When a new HDD is purchased, the question arises of how to connect a second HDD to the computer. It is not difficult to do this, but before starting work, 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.

If the warranty has expired or is missing, feel free to remove the side wall. It is secured with two screws on the back of the PC. Be sure to turn off your computer and unplug it. Installation of an additional hard drive is carried out only when the system is turned off. This is not a USB 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. Trace where the cable of the existing HDD is connected to motherboard... There must be at least one more similar connector next to this connector. This will depend on your motherboard type. 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 slight difficulties may arise. The fact is that the first hard drive and an optical drive can 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 the ability to connect multiple hard drives. How do I install two hard drives in this case? You just have to unplug the DVD-ROM to free up the port.

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

After we figured out where to connect the second hard drive to the computer so that it recognizes it, move on to the next step. This is powering the device with electricity. Take a close look at the wires that go from the power supply. In the old system units, the type of connections is IDE, in the new ones - SATA. Some PCs have both types at the same time. If the hard drive has a SATA port, and only IDE is free in the power supply, don't 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 you need to install and fix it. Find where the first hard drive is. Depending on the size of your enclosure, there may be anywhere from one to three disk slots nearby. If there are a lot of places, it is advisable to connect two HDDs so that they are far from each other. Winchesters can get very hot during operation and need ventilation. The more free space around them, the better ventilation will be.

In a small case, installing a second hard drive will mean that both 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 drive, do not forget to screw it to the case with screws. Unlike solid state drives, HDDs have a mechanical part that can be easily damaged. During transportation, the hard drive may fall out of the slot, and this will damage not only it, but, possibly, the motherboard.

Second hard drive on a laptop

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

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

Use a program for diagnostics of 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 manual measurement.

After purchasing the adapter, you can start installing the hard drive. Unplug your computer and turn it off. It can only be untwisted when it is inoperative. Pull out the optical drive. In most cases it is secured with 2-4 screws.

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

After installing and fixing with a stop, screw the bolts to make the adapter to the disc more rigidly connected. In order not to spoil appearance laptop, you need to remove the front bezel from the optical drive and attach it to the hard drive adapter. Gently insert the device into the laptop and put back all the covers. If everything was done correctly, the BIOS will display the new hard drive.

System disk 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 for the system to recognize it. After all, if the disk is new, it has no marked areas and will not be displayed by the operating system. If you have Windows installed, you can do this by going to the Disk Management section. You can get to this menu by right-clicking on the "My Computer" icon and selecting "Manage".

All connected drives and their volume will be displayed in the lower center part. The new disk will be labeled “Not Allocated”. You need to click on this area with the right mouse button and click "Create Simple Volume". The "Setup Wizard" will appear, following the instructions of which you will determine the space of the future disk, file system and assign it a letter. Remember that two sections cannot be assigned the same letter. So that you do not have to face an OS freeze and a crash in the process, close all unnecessary programs. At the end of the procedure, a new hard drive will be displayed in the system.

We took a closer look at how to connect an additional hard drive to your computer. By watching the video below or above in the text, you can understand and consider in more detail the incomprehensible moments.

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I will tell you how I solved the problem related to my hardware. I worked, I worked ... and there was not enough space. Thought how to install a hard Acer AX3910 on your computer? There are not enough connectors for it.
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Your computer has two main types of memory: hard disk memory and RAM, and they perform separate functions. Technicians call hard disk non-volatile storage because data remains when the computer is turned off. Traditional hard drives constantly write data in tiny magnetic fields on rotating metal plates; newer solid state drive technology has no moving parts, instead using flash memory to store files.

Installing a second hard drive on your Acer AX3910 computer.

Prior to this model, I used the same desktop computers of the same brand, only less powerful and with a smaller hard drive. As they were used, there was a need for a faster processor and a larger hard disk. I have been using this model for more than two years and am not going to change it yet. Except that there was not enough space on the hard drive.

