How to connect a second hard drive. How to install a second hard drive

Good day.

For many users, one disk is often not enough for daily work on a laptop. There are, of course, different options for resolving the issue: buy an external hard drive, flash drive, etc. media (we will not consider this option in the article).

Or you can install a second hard drive (or SSD (solid state)) instead of an optical drive. For example, I very rarely use it (over the past year I have used it a couple of times, and if it weren’t for it, I probably wouldn’t remember about it).

In this article I want to analyze the main questions that may arise when connecting a second drive to a laptop. So…

1. Selecting the desired "adapter" (which is placed instead of the drive)

This is the first question and the most important! The thing is, many people don't realize that thickness disk drives in different laptops can be different! The most common thicknesses are 12.7mm and 9.5mm.

To find out the thickness of your drive, there are 2 ways:

1. Open some utility, such as AIDA (free utilities:), then find out the exact model of the drive in it, and then find its characteristics on the manufacturer's website and look at the dimensions there.

2. Measure the thickness of the drive by removing it from the laptop (this is a 100% option, I recommend it so as not to be mistaken). This option is discussed below in the article.

By the way, please note that such an “adapter” is correctly called a little differently: “Caddy for Laptop Notebook” (see Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Laptop adapter for installing a second drive. 12.7mm SATA to SATA 2nd Aluminum Hard Disk Drive HDD Caddy for Laptop Notebook)

2. How to remove the drive from a laptop

This is done quite simply. Important! If your laptop is under warranty, such an operation may result in a denial of warranty service. Everything you do next - do at your own peril and risk.

1) Turn off the laptop, disconnect all wires from it (power, mice, headphones, etc.).

2) Turn it over and remove the battery. Usually its fastening is a simple latch (there can sometimes be 2 of them).

3) To remove the drive, as a rule, it is enough to unscrew 1 screw that holds it. In a typical laptop design, this screw is located approximately in the center. When you unscrew it, it will be enough to slightly pull on the drive housing (see Fig. 2) and it should easily “move out” of the laptop.

I emphasize, act carefully, as a rule, the drive comes out of the case very easily (without any effort).

Rice. 2. Notebook: drive mount.

4) It is desirable to measure the thickness using a compass rod. If it is not there, you can use a ruler (as in Fig. 3). In principle, to distinguish 9.5 mm from 12.7 - the ruler is more than enough.

Rice. 3. Measuring the thickness of the drive: you can clearly see that the drive is about 9 mm thick.

Connecting a second drive to a laptop (step by step)

To begin with, I want to pay attention to 2 nuances:

Many users complain that the appearance of the laptop is somewhat lost after installing such an adapter. But in most cases, the old socket from the drive can be carefully removed (sometimes small screws can hold it) and installed on the adapter (red arrow in Fig. 4);

Before installing the disk, remove the stop (green arrow in Fig. 4). Some push the disk "from above" at an angle without removing the stop. Often this leads to damage to the contacts of the disk or adapter.

As a rule, the disc fits into the adapter socket quite easily and there are no problems with installing the disc into the adapter itself (see Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Installed SSD drive in the adapter

Problems often arise when users try to install an adapter in place of an optical drive in a laptop. Most often the problems are:

An incorrect adapter was chosen, for example, it turned out to be thicker than needed. Pushing the adapter into the laptop by force is fraught with breakage! In general, the adapter itself should “slide” into the laptop as if on rails, without the slightest effort;

On such adapters you can often find expansion screws. In my opinion, there is no benefit from them, I recommend removing them immediately. By the way, it often happens that it is they who rest against the laptop case, preventing the adapter from being installed in the laptop (see Fig. 6).

If everything is done carefully, then the laptop will have its original appearance after installing the second disk. Everyone will "think" that the laptop has an optical drive, but in fact there is another HDD or SSD (see Fig. 7) ...

