i'm having trouble adding memory to my computer

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM for Canon

07/11/2006 11:19:40 AM · #1

hello fellow dpc'ers, i was wondering if you guys could help me with a problem i'm having. I just purchased a new hard driive and i want to connect my new hard drive to my old one to add memory, but i can't seem to get that whole master\slave thing. i know that on the top of the hard drive it tells you the settings for the "pins" on the back, but both hard drives have a different way of set-up for a slave and master. i only had a couple of minutes to mess with my computer yesterday and i don't want to go home feeling that i'm not able to do it. thank you for helping.

Message edited by author 2006-07-11 11:21:30.

coronamv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/11/2006 11:24:30 AM · #2

Set your current drive as master and the second drive (new one) as slave. as for a good rule of thumb not that it matters on modern PC's place the primary or master HDD on the end of the cable and the other on the middle connector. Also are you using IDE SATA or SCSI? this will effect the way you hook them up. If your not using your secondary IDE connector then use it and set the second hdd as master and plug into secondary. As long as you pc is not too old you should be able to autodetect the drives at boot up if not then you will have to let it search in the Bios setup. Good luck hope this helps

talmy

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/11/2006 11:32:52 AM · #3

Many systems (such as all Dell computers) use an alternative scheme called "Cable Select". In this case the jumpers on all drives should be set to "CS" and the determination of master or slave is done by the position on the cable (the cable will be marked).

Other concerns:

When using the Master/Slave configuration method, often the first drive must be changed from single drive to master drive when adding an additional drives. The jumper positions vary depending on drive manufacturer and age.

Your computer BIOS may be configured to ignore the second drive position -- go into the BIOS setup and make sure both drives are being recognized.

07/11/2006 11:49:58 AM · #4

thanks, this is very helpful thank you. BTW how do i check if i'm using IDE SATA or SCSI, is it also in BIOS?

07/11/2006 11:55:22 AM · #5

What I would do is go into the bios before booting and set it via the software. If that doesn't work then I'd go an change the jumpers.

07/11/2006 11:56:42 AM · #6

Originally posted by noodleboy:

thanks, this is very helpful thank you. BTW how do i check if i'm using IDE SATA or SCSI, is it also in BIOS?

Well SATA and IDE have different style cables. The sata being really small and the IDE being almost 2 inches long. I'm not familiar with SCSI but the chances are you don't have that because it's rather expensive in comparison to the other two.

edit: PS we don't usually call hard drive space memory, it's usually called (long term)storage. Memory (short term) of a computer is generally referring to the RAM in a computer. In actuality there are tons of places in the computer where memory is but we don't need to get into that.

Message edited by author 2006-07-11 12:00:54.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM for Canon

07/11/2006 12:01:20 PM · #7

thanks you guys, now i could go home with pride. manual, who needs it when you have friends like you guys.

coronamv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/11/2006 12:04:18 PM · #8

To determine the type of HDD in your system just look at the Bios screen before windows boots.... It will show type there if it loads too quick hit the insert key and it will pause the screen

paddles

Pentax K10D

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

07/11/2006 01:43:05 PM · #9

One other thing, if you know the manufacturer and model number of your hard drives, then you can go to their website and they'll have (at best) a page that shows you what the different jumpers mean or (at worst) a PDF manual that contains the same information, just more other guff to read through.

My sister needed help with a similar problem with two different hard drives, I was able to track down the manuals and find exactly what jumper settings were needed for both, in under ten seconds.

If your hard drive is already inside the computer and its too hard to remove it to find its model code, then check (for Windows computers) in Start/Settings/Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Disk drives.

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

07/11/2006 02:15:26 PM · #10

If you just remove the jumper, the BIOS considers it a slave. I always do that. Never had any trouble.

07/11/2006 03:54:57 PM · #11

Originally posted by ignite:

If you just remove the jumper, the BIOS considers it a slave. I always do that. Never had any trouble.

is the jumper the little pins on the back or is it the bridge that goes on the pins?

Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

07/11/2006 04:25:03 PM · #12

the bridge, do not try to remove the pins!

modgethanc

Nikon D90

07/11/2006 04:27:55 PM · #13

Originally posted by noodleboy:

Originally posted by ignite:
If you just remove the jumper, the BIOS considers it a slave. I always do that. Never had any trouble.

is the jumper the little pins on the back or is it the bridge that goes on the pins?

The little plastic 'plug' thing that fits over two pins.

07/11/2006 04:57:36 PM · #14

coolness, LOL no, i did not try to remove the pins but thank you for your concern.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/11/2006 06:56:46 PM · #15

i'm finally home and...uhm... where do i find the bios setting to change and find my missing drive?

talmy

Nikon D300s

07/11/2006 07:00:52 PM · #16

Originally posted by noodleboy:

i'm finally home and...uhm... where do i find the bios setting to change and find my missing drive?

When you first turn your system on, it will say on the screen which key you must hold down to enter system setup (i.e. the BIOS settings). It's usually one of the function keys, but might also be "Delete" or something else. It all depends on your system.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/11/2006 07:09:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by talmy:

Originally posted by noodleboy:
i'm finally home and...uhm... where do i find the bios setting to change and find my missing drive?

When you first turn your system on, it will say on the screen which key you must hold down to enter system setup (i.e. the BIOS settings). It's usually one of the function keys, but might also be "Delete" or something else. It all depends on your system.

I've always had success hitting the F8 and F10 keys like a madman