Random access memory is a high-speed temporary storage area that stores running programs, open documents, and intermediate results of calculations and file processing on your computer. This is useful if your programs require a lot of memory. He also contributed to the book Nanotechnology: Molecular Reflections on Global Abundance. It also allows you to create redundancy to protect against data loss if your primary hard drive is down. Hard drives come in two versions: external and internal.

Computer parameters:

For more space for storing information, I have been using an external hard drive “WD Elements” for a year now. The brand is not known to me, it is produced in Thailand.

This HDD with USB3 connector, the data transfer rate is very high, so I didn't even need to increase the built-in hard disk.

Then look at the cables connected to the existing drive. One will be the power connector and the other will be the data connector. The power connector goes to the computer's power source, and the data connector goes to the motherboard. Also check if there is free place to connect a second drive on one ribbon cable. If not, you will need to install a second ribbon cable in the second controller controller socket on the motherboard, assuming one is available.

How to install a second hard drive

What to do? I decide to urgently install an additional 1 TB hard drive, leaving the native disk of the same manufacturer under the system, without reinstalling the system or changing anything. I bought it for 3820 rubles. And knowing that this compact case does not fit it, I decide to put it instead of a CD / ROM, and use an external CD / ROM, connected via a USB connector. It is not so often that he is needed now. And the motherboard also has only two SATA connectors for drives.

Installing software on an external drive

• Make sure your original drive and your new drive are connected at the same time.
• The automatic installation will now begin.
• Run all available software updates.

Be aware that using an external drive can cause all sorts of problems.

How to determine the thickness of the device

I know of two types of optical drives used on laptops, which differ in thickness. “Thick” is 12.7 mm high and “thin” is 9.5 mm. You can determine the thickness of the device you have installed without disassembling the laptop. To do this, first take a look at the device manager and see the product model.

All you do is look for a location option during the installation process. At this point, it's too late to install them on another hard drive if you don't want to go through and uninstall and reinstall the programs individually. However, you cannot simply drag and drop program folders to another drive. What you have to do is create a so called symbolic link. It's a bit like shortcuts to programs, folders, and websites that clutter up your desktop, but they're more powerful.

There is no need to resort to complex commands, although there is a simple and free utility that does everything for you. Select "Customization" and release all additional functions. When you install any software, it always asks where you want to store it. It has two halves and divides them in the middle - a column of icons.

I have this Optiarc AD-7580S. Now we will visit any popular Internet resource selling similar products or Yandex.market and see the characteristics of the device.

As you can see, the thickness of the device, according to the description, is 13 mm (taking into account rounding, in reality it is 12.7 mm).

We need to select the source folders and destination. Make sure they are all checked. Programs are now run from the hard drive. At some point, hard drive space becomes scarce and it is time to transfer data to an external hard drive. Or maybe you need an external hard drive to create backups?

Connecting an external hard drive

Before buying a disc, ask your computer to connect external media. Pay attention when buying what connections the plate has. Depending on the application, you need a plate with a higher or lower transfer rate.

Unpack and prepare the plate

When the disc arrives at your home, unpack it and see what the disc has. In most cases, external drives come with a desktop or pluggable power supply and connecting cable for computer.

If in doubt, you can measure yourself using an ordinary ruler. The 12.7 and 9.5 drives can be distinguished with the naked eye.

Where to buy an adapter for HDD to ODD bay

It is a plastic box with a small board with connectors and a microcircuit, as well as a USB cable for connection and a decorative strip on the front side. For some reason, a mini-CD with drivers is included, but Windows 7 saw the device without installing additional software. Moreover, the device is detected from the BIOS, so it can be used as a bootable CD-ROM.

Plug in the power supply and plug it in. Then connect the hard drive to your computer. If you want to be safe, shut down your computer beforehand. If the drive is connected, turn it on and, if necessary, turn on the computer. The operating system should now recognize the drive and display it in

We connect the second hard drive to the computer.

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 correctly themselves in order to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disc is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount the hard drive - it can be connected as 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 ordinary stationary PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.



