Adding 2nd SATA HDD

[Guest]

I just want to know if there is anything i should know about adding a 2nd
SATA HDD.

Will i be able to use it as a file storage area through my current XP setup
or do i need to install a copy of XP onto this drive and use it as a 2nd
operating system.

Will it cause any problems with my computer because if it does the wife will
kill me.

Many Thanks.

Paul

 

[Dave Bolt]

Paul,
As far as I am concerned, No. I have currently got two SATA drives
configured for RAID mirroring, and an IDE drive and a second SATA drive
configured as Data drives. All I did to add the second SATA drive was
connect it to the next highest connection on the SATA control card, then
configure it using the SATA drive management software as a JBOD drive and
then format as usual.
A benefit of having a second drive is that you can set the Page file onto
the second drive instead of the first, which reduces access load so can
improve system performance.
You should check if there is any configuring to be done with your SATA drive
management before you start.
HTH
Dave

 

[DL]

You need to read the mobo, or PC manual, to see how your specific sata
controler deals with none raid sata disks. Different controlers have
different set up requirements.
Its little to do with win

 

[Guest]

Does it make any difference that it is non-raid. My MB supports RAID but, as
i was unsure how this works i left it as non raid.

Would it be better to set up as a RAID drive or leave it as is?

Many thanks for your help.

Paul

 

[DL]

As I said it depends on the controler/driver as to how you configure the hd.
You therefore need to read the manual

 

[Dave Bolt]

As DL said, you will need to read the manual. If for some reason you don't
have the manual, you should be able to find it on the motherboard
manufacturer's or PC manufacturer's web site.
I think though that you will probably just have to attach the new drive,
partition and format it. You can probably do the partition and format
operations from the Computer Management console, which you will find in
Control Panel|Administrative Tools.
HTH
Dave

 

[Guest]

I have connected the 2nd drive but it is not showing up in BIOS or management
tree.

I have looked in the manual but can't figure it out.

There is one bit where it says 'The current SATA 11 interface allows up tp
3.0 Gb/s data transfer rate'. I have both drives (Samsung 250GB) set as SATA
11 3.0Gb/s. Do i need to fit jumpers to both to set them to SATA 1.5gb/s?

The motherboard is an ASROCK 939NF4G-SATA2.

 

[DL]

According to the manual, and assuming you are not using raid function, and
winxp allready installed;
Ensure your stata drive is not configured for sata1,
If Samsung ensure no jumper on pins 3-4
Connect sata cable, I would suggest to mobo sata 1 connector, and power
connector.
Reboot
Go to Disk Management (Start>Settings>Control Panel>Administrative
Tools>Computer Management)
Partition/Format the new disk