How to install ide harddrive

No hard drives show up: Do you have two drives on the cable? Make sure both of the drives aren't set for the same setting master or slave. Make sure the power is plugged in and everything is connected securely. Verify the drive is enabled in system BIOS. If not, select the auto-detect option. Check to make sure the IDE cable is connected correctly. You will see some kind of stripe running down the side of the cable that will indicate pin 1.

Pin 1 is almost always the closest to the power connector. If you have this backwards the drive will normally either be silent or fail to power up. My hard drive doesn't have the jumper settings on the label: Find the model number and visit the manufacturer's website.

They should have some instructions posted. If not, email their support. My 40 GB hard drive only show up as This is supposed to happen, don't worry. It is a difference in the way the OS and the manufacturers measure drive size. When you lost files on your hard drive, don't worry.

It will fully scan and restore your disk data in only a few clicks. Short DST Failed! Screen Recorder. Transfer Products.

File Management. More Products. Before you start Keep the drive in the protective anti-static container until ready to install Full steps Step 2. The way technicians have always done it in the past with the wire cable was Master in the Middle connection and Slave on the end. It really didn't matter much until the hard drive makers started making drives with the Cable Select option. Okay, lets set the record straight. The wire cables are not called pins!

Burn this in to your brain kids. The older wire and the newer 80 wire are both pins! Well, actually, their 39 pins. One pin was removed that was never used so people installing hard drives wouldn't connect them backwards. If you scroll up and look at the motherboard connector at the beginning of this article, you'll see the 19th pin removed so that these cables can't be connected the wrong way.

See the picture below It's that way for a reason. This is true even if you don't have a hard drive in the Master position. The Master for wire cables goes on the the Middle connector. Only older computers the AT type have a problem here, and again, you should read the manual that came with the motherboard or contact the maker of the system.

You could try it as a Master and it may work but that's not the way it should be. If you want to use the cable select with the older drive on a wire cable, you'll have to consult the maker of the drive for the instructions. My sources tell me that there was a loose standard to put the Master drive on the end of the wire cable and the Slave in the middle but that was a very loose standard.

Dats Dat. But, you'll suffer a dramatic speed hit. Because of the slower drives controller, the PC will accommodate both drives by slowing down the pair to the older drives speed.

Open the hard disk panel if present. On some laptops, the hard drive may be housed inside a special panel. The panel can usually be identified by the hard drive logo printed next to it. You will usually need a small Phillip's head screwdriver in order to remove the screws and the panel.

Unscrew the hard drive. Depending on the laptop, the hard drive may be secured in place with screws. Remove all screws holding the laptop in place. Remove the existing hard drive if necessary. Slide it out from the connection port that it is attached to. There may be a release latch or ribbon you pull to disconnect the hard drive. The hard drive will pop back about half an inch, allowing you to remove it from its housing.

You may also need to disconnect your hard drive from a wire or cable. It's best to place your old hard drive somewhere safe in case you need to retrieve data off of it.

Insert your new hard drive. Ensure that you insert it with the correct side facing out, then press it firmly into the connectors. Do not force the hard drive, or you may damage the connectors.

If you had to remove screws to remove the original hard drive, screw them back in as well. Use a screw to secure the SSD to the motherboard. Connect any wires that you unplugged. If you had to detach any wires or cables from the original hard drive, reattach them to the new hard drive. Close back up your laptop. Replace the bottom of the case and any screws holding it in place.

If you needed to disconnect any ribbons or cables to remove the bottom panel, be sure to reconnect them before closing the laptop. Do hard drives come with the needed cables or will I need to purchase them separately? They don't. You either get the cables with the motherboard or you buy them separately.

Not Helpful 1 Helpful Can I take an old hard drive out of one computer and put it in as a backup storage drive in a new computer with a different operating system? You'll have to reformat your hard drive, but yes, you can use that hard drive as extra storage for almost any PC. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5. Talking to a tech professional like a specialist at a store selling computers and related items would be best.

However, the word 'need' is misleading, as you can use a lot of different hard drives in some laptops. Not Helpful 6 Helpful 9. I have replaced a hard drive that's fully loaded, but my PC cannot recognize it.

I am told to reboot, but either the screen is blank or I am told to replace my battery, which doesn't help either. What should I do. If by "fully loaded," you mean that you have taken out a hard drive from a different computer that had the operating system already installed on it and put it into a new computer, this unfortunately will not work.

The drivers that were installed with the operating system on your older computer are almost certainly not compatible with the drivers needed for your new computer. You will have to back up all of your stored data desktop, documents, downloads, music, photos, videos, etc. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4. Try to find screws that will match the necessary size, either in a shop or online. A friend or colleague might also have some spare ones you could use.

You can also connect the laptop's hard drive without any screws. The connection is quite firm, but it's still safer with screws since they ensure that the connection between the drive and laptop doesn't come loose. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3. Try to fix it. However, if it doesn't load Windows then it's best you take it in to a specialist, most have programs that run from a disk that can check for errors, or they can fix mechanical faults or tell you to buy a new one.

If you still have a receipt, maybe ask for a new one. Not Helpful 9 Helpful 8. You need a Phillips screwdriver to open your computer although most desktops have thumbscrews , and if you are installing an SSD drive, then you might need a 2.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Hard drives emit heat when they are running. If your computer has multiple hard drive bays, consider positioning your hard drives so that there is empty space between them to help keep your computer running cooler.

Secure the cover casing with screws. Reconnect the unplugged power cable and turn the computer on. The desktop computer must be off. Remove the cover casing of the computer.

Take the IDE hard drive and place it in the hard drive slot. Once the IDE hard drive is in the right place, secure it with screws. After plugging the cable into the IDE hard drive, the next thing you need to do is plug the cable into the motherboard. When you finish securing the IDE cable, you will need to connect the cable of the power supply into the IDE hard drive.

After doing that, you can put the casing back.