New Hard Drive

Glenn · Jan 08, 2010, 17:25:10

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

Rik · Jan 08, 2010, 17:29:27

Given up the knitting, Glenn?

Steve · Jan 08, 2010, 17:30:03

Is there much use of IDE these days?

Rik · Jan 08, 2010, 17:31:31

Possibly in external drives, Steve.

Glenn · Jan 08, 2010, 17:31:45

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

Glenn · Jan 08, 2010, 17:33:30

Quote from: Steve on Jan 08, 2010, 17:30:03
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 · Jan 08, 2010, 17:34:08

I sometimes feel I am too.

quandam · Jan 08, 2010, 18:03:01

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 · Jan 08, 2010, 18:10:25

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

quandam · Jan 08, 2010, 18:11:23

Quote from: Steve on Jan 08, 2010, 17:10:24
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 · Jan 08, 2010, 18:12:17

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

quandam · Jan 08, 2010, 18:19:07

Quote from: Rik on Jan 08, 2010, 18:10:25
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 · Jan 08, 2010, 18:20:42

Quote from: Rik on Jan 08, 2010, 18:12:17
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 · Jan 08, 2010, 18:21:23

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 · Jan 08, 2010, 18:23:42

And have you got a Windows OS disc Q?

quandam · Jan 08, 2010, 18:31:56

Rik, cable is flat.

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

Rik · Jan 08, 2010, 18:34:46

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

esh · Jan 08, 2010, 18:36:17

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 · Jan 08, 2010, 19:08:22

Quote from: quandam on Jan 08, 2010, 18:31:56
Rik, cable is flat.

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

It should be easy Q, and a nice fresh install

quandam · Jan 08, 2010, 19:22:35

Thanks all. Appreciate the quick and useful response

quandam · Jan 15, 2010, 12:07:46

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 · Jan 15, 2010, 12:12:06

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 · Jan 15, 2010, 12:13:12

It is a SATA drive, Rik.

Rik · Jan 15, 2010, 12:13:38

Thanks, Ray.

quandam · Jan 15, 2010, 12:21:07

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