How to connect two sata hard drives at the same time. How do I install a second hard drive in my laptop? We will now create sections with you.
Installing a second hard drive on your computer can improve system performance and generally increase the amount of storage space you need to store the information you need. Majority serial computers have built-in IDE (PATA) or SATA (Serial ATA) support for connecting hard drives to motherboard.
Modern operating systems support any kind of hard disk, regardless of the type of hard disk already installed on the computer. Contrary to popular belief, installing a second hard drive does not require a professional technical training, but requires minimal skills in disassembling the computer and replacing its components.
In fact, installing a second hard drive requires only an additional cable (if not available) and a screwdriver. In the event of a malfunction, professional assistance may be required. Remember, there is always the opportunity to refer to the reference guide.
In order to install the second HDD to your computer, follow these steps:
1. First of all, create backups data stored on the primary device.
2. Turn off the computer and disconnect all power cords from the computer. Before opening the case, touch something metallic to discharge any static electricity.
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 sticker for instructions on how to set the jumpers correctly. Jumpers are tiny connectors that can be found on IDE drives. They help identify the primary drive. Set the jumper to the Slave (ide2) option on the second drive. Also, don't forget to set jumpers on your primary 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. Insert the new hard drive carefully into the bay. Use the two machine 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 your primary drive and the other end of the cable to the SATA connector on your 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.
Then configure the hard drive to run on the operating system. If it is new, then first of all you need to assign a letter to it. You can also break down into sections. Using a second hard drive as primary for application installation and storage virtual memory is one of the ways to improve system performance. This will also free up space for the operating system.
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 a 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 ordinary stationary PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
- Connect your 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 drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, there may be some difficulties with connecting such a disk.
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 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
V 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 connects to the hard drive itself.
- The red SATA cable connects one side to the adapter and the other to the motherboard.
- 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, the hard disk must be initialized. 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 the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for the second HDD there.
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 carried out 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 dimensions 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.
Additional;
Select which of the hard drives will be the primary, that is, the active one from which the operating system will be loaded. Determine the order by placing the small jumpers in the appropriate positions in accordance with the diagrams shown directly on each hard disk.
Turn on your computer and go to BIOS settings. If hard drives were not detected automatically, perform their manual identification using the appropriate command. Then save the changes and exit the BIOS.
Related Videos
Sources:
- how to install a second hard drive
- How to connect a second hard drive
To connect to computer as the second hard disk an external device designed to operate via a USB port, you just need to insert the connecting wire into the corresponding connectors on the bodies of both devices. The process of installing a stationary rigid disk as the second main drive in the system unit of your computer. The sequence of actions for this particular option is described below.
Instructions
Shut down the operating system, shut down the computer, and disconnect its network cable. Position the system unit so that you have free access to both of its side surfaces.
Remove both side panels. As a rule, for this it is enough to unscrew two screws that connect them to the back panel, and then move 5 centimeters back and remove somewhere not very far.
Install the new hard drive into one of the free slots in the chassis. Do this carefully so as not to accidentally disconnect the wires, which are abundant inside the case. The power connectors must be on the side of the motherboard, and the hard drive is secured with four screws - two on each side of the case system unit... Use an existing hard drive as an example of placement and fastening.
Connect the power cable and data cable (ribbon cable) between the new hard drive and the motherboard. These wires differ depending on the type of hard drive being installed (IDE or SATA), but in any case, their connectors are asymmetrical and there is only one way to insert connectors, so you cannot make a mistake. An already installed hard drive will help you find the right slots on the motherboard - the connectors you are looking for should be located next to those used to connect it. On the cases of hard drives using the IDE bus, there are jumpers, with the help of which the hierarchy of disks installed in the computer is established - one of them should be designated as primary, and all the others - as secondary. However, in most cases, there is no need to use them, since the BIOS is able to figure out the device configuration itself with the default jumpers.
Make sure that you did not break anything inside the case of the system unit during the installation process and did not forget tools in it. Do not rush to close the case - you should first check the result of the operation performed. Connect all necessary wires, the last of which should be the network cable. Then turn on your computer and go to BIOS settings to make sure it can recognize the new device. After that, turn off the computer and reinstall the lateral surfaces system unit.
Sources:
- how to connect disk to computer in 2019
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 a 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 ordinary stationary PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
- Connect your 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 drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, there may be some difficulties with connecting such a disk.
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 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:
- The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
- The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.
- The red SATA cable connects one side to the adapter and the other to the motherboard.
- 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, the hard disk must be initialized. 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 the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for the second HDD there.
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 carried out 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.
Computer equipment has long ceased to be a curiosity, almost everyone has it. 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 latest news on the world wide web or to do some of the work at home.
At a certain time, it is necessary to replace obsolete components
In this regard, the level of workload is also different. hard disk... If there is very little free space left, then you should not expect normal performance from a PC at all. Given these circumstances, many owners decide to purchase a second "screw", thereby increasing the disk space. However, it is very important to first find out how to connect the hard drive to the computer.
Finding information on the Internet, how to connect a hard drive to a computer, is not difficult. It is only important to carefully read all the recommendations, and then no problems will arise if the user installs an additional hard drive on his own, while leaving the old one in the same place.
An old hard disk must be removed only if it has become completely unusable and cannot be restored. By installing a second hard drive along with the old one, the user gets expanded 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 initially place it in the case and securely fasten it.
To ensure the correct insertion of the "screw", you must first remove the cover from the case of the system unit. In the front, you can easily find special bays for drives and hard drives. The drives are located at the top, and the second hard drive should be identified at the bottom of these bays.
The Winchester is inserted into any free compartment, but preferably at a short distance from the existing one. This is very important, since 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, check the strength by trying to loosen it. If the hard drive does not wobble, then all actions were performed correctly.
Connection using 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 connect the second hard drive directly to the motherboard, and also provide power to it.
To do this, you will need to purchase additional cables. By the way, it is advisable to note 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 performance. Previously, users were guided when making a purchase to pay attention to the connectors and purchase only a hard drive with the right kind... Currently, it is problematic to find a hard drive with an IDE connector on the market, but this does not mean that there is no hope of installing a second drive. Simply in this case, the user is obliged to additionally purchase special adapters.
By connecting a second hard drive using SATA connectors and adapters, the owner of a smart machine not only ensures the speed of the system, but also facilitates the installation process.
Installing a few years ago old winchester with an IDE connector, it was necessary to carry out manual configuration of the "screws" operating mode, which was the installation of jumpers in certain positions.
Connecting with SATA connectors is much easier. All connectors on new technology are equipped with special partitions, so it is a priori impossible to connect the second hard drive incorrectly.
USB connection
There is one more alternative way, providing absolutely easy connection of new disk space, while completely eliminating the need to disassemble the case of the system unit.
In this regard, many 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 via a USB connector to which it is directly connected. However, this is only true for drives with a size of 1.8 or 2.5 inches. More powerful ones, for example, starting from 3.5 inches, already need additional source power supply.
External devices are very easy to connect, therefore preferred big amount users.
Identifying devices in the BIOS
By providing correct connection hard drive, you should make sure that it is displayed correctly in the BIOS, otherwise dream about quality work would be just stupid.
To produce 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 the correct operation of these two drives.
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 BIOS settings the user must set the boot priority from the old hard drive. Erroneous setting of the priority will not allow the system to boot. In the BIOS, it is quite easy to determine the priority, since SATA with the assigned number will be written in front of the existing hard drives. It is the number that indicates the priority. Winchester with operating system should be SATA 1.
If any hard disk is not displayed in the BIOS, you should double-check that the connection is correct, otherwise it will be impossible 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 tries hard and shows increased attention.