• Connecting the hard drive as an external drive.

  The easiest way to connect the HDD, and the only one possible for the 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 disk is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, with the connection of such a disk, some difficulties may arise.

The easiest way to recognize a standard is by its contacts. This is how they look for SATA drives:

And like this for the IDE:

Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit

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

SATA drive 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 numbering of the connector. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to enter the BIOS. Depending on the type of BIOS, the interface and control will be different.

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

Connecting a second IDE drive

In rare cases, there is a need to install a disc 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:

1. The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.


2. The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.


3. The red SATA cable connects one side to the adapter and the other to the motherboard.


4. The power cable connects one side to the adapter and the other to the power supply.

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

Disk initialization in OS

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 use it, you need initializing hard disk. Read about how this is done in our other article.

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 a situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since a separate slot there is no provision for the 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).

The hard drive intended for installation in the 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 disk using the second method, then follow literally 2 rules: do not neglect the safe removal of the device and do not disconnect the disk while working with a PC 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 not necessary to use the services of computer masters.

Today, the computer contains all our memories, work, plans for the future, favorite films. Sooner or later the moment comes when the space on the computer becomes very small. Then the question arises, how to install a second hard drive, and what is needed for this. Let's consider this problem from all sides.

No matter how frightened you are by the abundance of wires in the system unit, do not worry, it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Now “we tell you how to do it in Russian”, it is short and clear. First, let's decide where a solution to the problem is required, on desktop computer or on a laptop. Let's consider the first option.

How do I install a second hard drive on my computer?

Installing HDD on a Desktop Computer

Before adding a new hard drive, you need to pay attention to the model of the old drive. They are divided into two types according to the interface (connector) connection:

IDE connector (ATA or PATA). Such media are obsolete and rarely seen.
SATA connector. Media with this connector is sold everywhere. A standard purchase for any computer store.

The hard drive is connected with two cables. One supplying power, the second transmitting information. To understand what storage medium is in your computer, open the side cover and take a look. If a flat, half a millimeter thick and 6-7 cm wide ribbon cable goes to the hard drive, then you have old model connecting via the IDE connector. If a neat, centimeter-wide cable, then modern SATA.

• Does the motherboard have a connector for a new purchase? Previously, there were budget motherboards with a small number of connectors, and if you have a drive connected, there may not be enough space. The problem is solved by STLab RAID SATA 2. There are also similar controllers with IDE.
• Loose SATA cable in power supply. In budget options, the number of connectors may be limited. The problem is solved by purchasing a Molex-SATA adapter.
  The model of the hard drive is determined, it is purchased, and we have come to the practical part of solving the question of how to install a second hard drive on a computer and do it safely.

Installation with IDE connector

The main rule for working with computer components is to de-energize the system unit, that is, just unplug it from the outlet. Next, we follow simple algorithms:

1. We remove the case cover.
2. We install the purchase, in special mounts of the computer case (runners).
3. We fix the new device with special standard bolts. If not, purchase with the hard drive.
4. We connect the power cable.
5. We connect the IDE cable. Here you need to pay attention to the nuances of the connection. The cable is connected with one end to the motherboard (usually it is painted in a separate color), and with two ends into devices. One of the connectors is labeled “Master” and is located at the end of the cable, the other as “Slave”. Also, the hard drive has jumpers, and instructions on the case with a description of the positions. Therefore, if the HDD is connected to "Slave", then you also need to set this mode on the carrier itself. Otherwise, the PC will not see the new acquisition.
6. When everything is connected, we start the system unit, break down and configure the new HDD to our liking.

Installation with SATA connector

This option is less difficult, since new technologies are more gentle for beginners and do not require a lot of setup. We also de-energize the system unit, install the disk and screw it into the case.

1. We check and connect the power supply cable with a SATA plug to the HDD. If there are not enough connectors, we will use a Molex-SATA adapter.
2. We look where the HDD connection connector is on the motherboard and connect the new device using a SATA II or SATA III cable. The technologies are backward compatible and require no configuration. Plugged in and forgotten.
3. We start the system unit.

