Adding a secondary hard drive with Windows on it?
November 29th, 2013
I found a hard drive from my older computer that I would like to connect it to my current PC. I would like to see if it works, and to recover any files if possible.My concern is that it was the main hard drive of the older PC so it has Windows on it. IF I connect this drive as my secondary hard drive
1. Which Windows will boot? The one on my current PC/ my primary hard drive? OR will it boot from the secondary hard drive? OR something else?
2. Am I going to be able to browse through files by “normally” accessing the disk from “My Computer” and then looking through what files are on it? Just like if I would be using a USB flash drive or external hard drive or basically regual folder browsing?
Thanks for all your HELP!
1. Which Windows will boot?
if you connect the 2nd drive the old windows won’t boot, wrong hardware drivers
2. Am I going to be able to browse through files by "normally"
yes
just don’t run any windows exe’s from it, as that might confuse windows
if you do have problems booting you may have to go into the BIOS and set your current drive as 1st boot device
edwoodweb replied: 1. Which Windows will boot?
if you connect the 2nd drive the old windows won't boot, wrong hardware drivers
2. Am I going to be able to browse through files by "normally"
yes
just don't run any windows exe's from it, as that might confuse windows
if you do have problems booting you may have to go into the BIOS and set your current drive as 1st boot device
Thanks! To check if the drive even works, should it appear in BIOS? If it doesn’t then it doesn’t work?
To check if the drive even works, should it appear in BIOS?
yes
If it doesn't then it doesn't work?
more than likely
make sure you set the jumper to slave if it is ide, if sata no need, jumper is next to the power connector, should be a jumper layout on the lable on front of drive, i say this because i don’t see you say what type it is ide or sata, if it’s older it may be ide if the jumper is wrong bios will not see it, but it still may be good. ide MUST set jumper to slave,
hope this helps you. like i say if sata ok no jumper needed, only going by the info you provide,
bossma02 replied: ide MUST set jumper to slave,
You can also use Cable Select on both drives
make sure you set the jumper to slave if it is ide, if sata no need, jumper is next to the power connector, should be a jumper layout on the lable on front of drive, i say this because i don't see you say what type it is ide or sata, if it's older it may be ide if the jumper is wrong bios will not see it, but it still may be good. ide MUST set jumper to slave,
hope this helps you. like i say if sata ok no jumper needed, only going by the info you provide,
this only applies if you are connecting the “old” drive to the same ide cable that the “new” drive is on
and as said if it’s an SATA drive none of this is applicable
Okay so I’ve tried one of my hard drives, which is SATA, and it didn’t work. I belive this is true because I remember I was using it a long time ago and then it suddenly stopped working. I never tried to fix it until now. But I guess its fried maybe. It doesnt show up in BIOS, and when plugged in, Windows takes a long time to load, plus it says Drive not recognized.
Now I would like to try my other older drives which are IDE, but all my cables inside my PC are SATA, what do you recommend??
do you have an IDE connector on the mobo ?
if so you can use the IDE cable from the other PC, if it has one
if not you can get a USB enclosure for IDE drives if you think it worth it
edwoodweb replied: do you have an IDE connector on the mobo ?
if so you can use the IDE cable from the other PC, if it has one
if not you can get a USB enclosure for IDE drives if you think it worth it
You’re right. I could get the ide cable from my older computer, but Im not sure where to connect to in the mother board. I also need the power cable for that right?
but Im not sure where to connect to in the mother board.
look for a socket on your current mobo like the one you take it out of
any loose 4 pin plugs free in your current PC, there usually are
I see the fat IDE cable, it is somewhere connected but i can’t reach the end of it. It doesn’t have the power cable next to it though. Plus it is located in an inconvenient place because there is no place to rest the hard drive.
I guess this is PATA cable maybe?
disconnect the hard drive 1st
power cable comes from the power supply
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2008/11/gigabyte-ga-ep45-ud3r/overview-l.jpg
green socket at the bottom is the type your looking for, might not be green tho
Okay, so, out of my 3 IDE hard drives, I was able to connect, and successfully browse/backup files and then format the drives so they are fresh.
