New Hard Drive

[quandam]

My Seagate Barracuda 160 Gb HD has gone on the fritz Am going to have a go at replacing it (never done it before ) is there anything I should look out for when replacing? Do most HD's have the same or similar connections? Is it simple to install?

Amazon have a good deal on a Western Digital http://www.amazon.co.uk/Generic-Hard-Disk-Drive-500GB/dp/B000OUG69K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262956370&sr=8-10  Any comments welcome I am not looking for the best just something to tick over with.

Look forward to your replies, thanks

[Ray]

The main thing you need to watch, Q, is whether your Seagate drive is  an IDE or Sata one, and ensure the new one is the same, otherwise swapping an HD is fairly straighforward. 

[quandam]

Thanks Ray, how can I tell the difference?

[Tacitus]

I've just fitted a couple of Caviar drives in the Power Mac - a 500Gb (Caviar Blue) and a 640Gb.  One of them, not sure but I think it's the 640, has an annoying hum, but apart from that both seem fine.

Over the years I've found Western Digital pretty reliable, although I don't think they're always the fastest on the market.

[quandam]

Ray

Update, just found a small sticker saying IDE. Thanks again.

[quandam]

Tacitus

Is the Caviar Blue IDE?

[Steve]

Top one is IDE

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Glenn]

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?store=2&cat=4&subcat=379 are ebuyers selection of IDE drives, does your PC have sata conectors on it, as the drive will be cheaper?

Sata motherboard connector looks like this

[quandam]

Glenn

Nope, it does appear that it is IDE.

[Glenn]

Then something like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129413 will do depending on your budget

[quandam]

Any suggestions as to which IDE to go for. As I say, not wanting a Rolls Royce version just a simple mini or mondeo type. (apologies to any mini or mondeo owners) but you know what I mean

[quandam]

Then something like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129413 will do depending on your budget

Glenn

Thanks for the help is the one you mention definitely IDE version?

[Glenn]

Yes it is, or any from the post above http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=18076.msg435666#msg435666

[Tacitus]

Is the Caviar Blue IDE?

No, mine's SATA, but Dabs have the IDE/ATA version albeit at a price...

[quandam]

Thanks Tacitus

Have ordered one from Amazon for £59.03 with free delivery. So, it's  when I start fitting it 

[Glenn]

Fitting it the easy part, only 4 screws and 2 connectors. Do you need to istall an OS on it at all?

[Steve]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather) just set it the same as the existing one, to no jumper if it's the only drive on ribbon or if two to master or slave. (a CD/DVD drive may be attached as slave)

[Rik]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather)

[quandam]

Fitting it the easy part, only 4 screws and 2 connectors. Do you need to istall an OS on it at all?

Glenn

Yes I do need to install an OS.

[quandam]

If its IDE it may need a jumper on it (sensible advice this weather) just set it the same as the existing one, to no jumper if it's the only drive on ribbon or if two to master or slave. (a CD/DVD drive may be attached as slave)

Thanks Steve.

[Steve]

Glenn

Yes I do need to install an OS.

Can you image the old one before it dies although a new hdd  is a good reason to get rid of all the detritus.

[Simon]

I've always set my jumpers to cable select.  Is that not a good idea?  It always seems to work. 

[Rik]

If you've got the right cable, that's fine...

[Simon]

If it fits without a hammer... 

[Steve]

Look what I found

All newer IDE/EIDE hard drives can be jumpered as Cable Select (CS or CSEL). This is an alternate way to indicate which drive is master and which drive is slave (instead of jumpering one drive as master and one drive as slave). Cable Select jumpering requires a special IDE cable with wire 28 not connected to one of the drive connectors, which would configure the drive attached to that connector as the slave drive.

[Glenn]

HP have been using it for years Steve, I don't know the last time I had to jumper a data cable.

[Rik]

Given up the knitting, Glenn?

[Steve]

Is there much use of IDE these days?

[Rik]

Possibly in external drives, Steve.

[Glenn]

Since most systemboards lost jumpers, and you no longer have to configure IRQ, DMA and com port settings, things are a lot easier.

[Glenn]

Is there much use of IDE these days?

Not really Steve, that's why they are expensive compared to SATA drives, IDE is old technology.

[Rik]

I sometimes feel I am too. 

[quandam]

Hi! Guys

Appreciate all the input. All these 'jumpers', 'slaves' and 'masters' are beginning to get me worried. Can I not just connect up the new HD with the 'old' connections? Looking at the now removed Seagate Barracuda there does not appear to be facility to change any settings

[Rik]

What does the cable look like, Q, is it just one smooth ribbon or is there a split in it?

[quandam]

Can you image the old one before it dies although a new hdd  is a good reason to get rid of all the detritus.

