18 replies to this topic

[darkelf]

how do you know if your comp will take a new drive, is it just a case of having a free slot on the front for it to slide into or do you need to check anything inside
i have dvd rom and cd writer and still room for 2 drives
i am getting dvd writer
thx for any help

[Dr DX]

u will need to take a drive out or use the ide cable connected to the drive u dont use much and put it in the new one.

or u cud buy somethin that alowes u to add more ide cables but dunno wat its called.

[ady]

u will need to take a drive out or use the ide cable connected to the drive u dont use much and put it in the new one.

or u cud buy somethin that alowes u to add more ide cables but dunno wat its called.

Then there's----Slave---Master---Cable Select----

[ady]

If you get no replies tonight darkelf, i'll get some pic's for you tomorrow to show whats neeeded and how to do it....all-in-all a very simple job

[darkelf]

oh right...seems more to know than i thought.
i thought you had room to hook the drive up and keep my other two that i have already.
if i have to lose a drive then i spose dvd rom can go if the dvd writer will read a dvd rom as well
thxs adydb a step by step would be good.
thxs for the quick replys

[Dr DX]

yeah dvdrw can read dvd rom can also play dvds wat kinda dvdrw u gettin? DVDRW+- is the best to get (takes most discs)

[unclechicken]

1. TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF!! Take out the DVD rom drive by unplugging the grey thin cable (thats the IDE cable) and the white plastic ended 4 wired plug (thats the power cable)

2. Take a look at the back of the drive that you took out, check the jumpers (thats the little pins with the small black connector inside) to see if its set to MASTER or SLAVE

3. If the new drives jumpers are set the same as the old one, thats great, but if its not set the new drive the same as the old one (this is important, because you cannot have 2 slave devices or 2 master devices on the same IDE cable)

4. Insert the new drive into the bay that you took the old one out, plug back in the IDE cable, then the power cable.

5. Fire up your computer, it should recognise the new drive, if it doesnt you might have to mess about in the BIOS so the computer detects it.

[baz]

Basically you can have 4 drives in total - 2 on each IDE channel
One must be master and the other slave (your main hard drive should be master)

Any choice you like 3 cd drives/1 hard drive or 3 hard drives/ 1 cd drive etc etc

The black pin at the back of the drive changes the master/slave and is usually abbreviated S/M/C or similar ?. You wont blow up the computer if you set it wrong.

Oh, And you'll need to plug in a white power plug thingy that will reach to the drive.

If it doesn't pick up the new drive try the cable select setting.

[darkelf]

yeah dvdrw can read dvd rom can also play dvds wat kinda dvdrw u gettin? DVDRW+- is the best to get (takes most discs)

"Supports all major dvd formats dvd+r, dvd+rw, dvd-r, dvd-rw, plus c d-r and cd-rw"
thats what it says so sounds comprehesive formats.
thxs unclechicken......i sort of had an idea and you have spelled it out nicely!
everyones so helpful(ahh...gruop hug!)

[dave1de]

I bought an external dvd r drive and connected by usb about a year ago, there only 20-30 quid more and it saves any hassle, they look quite nice aswell.

[ady]

u will need to take a drive out or use the ide cable connected to the drive u dont use much and put it in the new one.

or u cud buy somethin that alowes u to add more ide cables but dunno wat its called.

The only mainboard I have ever not needed to fuss with was the K7S5A---auto selected an atom bomb that did!...Bit old but still love it......darkelf follow unclechicken and baz1379 and it's done 100%.

[darkelf]

cheers all

[RB]

Some Boards will only support the Dvd Writer as secondary Master..so make sure you connect it as master on the secondary drive. I would dump the cd writer thats currently in there as the dvd writer will do cd's as well, and having 3 cd's may be a little too much for you power supply. Leaving the dvd rom will enable you to copy some dvd's on the fly, ie Disk 2 Disk, (if your dvdrom is fast enough 4X and above)

[darkelf]

good point

[nails]

trying to work out slaves and masters is a bastard.

i tried in vein for hours once to boot off of a certain drive, and would it bugger. believe i just left it as cable select and it ran fine.

[dtrmad2004]

Everyones forgotten the golden rule!!!

Pink lead on ide cable to pin 1 on ide device (usually marked on product where pin 1 is located, or maybe youve got the cables that only go in one way? if so ignore me lol.


Andy

[jamesb99_1999]

But if you are installing a new drive and you already have a cd drive why do you need two?? take out the old one and use it's ide. You can bu a USB multi hub for a few pounds and have 147 usb drives hanging off it. I hope you aren't after an extra drive to copy films and stuff.. I dont agree with piracy at all.. Unless it's that fit pirate bird who ran off with the black pearl guy.. Piracy sponsors gang crime and the mafia.. WHY???

[mrgspot]

But if you are installing a new drive and you already have a cd drive why do you need two?? take out the old one and use it's ide. You can bu a USB multi hub for a few pounds and have 147 usb drives hanging off it. I hope you aren't after an extra drive to copy films and stuff.. I dont agree with piracy at all.. Unless it's that fit pirate bird who ran off with the black pearl guy.. Piracy sponsors gang crime and the mafia.. WHY???

I agree USB for CD drives. Internal Definately For Hard Drives.