My desktop computer has 4 HD slots, each with SATA cables though. How can I use 3 of my these slots for my IDE drives? I see that I have only one IDE cable inside the computer, with master and slave socket. However, DELL put it all the way to the back (opposite of the case opening) that I can’t seem to find the end of it where it connects to the motherboard.
I also tested one of my SATA drives and there was no luck. When the drive was connected, the computer was freezing, especially at Windows boot logo. Once fully booted, it was not recognized in “My Computer” I restarted the PC, went to BIOS. It wasn’t there either. (when I was testing my IDE drives, BIOS didn’t recognize the drive either, until Windows booted and automatically installed drivers, in this case, Windows isn’t looking for any drivers) I tried all of my SATA slots. I remember that when I used this drive, everything was fine until one day it wasn’t recognized/found in “My Computer” So what can I do to try to fix it? I would love getting it fixed considering the fact that it is 1TB.
I would like to Thank You already for your support. You helped me a lot already. If you can though, please try to continue help me resolve my issues. Thank you!!
thePro replied: Okay, i was able to connect it and browse through.
Now, most of my old HD's are all IDE, I have 4 slots for HD but SATA, is there a way I can some how utilize three of my old IDE HD's and put it there some how?
You could use a pci-e – PATA (IDE) controller card (if you can find one in stock anywhere) eg. (doesn’t have to be RAID)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815150028
You can also get splitter power cables eg. one female molex to 2 or 3 molex male. (Just be careful you don’t overload your power supply.
However, it’s probably just easier to get USB external exclosures for the hdd’s, but you won’t get as fast data transfer.
This is based on your BIOS boot settings. if your Primary HDD in on 0 then set boot to HDD 0.
How can I use 3 of my these slots for my IDE drives?
you can’t
best way would be either of gilly’s suggestions
PATA (IDE) controller card or USB external exclosures
However, DELL put it all the way to the back (opposite of the case opening) that I can't seem to find the end of it where it connects to the motherboard.
this removing or connecting, not sure what you mean
I would love getting it fixed considering the fact that it is 1TB.
not gona happen as the drive sounds like it’s dead
and even if you could get it to work, the drive would not be dependable
a 1tb drive can’t be that old, go to the drive’s website and see if you can warranty it for a replacement (5 year warranty on some drivers)
thePro wrote:
Okay, i was able to connect it and browse through.
Now, most of my old HD's are all IDE, I have 4 slots for HD but SATA, is there a way I can some how utilize three of my old IDE HD's and put it there some how?
You could use a pci-e - PATA (IDE) controller card (if you can find one in stock anywhere) eg. (doesn't have to be RAID)
Code:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815150028
You can also get splitter power cables eg. one female molex to 2 or 3 molex male. (Just be careful you don't overload your power supply.
However, it's probably just easier to get USB external exclosures for the hdd's, but you won't get as fast data transfer.
Thank you, I’ll check it out.
Quote:
However, DELL put it all the way to the back (opposite of the case opening) that I can't seem to find the end of it where it connects to the motherboard.
this removing or connecting, not sure what you mean
What I meant is that I have a DELL computer, and the way DELL set the cables inside, I can’t find the end of the IDE cable, because it goes behind some parts and I can’t reach it. By looking at the motherboard I don’t see the connected IDE cable.
not gona happen as the drive sounds like it's dead
and even if you could get it to work, the drive would not be dependable
a 1tb drive can't be that old, go to the drive's website and see if you can warranty it for a replacement (5 year warranty on some drivers)
Dang I could have thought of that when it happened. Now I hope my 5 years didn’t pass. The only thing would bother me is that maybe they would have access to my files some how?
they would have access to my files some how?
they won’t bother looking, so don’t worry
DELL computer
this is the old one ? what model is it ?
edwoodweb replied: they would have access to my files some how?
they won't bother looking, so don't worry
DELL computer
this is the old one ? what model is it ?
Maybe you’re right hah..
The Dell PC is the current I am using. It is XPS720
any help here ?
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/xps720/en/OM_EN/NP756A00.pdf
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/xps720/en/index.htm
Okay, thank you for all your help! I will conclude that my concerns have been resolved.