Here is a simple solution to the pressing problem, how to install 2 hard drives on a computer, without problems and errors.

Installing a hard drive in a laptop.

An ordinary user looking at this monolithic and elegant gadget is unlikely to decide on an independent installation and will go to the service center. And make a mistake. The devil is not so terrible as he is painted. Installing an additional HDD in a laptop is even easier than in a system unit. You don't need to look for connectors, models, cables.

Let's make a reservation here that installation into a laptop is possible in two cases:

You have an additional HDD slot inside your laptop.
You have a DVD drive installed in your laptop.

The first case is rare, and the HDD is installed in a ready-made niche in the case. The second is the most common, let's look at it in more detail. First of all, there is a ready-made solution, and it plays the role of an adapter or even a pocket. This requires a screwdriver and the device itself, which you can buy at any store.

Procedure

1. Power off the laptop and remove the battery.
2. Remove the bolt on the bottom cover of the laptop holding the drive.
3. Pry up and carefully remove the DVD drive.
4. Insert a new device into the adapter for the 2nd HDD SATA.
5. Carefully place the adapter in place of the drive.
6. Tighten the bolt back.
7. Insert the battery and turn on the laptop.

If everything is done carefully, the components are working and of proper quality, you will see a new hard drive in the operating system.

We have just briefly and clearly figured out how to install a second hard drive on a PC, and how easy it is even for an ordinary user. Therefore, be careful, collected and do not be afraid to experiment.

Installation hard disk to a computer is not a difficult task and there is nothing to be afraid if you have to do it yourself, even if you have never seen your computer open. I'll explain everything to you now, and everything will work out for you.

Installing a hard drive on a computer will be required if you are going to update your device, build a computer from scratch, or want a second HDD. This guide will help you in the first two cases. But in the case of replacing the HDD, I will not tell you how to remove the old one, I think there will be no problems with this, but I will only show you how to install the new one correctly. But I'll tell you about the connection of the second hard some other time.

Installing a new hard drive begins by screwing it to the case. This is done with bolts. There are threaded holes in the hard case, there are grooves in the computer case. It is screwed through them.

Make sure that installed device will not interfere with ventilation inside system unit, and also that all wires and loops can easily reach it without stretching.

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Connecting the hard drive to the motherboard

The bolts are fixed, and we move on to the wires and loops. Connect with which the HDD will communicate with it.

Depending on the type of HDD, they will be different - ATA (IDE) and SATA. The first is older, the second is new, but both are still on sale.

Connecting an IDE hard drive to the motherboard is carried out using a ribbon cable, which has a large number of contacts, pins, and therefore it is wide. The loop has a lock that prevents it from being connected incorrectly. Therefore, it is impossible to make a mistake. Connect the IDE cable between the HDD and the motherboard.

The SATA hard drive is connected using a narrow ribbon cable. It will be impossible to mix up the connection jacks on the motherboard, since SATA will fit only into the correct connector. Use a SATA cable to connect the HDD to the motherboard.

Connecting the hard drive to power

Power cables are also different for IDE and SATA hard drives. Most for one and the other type or there are special adapters.

To connect hard drives IDE uses a 4-pin Peripheral Power Connector. SATA hard drives require a SATA Power Connector. In both cases, you cannot mix up the connections, so do not be afraid that you will do something wrong.

Differences between connecting IDE and SATA hard drives

It would seem that the connection procedure is the same, but in fact, IDE is slightly different from SATA in that it requires setting the position of the jumper, the so-called jumper.

The motherboard is usually supplied with a pair of connectors for IDE devices, and each can be connected to two devices. Each pair can have one master and one slave, and you cannot have two identical. The hard disk must be in the master position if Windows is booted from it. The second device in the same connection branch must be slave.

If all this is difficult to understand, then just put the jumper on master if your computer has only one hard disk.

You can find the jumper connection card on the hard drive case itself.