Steve

Have a backed up image via Acronis on an external HD but have no idea how to transfer the image to the new drive when it arrives.

[Rik]

Unless it's a like for like drive, ie same size, I wouldn't try, Q. Start from scratch instead.

[quandam]

What does the cable look like, Q, is it just one smooth ribbon or is there a split in it?

Rik

There are two that connect to the HD one joined black cable and one with a red, yellow and two black thin cables.

[quandam]

Unless it's a like for like drive, ie same size, I wouldn't try, Q. Start from scratch instead.

I think that is the way I will go.

[Rik]

The coloured wires are the power connector and should terminate in a four pin connector, which is keyed at the corners, so will only go in one way.

Is the other cable flat or round?

[Gary]

And have you got a Windows OS disc Q?

[quandam]

Rik, cable is flat.

Gary, yes, I have a Windows XP Professional disc.

[Rik]

Just check any jumpers on the drive you've taken out then, Q.

[esh]

If you only have one drive per IDE cable then it can be master or slave, it doesn't matter (you can have two drives per cable). The other likely thing you'll have is a CD-ROM drive which will also be IDE. This could be on the other IDE connector (named secondary) or it might be a slave on the primary. If you set both to slave or both to master, the BIOS won't find either, it's that simple. The easiest thing is to do cable select. No jumpers often simply means 'best effort' on modern hard drives, so try that first if you are unsure. To clarify you CAN do:

Primary -- Master: hard drive. Slave: CD-ROM drive
Secondary -- None

Primary -- Master: hard drive. Slave: none.
Secondary -- Master: none. Slave: CD-ROM drive.

Primary -- Master: hard drive. Slave: none.
Secondary -- Master: CD-ROM drive. Slave: none.

You CANNOT do

Primary -- Master: hard drive. Master: CD-ROM drive. Slave: none.
Secondary -- None.

Primary -- Master: none. Slave: hard-drive. Slave: CD-ROM drive.
Secondary -- None.

Make sure you are using 80-wire conductor cable as well. That might sound stupid, but the old 40-wire conductor cable is very very poor, for hard drives at least. As an alternative, you may consider buying a cheap PCI SATA card and buying a SATA hard drive. No jumpers. No nonsense.

[Gary]

Rik, cable is flat.

Gary, yes, I have a Windows XP Professional disc.

It should be easy Q, and a nice fresh install 

[quandam]

Thanks all. Appreciate the quick and useful response

[quandam]

Help!

The new WD HD arrived this morning, lo and behold has completely different connections to the old HD

The attachment below will show the differences, New 500Gb WD HD on left & Old 160Gb Seagate on right. Your views and any help would be appreciated.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rik]

The one on the left looks like a standard IDE drive, Q, can't really make out the one on the right, but I'm wondering if it's SATA.

[Ray]

It is a SATA drive, Rik.

[Rik]

Thanks, Ray. 

[quandam]

As I reported in an earlier post there is a small sticker on the old Seagate (on right) that states it is IDE

[Rik]

Can you do a close up on the connectors of the old drive and also of the label, Q?

[Simon]

You can get SATA to IDE adapters from most computer shops, Q.

[quandam]

Rik, Will do.

Simon, Is this what I need and is it fairly easy to attach? http://www.amazon.co.uk/SATA-Data-Power-Combo-Cable/dp/B000M1EB70/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_a

OR is it easier to return the new HD and start again?

[Rik]

The latter if you can, Q.

[Steve]

I think I'd start again although you could keep it as I'd be very surprised if the motherboard's not got an IDE connector you would just need to find a ribbon ,you may have one attached to DVD drive but it would need to have a spare connector.

[quandam]

Probably the best. Can you confirm that I need a Sata drive?

[Simon]

Sorry, Q, I can't see the link at the moment, but I used an adapter to connect an old IDE drive to a SATA board, and it works OK, but take the advict of those who know better than me. 

[quandam]

I think I'd start again although you could keep it as I'd be very surprised if the motherboard's not got an IDE connector you would just need to find a ribbon ,you may have one attached to DVD drive but it would need to have a spare connector.

I've had a look and there appears to be a spare connector on the ribbon, does that provide power as well?

[Rik]

No, you need the 4 pin power connector, Q.

[Steve]

The ribbon does not supply power and you may see a performance hit using an IDE drive. To your previous question if the drive in your picture is your old one on the right that is SATA

[quandam]

Executive decision made, I will return it. Amazon returns system is the best, just printed off the label for a free return and full refund, so easy, brilliant

Off to the Post Office in the next few minutes Thanks for your help. Could someone just confirm that the old Seagate in picture is a Sata drive please?

[Rik]

Steve has done, Q.