Rice. 7. The adapter, together with the disk, is installed in the laptop

I recommend that after installing the second disk, go into the BIOS of the laptop and check if the disk is detected there. In most cases (if the installed drive is working and there were no problems with the drive before), the BIOS correctly detects the drive.

How to enter the BIOS (keys to different device manufacturers):

Summing up, I want to say that the installation itself is a simple matter, anyone can handle it. The main thing is not to rush and act carefully. Often problems arise due to haste: at first they didn’t measure the drive, then they bought the wrong adapter, then they began to install it “by force” - as a result, the laptop was taken for repair ...

That's all for me, I tried to make out all the "pitfalls" that may be when installing the second disk.

The time has come when one hard drive in a computer is no longer enough. More and more users decide to connect a second HDD to their PC, but not everyone knows how to do it right on their own in order to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disk is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount the hard drive - it can be connected as an external device if there is a free USB port.

Connecting a second HDD to a PC or laptop

The options for connecting a second hard drive are as simple as possible:

Connecting the HDD to the computer system unit. Suitable for owners of conventional stationary PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
Connecting a hard drive as an external drive. The easiest way to connect an HDD, and the only one possible for a laptop owner.

Option 1. Installation in the system unit

Determining the type of HDD

Before connecting, you need to determine the type of interface with which the hard drive works - SATA or IDE. Almost all modern computers are equipped with a SATA interface, respectively, it is best if the hard drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete, and may simply not be on the motherboard. Therefore, with the connection of such a disk, some difficulties may arise.

The easiest way to recognize the standard is by contacts. This is what they look like on SATA drives:

And like this in the IDE:

Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit

The process of connecting a disk is very easy and takes place in several stages:

SATA boot priority

The motherboard usually has 4 connectors for connecting SATA drives. They are designated as SATA0 - the first, SATA1 - the second, etc. The priority of the hard drive is directly related to the slot numbering. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to go into the BIOS. Depending on the type of BIOS, the interface and management will be different.

In older versions, go to the Advanced BIOS Features section and work with the First Boot Device and Second Boot Device options. In new BIOS versions, look for the Boot or Boot Sequence section and the 1st / 2nd Boot Priority parameter.

Connecting a second IDE drive

In rare cases, there is a need to install a disk with an outdated IDE interface. In this case, the connection process will be slightly different.

Connecting a second IDE drive to the first SATA drive

When you need to connect an IDE drive to an already working SATA HDD, use a special IDE-SATA adapter.

The connection diagram is as follows:

The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
The IDE plug is connected to the hard drive itself.
The red SATA cable is connected on one side to the adapter, the other - to the motherboard.
The power cable is connected on one side to the adapter, and the other side to the power supply.

You may need to purchase a 4-pin (4 pin) power to SATA adapter.

OS disk initialization

In both cases, after connecting, the system may not see the connected drive. This does not mean that you did something wrong, on the contrary, it is normal when the new HDD is not visible in the system. To be able to use it, initialization of the hard disk is required. Read about how to do this in our other article.

Read more: Why the computer does not see the hard drive

Option 2: Connecting an external hard drive

Often, users choose to connect an external HDD. It is much easier and more convenient if some of the files stored on the disk are sometimes needed outside the home. And in the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for a second HDD.

An external hard drive is connected via USB in exactly the same way as another device with the same interface (flash drive, mouse, keyboard).

A hard drive designed for installation in a system unit can also be connected via USB. To do this, you need to use either an adapter / adapter, or a special external case for the hard drive. The essence of the operation of such devices is similar - the required voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and the connection to the PC is via USB. Hard drives of different form factors have their own cables, so when buying, you should always pay attention to the standard that sets the overall dimensions of your HDD.

If you decide to connect the drive using the second method, then literally follow 2 rules: do not neglect the safe removal of the device and do not disconnect the drive while working with the PC in order to avoid errors.

We talked about ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer or laptop. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and it is absolutely optional to use the services of computer masters.

