave drive & bios

[Tousdae]

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

 

[TVeblen]

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"?

 

[Tousdae]

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

 

[seekermeister]

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?

 

[Tousdae]

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?

 

[TVeblen]

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.

 

[Tousdae]

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.

 

[TVeblen]

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

Are you comfortable inside a computer case?

 

[Tousdae]

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

 

[TVeblen]

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!

 

[Tousdae]

I can't do it. I printed out the link you gave me and those instructions that you left me. I opened both cases side by side and looked at everything and I had a pretty good understanding of what to do and how ... and thats when I realized ..The new pc, it's psu .. it doesnt have anymore of the longer sata-type connections. Your last image that you put up ... Yeah .. the damn psu doesnt have anymore of those. It has 2 or 3 that have 4 round holes in them instead. I'm pretty upset about this. I bought a good computer didn't I? There is room in there for 3 or 4 more dvd drives or hard drives so why not have the hook ups for it?

.. Um.. do you have any ideas for me since I can't copy a lot of my data?

ANNNNNND my 2 year old pc has 3 more of those floating around inside!

 

[DocBrown]

If you are short on SATA power connectors, there are Y-adapters availabe, TigerDirect, NewEgg, eBay, etc

 

[Tousdae]

YAY!!! Thank you!!

 

[DocBrown]

Do you have enough Free SATA connection ports on your MB ?

 

[TVeblen]

Doc's suggestion is the best and permanent solution.

But if you are game for a little mad-scientist fun, and really just want to copy data, then you could set up the 2 boxes side by side, use the power connector from the old box to power the old hard drive, then connect the SATA cable to the motherboard in the new PC (both boxes OFF!) [you may need to stand the old hard drive on the table to "bridge" the 2 PC's]

Power up the old PC (it will sit on a black screen and cry about "no hard drive!" - don't worry, it won't hurt anything)

Then power up the new PC. It should recognize the second drive and you are good to go (copying data)!

If you are uncomfortable with any of this, or really want a permanent 2-drive solution, then just order the "Molex to Sata Power Dongle" and do it the "correct" way!

 

[Tousdae]

Um ...... I saw 2 or 3 beige thingies (lol) that have ... ok it's on the picture you put up for me. The clear thingy with 4 holes. I have 2 or 3 of them floating around in there. Did I answer your question? It has to be specifically connected to the motherboard?

 

[Tousdae]

But if you are game for a little mad-scientist fun,

:shock: I have to re-read this after I get off hold with Best Buy.

 

[DocBrown]

The y-splitter connects power to the 2 to 3 thingies you have floating around coming from the PSU, to give power to your HD.

I was asking if you have enough empty SATA connections on your MB for the Sata Data cable per each additional HD ?

 

[Tousdae]

Ok, I re-read. That went right over my head when I couldn't concentrate on it.

BTW, Best Buy doesn't have Y adapters. He mentioned the Molex too. Anyway, I'd like another HD to put important things on in case my main HD crashes. I could try that, tho, in the meantime while waiting for a Y adapter. I haven't bought that online yet. I'm calling computer places in my area first.

 

[Tousdae]

The y-splitter connects power to the 2 to 3 thingies

LMAOOOOOO Bless you guys for putting up with me

I was asking if you have enough empty SATA connections on your MB for the Sata Data cable per each additional HD ?

Yes, I saw 3 or 4 more empty ones