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How do I install two hard drives in my computer? Recently, some users have reported that they want to install another computer hard drive on computer, but do not know how to do it. Below, we will share with you method of installing two hard drives on computer.

1. Determine connection plan

IDE devices (such as hard drives, optical drives, etc.) will use a jumper set to determine status of master drive (Master, MA) and slave drive (Slave, SL) after installation. If two IDE devices are connected to same IDE data cable, two IDE devices must be set as master drive and other as slave drive, respectively. Thus, it can be used normally after installation.

When only one IDE device is connected to one IDE data cable, regardless of whether IDE device is initially set as master or slave, there is no need to reset jumper for single IDE device.

Typically, a newer, higher performance hard drive is connected to first IDE data cable and installed as primary drive as a bootable hard drive. As for old hard drive, there are several ways to connect:

1. If two hard drives are connected to same hard drive data cable, second hard drive must be set as a slave drive.

2.A second hard drive is connected to second IDE interface. If there is only one hard drive on data line of this interface and no optical drive is connected, then second hard drive does not need a jumper; there is an optical drive, usually one from second hard drive and optical drive is set as master drive and other is set as slave drive, which is up to you.

Second, set hard drive jumper

After determining hard disk connection scheme, you need to install hard disk jumper. Typically, you can find 3 to 5 jumpers between IDE interface and hard drive's power interface. Regardless of type of hard drive, in terms of jumper settings, it can be roughly divided into three types: master drive, slave drive, and cable selection. The factory default setting for hard drive is set as primary drive, so if hard drive is set as primary drive, there is usually no need to set a jumper.

The hard drive jumper is usually installed between hard drive power connector and data cable interface.

The jumper on some Samsung hard drives is installed on circuit board on back of hard drive, and then set to match jumper marked on front of hard drive or above data cable interface. For example. , in this example, front panel of a 4.3 GB Seagate hard drive has a jumper setting.

According to configuration scheme marked in figure, remove all jumpers and driven disk is ready.

3. Install hard drive and data cable

Open case, install hard drive into 3.5" mounting frame of case, and secure it with screws. Insert end of first IDE data cable into IDE interface of old hard disk, and insert middle end of IDE data cable into IDE interface of new hard disk, as shown in Figure 4. Moreover, Pin1 (that is, red edge) of IDE data cable must be connected to Pin1 hard disk and IDE interface. Finally, connect trapezoidal four-pin power connector to hard drive's power connector.

Connect IDE data cable to IDE connector on motherboard, and align red end of IDE data cable with pin 1 of IDE connector, as shown in Figure 1. 5. Generally speaking, there will be two IDE slots on motherboard, and insert other end of 80-pin or 40-pin IDE data cable into first IDE slot on motherboard.

If both motherboard and hard drive support ATA 66/100/133, be sure to use 80-pin IDE data cable. Otherwise, if you use a 40-pin IDE data cable (that is, same as an optical drive data cable), it will affect data transfer speed of hard drive.

Fourth, set CMOS options

For newer motherboards, hard drive parameters are usually detected automatically, so if hard drive is installed correctly, there is no need to set CMOS. Some older motherboards may require manual installation.

After starting computer, press Del key to enter main menu of CMOS Setup program, select "IDE HDD Auto Detection (IDE HDD Auto Detection)" and press Enter, you will see all parameters of first and second hard drives, including capacity, number of cylinders, number of heads, number of sectors, operation mode, etc. The test results show that installation and configuration of two hard drives was successful. Press "Esc" key to return to main menu, and finally press "F10" shortcut key or select "Save And Exit Setup". After exiting CMOS Setup program, computer will restart. If hard drive parameters can be found during power-on self-test, installation was successful.

Use Fdisk to repartition your hard drive and use Format to format your hard drive partition. However, when formatting a hard drive, you need to pay attention to problem of "staggered drive letters". For example, a new hard disk is divided into three areas, when formatting disk D, you need to enter not “format D:”, but enter “format E:”, otherwise only disk C of old hard disk will remain. formatted. To avoid this problem, it is recommended that you do not mount old hard drive before formatting new hard drive.