We are glad we were able to help you resolve the issue.

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lumpics.ru

How to connect a second hard drive

Even a large amount of disk space can run out when you work on your computer for a long time. You can delete files and programs to free up some space, but this is a temporary workaround. You can replace the hard drive, then you have to reinstall the OS and set up the computer. It is easier to connect a second drive, which will significantly increase the storage space for photos, games and movies.

Buy a hard drive with sufficient capacity and a SATA data cable to connect it from a computer hardware store. The volume of the disk depends on the desire of the user, but it is better not to save money and purchase a disk of at least a terabyte so that you do not have to think about increasing the memory again soon. The hard drive of a modern computer is most often connected using a SATA interface. The IDE format was used on computers until 2000. To make sure that the disk and the motherboard are compatible, consult the seller or read the instructions for the computer.

Completely disconnect the computer and all its accessories from the power source. Lay the system unit on its side and remove its side panel. Consider the motherboard. Modern boards can have several SATA controllers, up to 6 pieces. An IDE connector may be missing or used to connect a CD/DVD drive. In finding the right controllers, the computer board diagram will help you.

Install the new hard drive in a special basket at a sufficient distance from the other so that they do not touch and do not overheat. If there are three "slots" for the hard drive in the case, then put them in 1 and 3, and 2 between them for ventilation. Secure the drive with four screws. Connect one end of the SATA cable (it doesn't matter which one) to the hard drive, and the other end to the found SATA controller on the motherboard. The second hard drive is connected.

If the power supply does not have a SATA connector, then you need to buy an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect the new hard drive to the power supply: among the several wires of the power supply, find the SATA wire. It cannot be confused, as soon as it fits the hard drive, or install an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect it to the socket of the new device. The second hard drive is now fully installed.

If the RAM bar prevents you from installing the second hard drive in a special basket and you removed it, then put it in its place. Secure the side wall of the system unit with the fixing screws. Turn on your computer and all peripherals.

Wait for the operating system to fully load. It will automatically detect a new external storage device and offer to format the drive in NTFS format. If this does not happen, open the “Computer” folder in “Explorer”, right-click on the new disk and select the “Format” command from the menu. If the new local disk does not appear, then find it using the "Control Panel" section of the "Main Menu", which opens with the "Start" button.

Elevated temperatures can cause rapid wear of the hard drive surface. If it is not possible to separate the hard drives by space, then there is one way out - put a second fan to cool the drives. If all SATA controllers on the board are occupied, then buy a PCI controller with SATA connectors to connect a second drive.

SovetClub.ru

Connecting a primary and secondary hard drive

Modern hard drives are distinguished by their capacity, sufficient to meet the needs of almost any user. However, the system requirements of programs and games grow along with the volume of disks, so sometimes there is a problem of lack of space. If nothing can be removed, you can connect a second hard drive.

Connecting equipment

First, let's figure out how to connect a hard drive to a computer.

Modern hard drives for computers are 3.5 inches. They are connected using the SATA interface, which replaced the outdated IDE connector.

Look at your hard drive - it should have two connectors. One is short, designed to transfer data from the motherboard. The second one is long, it is needed to connect to the power supply and get energy for the hard drive to work.

SATA plugs can look different: straight, snap-on, L-shaped, and so on. However, this does not matter - with all your desire, you will not be able to connect the hard drive incorrectly.

Install one end of the SATA cable into the appropriate slot on the hard drive. Then connect the hard drive to the power supply. If the power supply is old, you may need to use a special Molex to SATA adapter, which can be purchased at any computer store, to connect the devices.

The connected hard drive looks like this:

The other end of the SATA cable plugs into the corresponding port on the motherboard. Usually these ports are colored blue or red, so you can easily find it. Naturally, in this case, it is necessary to follow the main rule for connecting any equipment - "red to red, blue to blue, etc."

If there are no SATA connectors or they are all occupied, you can purchase a special PCI controller. If you know how to connect a network card, then you will not have any problems installing this controller; the main thing is to have a free slot on the motherboard.

Don't forget to secure the hard drive with screws!

After turning on the computer, the system should display a new drive. If this does not happen, perform the initialization procedure.

Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Manage".

Go to the "Disk Management" section. The initialization wizard should appear on the screen. Click "OK" to launch it and complete the installation of the hard drive.

Second disc

Connecting a second hard drive is done in the same way. The main thing here is to keep the distance between the "hards" so that they do not overheat.

Install the hard drive only in a special basket. In no case does not leave it in limbo.

When you turn on your computer, a new drive is detected automatically. You just have to format it in NTFS. If formatting does not start automatically:

After formatting is completed, you can work with the new "hard".

While you're on your way to improving the functionality of your computer, try connecting USB by increasing the number of available ports. You can also connect a graphics card to your computer if the old one doesn't suit your visual needs.

Old hard drives

If you are a happy owner of two rare IDE hard drives and want to install them in one computer, then you will have to perform a few additional steps in order for the equipment to work correctly.

Connect the hard drive first hard drive to the motherboard and power supply.
Connect the second hard drive to the remaining connector on the cable.

Now you need to manually set the configuration of the "hard" operating modes. For this, a special jumper is used - a jumper.

On the hard drive that will be the main one, it must be set to the “Master” position.
On the second hard drive, the “Slave” mode is set - slave.

The mode scheme must be indicated on the hard drive itself.

Finally, you need to check that the devices are detected correctly in the BIOS. Log in to the basic I/O system and make sure that on the initial page of the interface, the master disk is marked in the Primary IDE Master column and the slave disk is in the Primary IDE Slave column. The subsequent configuration of hard drives is carried out in the same way as when connecting hard drives via the SATA interface.

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How to properly connect a second hard drive to a computer

When a new HDD is purchased, the question arises of how to connect a second hard drive to a computer. This is not difficult to do, but before you get started, you need to make sure that your system unit is not under warranty. The fact is that in order to install a second hard drive, you need to remove the side cover of the computer. This will break the seal and therefore void the warranty. To avoid this situation, you should contact the service center.

Connecting an additional hard drive

If the warranty has expired or is missing, feel free to remove the side wall. It is attached with two screws on the back of the PC. Be sure to turn off your computer and unplug it from the network. Installation of an additional hard drive is performed only when the system unit is turned off. This is not a flash drive, and the HDD can simply fail.

You need to inspect the motherboard and the place where the hard drive is already located. Most modern computers have SATA connections. Track where the cable of the existing HDD is connected to the motherboard. There should be at least one more of the same next to this connector. This will depend on the type of your motherboard. Large ones have up to 5-6 connectors, small ones can only have 2.

If you are the owner of a standard type of motherboard, then you just need to choose a socket for connection. If you have a combo (that is, a small one), then some difficulties may arise. The fact is that the first hard drive and optical drive may already be connected to the slots. And it may turn out that there is simply no other place to connect an additional hard drive. These are budget motherboards, and sometimes they do not provide for the ability to connect multiple hard drives. How to install two hard drives in this case? You'll just have to unplug the DVD-ROM to free up the port.

If you have an old computer with an IDE connection type and only one slot remains, you have the opportunity to install two equipment on one cable. It can be either 2 HDDs or a hard drive with an optical drive. When connecting on one cable, it is desirable to follow the sequence in which a system disk is connected to the master connector, and an additional one to the slave. Master is the last connector on the loop, slave is in the middle. The instructions for the HDD should indicate in which position the jumpers should be set for a particular mode.

After we figured out where to connect the second hard drive to the computer so that it recognizes it, we move on to the next step. This is the power supply of the device with electricity. Take a close look at the wires that come from the power supply. In old system units, the type of connections is IDE, in new ones - SATA. Some PCs have both types at the same time. If the hard drive has a SATA port, and only IDEs remain free in the power supply, you should not worry. You need to purchase an adapter from one type of connection to another.

We found out in which connectors the second hard drive is connected. Now it needs to be installed and fixed. Find where the first hard drive is. Depending on the size of your case, there may be from one to three disk locations nearby. If there are many places, it is advisable to connect two HDDs so that they are far away from each other. Hard drives can get very hot during operation, and they need ventilation. The more free space around them, the better ventilation will occur.

In a small case, installing a second hard drive will mean that both hard drives will get very hot. Especially during the hot season. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a cooling system for them. When connecting a second disk, do not forget that it must be screwed to the case with screws. Unlike solid state drives, HDDs have mechanical parts that can easily be damaged. During transportation, the hard drive may fall out of the slot, and this will damage not only it, but also, possibly, the motherboard.

Second hard drive on a laptop

Hard drives on portable computers do not have the same large capacity as on stationary ones. And sometimes users want to increase the space, but the laptop does not have a slot for an additional hard drive. How to connect a second hard drive to a laptop in this case? This can be done by installing an HDD instead of an optical drive.

For this, there are special adapters. Without them, it will not be possible to connect another hard drive, since the connectors for DVD-ROM and HDD are different. First of all, you need to find out the thickness of your drive. It may vary on different laptops. The most common are 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. You can find it out like this:

Use a program to diagnose equipment such as Everest or AIDA. View the model of the optical drive and find the specification on the Internet. The exact dimensions must be indicated on the manufacturer's website. Unscrew the drive and take a measurement manually.

After purchasing the adapter, you can proceed to install the hard drive. Unplug your computer from power and turn it off. It can only be untwisted when not in use. Pull out the optical drive. In most cases, it is attached with 2-4 screws.

Take the adapter and remove the stop, which is located on the opposite edge from the connectors. Some try to turn on the second drive by connecting it to the adapter at an acute angle. This can break contacts. The stop is removable and is needed to fix the hard drive. Then firmly press the hard drive to the contacts. Sometimes it takes effort to do so.

After installation and fixing with an emphasis, screw the bolts for a more rigid connection of the adapter with the disk. In order not to spoil the appearance of the laptop, you need to remove the front panel from the optical drive and attach it to the hard drive adapter. Carefully insert the device into the laptop and put back all the covers. If everything was done correctly, the BIOS will display a new hard drive.

Disk system settings

You have learned how to install a second hard drive in a PC. But this is not enough for a full-fledged work with him. Now it needs to be configured so that the system recognizes it. After all, if the disk is new, it does not have marked areas and will not be displayed by the operating system. If you have windows installed, this can be done by going to the "Disk Management" section. You can get to this menu by right-clicking on the "My Computer" icon and selecting "Manage".

In the central lower part, all connected drives and their volume will be displayed. The new drive will be labeled "Unallocated". You need to right-click on this area and click "Create Simple Volume". The “Settings Wizard” will appear, following the instructions of which you will determine the space of the future disk, the file system and assign it a letter. Remember that two partitions cannot be assigned the same letter. So that you do not have to deal with OS freezes and crashes in the process, close all unnecessary programs. At the end of the procedure, the system will display a new hard drive.

We have examined in detail how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer. After watching the video below or above in the text, you can understand and consider in more detail the incomprehensible points.

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HDDiq.ru

Connecting a second hard drive to a computer

Computer technology has long ceased to be a curiosity, almost everyone has it in stock. Only the nature of use differs: some users actively exploit the equipment, uploading films, games and music to it, while others use an electronic computer when they want to view the latest news on the World Wide Web or do part of home work.

At certain times, it is necessary to replace obsolete components

In this regard, the level of loading of the hard disk is also different. If there is very little free space left, then you should not expect normal performance from a PC at all. Given such circumstances, many owners decide to purchase a second "screw", thereby increasing disk space. However, it is very important to first find out how to connect a hard drive to a computer.

Connection to PC

Finding information on the Internet on how to connect a hard drive to a computer is not difficult. It is only important to carefully read all the recommendations, and then there will be no problems if the user installs an additional hard drive on his own, while leaving the old one in the same place.

The old hard drive is subject to removal only in the event that it has completely become unusable and cannot be restored. By installing a second hard drive along with the old one, the user gets extended space, thanks to which all actions will be performed faster.

Installation in a PC case

Connecting a hard drive to a computer begins with the step when the user must first place it in the case and securely fasten it.

To ensure that the “screw” is inserted correctly, you must first remove the cover from the system unit case. In the front, you can easily find special bays designed for drives and hard drives. Drives are located at the top, and the second hard drive should be identified at the bottom of such bays.

The hard drive is inserted into any free compartment, but preferably at a short distance from the existing one. This is very important, because during operation they both heat up, which will adversely affect the performance of the PC.

Then the second hard drive is inserted strictly along the guides so that the connectors are directed towards the inside of the system unit in order to ensure its comfortable connection in the future. When the new hard drive has taken its correct position, it should be securely fastened by tightening the screws on both sides, ensuring a tight connection with the compartment.

After fixing, you should check the strength by trying to loosen it. If the hard drive is not subject to staggering, then all the actions were performed correctly.

Connecting with loops

After successfully connecting the second hard drive to the computer, you can proceed to the second part of such important steps. At this stage, you should directly connect the second hard drive to the motherboard, and also provide power to it.

To do this, you will need to purchase additional loops. By the way, it is worth noting that the connectors through which the hard drive is directly connected may differ, depending on the year of manufacture of the PC.

The old computer is equipped with IDE connectors, while the new one already has SATA connectors, which are characterized by amazing speed. Previously, users were oriented when making a purchase to pay attention to the connectors and purchase only a hard drive with the right look. It's hard to find an IDE hard drive for sale these days, but that doesn't mean there's no hope of installing a second drive. Simply in this case, the user must additionally purchase special adapters.

By connecting a second hard drive using SATA connectors and adapters, the owner of a smart machine not only ensures system performance, but also facilitates the installation process.

When installing an old hard drive with an IDE connector a few years ago, I had to manually configure the “screws” mode of operation, which consisted of setting jumpers to certain positions.

Connecting using SATA connectors is much easier. All connectors on the new technology are equipped with special partitions, so it is a priori impossible to connect the second hard drive incorrectly.

USB connection

There is another alternative method that provides absolutely easy connection of a new disk space, while completely eliminating the need to disassemble the system unit case.

In this regard, many people want to know how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer without experiencing any additional difficulties. The answer is obvious, the second hard "screw" can be connected to an electronic computer using a USB device.

Such hard drives are powered through the USB connector to which it is directly connected. However, this is typical only for disks having a size of 1.8 or 2.5 inches. More powerful ones, for example, starting from 3.5 inches, already need an additional power supply.

External devices are very easy to connect, so they are preferred by a large number of users.

Defining Devices in the BIOS

Having ensured the correct connection of the hard drive, you should make sure that it is displayed correctly in the BIOS, otherwise it will be simply stupid to dream of high-quality work.

To make the correct settings in the BIOS, you should also understand how to connect an old hard drive to a computer, how to connect a new hard drive, how to ensure that these two drives work correctly.

The user understands that the operating system is installed on one of the disk spaces, in most cases it is the old hard drive that is the place where the operating system was once loaded.

In this regard, in the BIOS settings, the user must set the boot priority from the old hard drive. Erroneously setting the priority will not allow the system to boot. It is quite easy to determine the priority in the BIOS, since SATA with an assigned number will be written opposite the existing hard drives. It is the number that indicates the priority. The hard drive with the operating system must be set to SATA 1.

If any hard disk is not displayed in the BIOS, you should double-check the connection, otherwise you will not be able to use the installed disk space.

So, installing an additional hard drive is a predictable act, accompanied by actions that can easily be performed by any user if he makes an effort and shows increased attention.

Sooner or later, any user is faced with the fact that his data no longer fit on the existing hard drive. The solution to this problem can be a second hard drive. In this article, we'll show you how to install a second hard drive on your computer.

Step #1: Prepare your computer for installing a second hard drive.

First you need to prepare your computer. First, you need to de-energize it and disconnect all cables from it. A simple shutdown using the button on the power supply is not enough; the computer must be completely disconnected from the power supply.

Secondly, you need to open access to the insides of the system unit. To do this, remove both side covers. Usually, the side covers are fixed to the back of the system unit with four screws. Loosen these screws and carefully remove both side covers.

Step #2. Installing a second hard drive and fixing it.

After the computer is completely disconnected from the power supply and the side covers are removed, you can proceed to install a second hard drive. Hard drives are installed in a special compartment of the system unit. Defining this compartment is quite simple. It is located on the bottom right side of the system unit, and its width is just right for 3.5 inch hard drives.

In inexpensive computer cases, this compartment is usually turned with a hole towards the motherboard (as in the photo below). In more expensive models of computer cases, the hard drive bay is turned towards the side cover.

It is better to keep the system unit in an upright position during installation of the hard drive. Insert the hard drive into the hard drive bay (as in the photo below). In some cases, in order for the hard drive to enter the bay without problems, you will need to remove the video card or RAM. You can read about how this is done in our articles: and. If your system unit has a lot of space for hard drives, then try to install a second hard drive away from the first. This will keep them cool better.

Once the second hard drive is installed in the hard drive bay, it must be secured with four screws, two on each side of the hard drive (see photo below). You should not save screws and fix the hard drive with only two or three. In this case, it will vibrate and make a lot of noise.

Step #3. Connecting a second hard drive to the computer.

After the second hard drive is installed in the computer and securely fixed, you can proceed to it. Hard drives are connected using two cables: one cable goes to the motherboard (data is transferred through this cable), and the other to the power supply (it is used for power supply).

A cable is used to connect the hard drive to the motherboard (see photo below). This cable usually comes with the motherboard. If you do not have such a cable, then you can buy it separately.

A cable with a similar connector is used to connect the hard drive to power. (photo below).

If you are having difficulty connecting a second hard drive to your computer, then look at how the first hard drive was connected and proceed by analogy.

Step number 4. We assemble the system unit.

After the hard drive has been installed, securely fixed and connected, the system unit can be closed. Replace the side covers and secure them with the screws. After installing the side covers, the computer can be connected to the power supply and started. If everything was done correctly, then after starting the computer, a second hard drive will appear in the system.

Modern technologies are developing more and more every year. The time has long come when one hard drive in a computer is indispensable. A huge number of people connect a second HDD to a personal computer. The connection procedure has nothing fantastic and even a beginner can figure it out. Let's look at everything in more detail and in more detail.

Connecting a second HDD to a laptop or PC

There are two options for adding an additional hard drive:

To the PC system unit. This method is great for standard desktop computers;
Addition, in the form of an external drive. This is a very easy way that is suitable for all devices.

Method 1: Adding to the system block

The process of adding additional media to the system unit can be divided into several small steps. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Type definition

At the very first stage, it is necessary to determine the type of interface with which the hard drive interacts. It is worth noting the important fact that the vast majority of computers have a SATA interface, so it is desirable that the second hard drive be of the same type. The motherboard may not have an IDE bus, as it is considered to be very old, because of this, some problems may arise with installing obsolete hard drives.

The best way to determine the standard is to carefully consider the contacts.

SATA connector example

IDE connector example

Adding a second SATA drive to the system unit

Adding an additional drive is a simple process that goes like this:

SATA boot priority

By default, there are four holes on the motherboard for adding SATA drives. It should be understood that their numbering starts from zero. Namely, the priority of the hard drive directly depends on the slot number. You must use the BIOS to set the priority on your own. Each specific type of BIOS has its own special controls, as well as a special interface.

In the earliest version, you need to go to the "Advanced BIOS Features" menu and start working with items such as "First / Second Boot Device". In modern versions, the path looks like this: "Boot / Boot Sequence - 1st / 2nd Boot Priority".

Adding an additional IDE drive

There are also cases when you need to connect an old IDE disk. The step-by-step instruction of the process is as follows:

Connecting the second IDE to the first SATA

If you need to carry out this procedure, then you will need the appropriate IDE-SATA adapter. An example of an adapter can be seen below:

Step-by-step instruction:

First you need to put the jumper in the Master position.
The IDE plug is connected to the hard drive.
A red SATA cable is taken and connected with one side to the motherboard and the other to the adapter.
The power cable is connected to the PSU and the adapter.

About possible display problems

Sometimes it happens that after an additional hard drive has been connected, the system cannot recognize it. Do not panic, as most likely you did everything right. It's just that for the correct operation of the second hard drive, its initialization is necessary.

Method 2: Connecting an external hard drive

Connecting an external HDD is convenient if the stored files are needed not only at home, but also outside. In addition, this method is the only correct one for laptop owners, since they simply do not have a special additional connector for a new hard drive.

In fact, everything is easy here, because the external hard drive is connected via USB, just like any other devices (mouse, keyboard, flash drive, webcam and much, much more).

Hard drives that are installed in the system unit can also be connected via a USB connector. Here you will need an external hard drive case or a special adapter. The bottom line is this: the necessary voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and communication with the Personal Computer occurs via USB. Different hard drives have their own wires, so you should always pay special attention to the standard that sets the dimensions.

Installing a second hard drive in your computer can improve system performance and generally increase the amount of storage space you need. Most serial computers have built-in IDE (PATA) or SATA (Serial ATA) support for connecting hard drives to the motherboard.

Modern operating systems support any type of hard drive, regardless of the type of hard drive already installed on the computer. Contrary to popular belief, installing a second hard drive does not require professional technical training, but requires minimal skills to disassemble the computer and replace its components.

In fact, to install a second hard drive, you only need an additional cable (if one is not available) and a screwdriver. In the event of a malfunction, professional assistance may be required. Remember, it is always possible to refer to the help manual.

To install a second hard drive on your computer, follow these steps:

1. First of all, back up the data stored on the primary device.

2. Turn off the computer and disconnect all power cords from it. Before opening the case, you must touch something metallic to remove the static charge.

3. Before buying a second hard drive, find out what type of drives your computer supports. IDE drives use 2-inch flat cables with three or more connectors. SATA drives use thin and round cables.

4. Refer to the instructions printed on the hard drive label for instructions on how to properly set the jumpers. Jumpers are tiny connectors that can be found on IDE drives. They help identify the primary drive. Set the jumper to "Slave (ide2)" on the second drive. Also, don't forget to jumper the main hard drive to set it to "Master (IDE1)." If you purchased a SATA drive, skip to step 5. SATA drives do not require a jumper.

5. Locate an empty bay to accommodate the second hard drive. Carefully slide the new hard drive into the bay. Use the two mounting screws on both sides to secure the new hard drive to the metal case. Connect the IDE drive to the second connector located on the main cable. For SATA, connect one connector to the main drive and the other end of the cable to the SATA connector on the motherboard.

6. Replace the computer cover. Connect the power cords to it. Turn on your computer. Press F1, F2, F10, or the Delete button to enter the BIOS menu. Check if they are detected by the system. If not, then check again that all cables and loops are connected correctly.

After that, configure the hard drive to work with the operating system. If it is new, then first of all it is necessary to assign a letter to it. You can also perform partitioning. Using a second hard drive as the primary for installing applications and storing virtual memory is one way to improve system performance. This will also free up space for the operating system to run.