Need Help Installing a Hard Drive

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  • Pete
    Confirmed User
    • Jan 2001
    • 6617

    #1

    Need Help Installing a Hard Drive

    I'm replacing the main hard drive in my HP desk top and dont really have a clue what I'm doing. Do I need some special cables or do I basically mount the new drive, set the jumpers and have a recovery disc in the rom? What happens when I start the computer with the new hard drive?

    HELP!!
    Evoke Electronics
  • Sosa
    In Tushy Land
    • Oct 2002
    • 40149

    #2
    and why are you doing this yourself if you have no clue?

    Comment

    • Pete
      Confirmed User
      • Jan 2001
      • 6617

      #3
      Originally posted by Sosa
      and why are you doing this yourself if you have no clue?
      Dont ask stupid questions son.
      Evoke Electronics

      Comment

      • stickyfingerz
        Doin fine
        • Oct 2005
        • 24984

        #4
        well first off are you using IDE, SATA, or SCSI?

        Comment

        • BV
          wtf
          • Sep 2001
          • 10914

          #5
          Originally posted by Pete
          What happens when I start the computer with the new hard drive?

          HELP!!
          stand back, the disc could blow an severely injur someone in the room. Make sure everyone is wearing eye protection.

          Comment

          • just_beginner
            Confirmed User
            • Sep 2004
            • 469

            #6
            Originally posted by Pete
            What happens when I start the computer with the new hard drive?
            you will need to install OS

            Comment

            • Pete
              Confirmed User
              • Jan 2001
              • 6617

              #7
              Originally posted by stickyfingerz
              well first off are you using IDE, SATA, or SCSI?
              Its just a cheap Best Buy hard drive
              Evoke Electronics

              Comment

              • stickyfingerz
                Doin fine
                • Oct 2005
                • 24984

                #8
                Originally posted by Pete
                Its just a cheap Best Buy hard drive
                lol doesnt matter price or where you got it, need to know the type of drive. Meaning the adapter it uses to interface with the motherboard.

                Comment

                • Pete
                  Confirmed User
                  • Jan 2001
                  • 6617

                  #9
                  Originally posted by stickyfingerz
                  lol doesnt matter price or where you got it, need to know the type of drive. Meaning the adapter it uses to interface with the motherboard.
                  not sure, definately not a scsi
                  Evoke Electronics

                  Comment

                  • just_beginner
                    Confirmed User
                    • Sep 2004
                    • 469

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Pete
                    Its just a cheap Best Buy hard drive
                    i guess it's IDE or SATA... but they uses different interfaces to connect to your motherboard... so we need to know which one is yours

                    Comment

                    • MikeVega
                      **Porntrepreneur**
                      • Jul 2004
                      • 12788

                      #11
                      I find it crazy that you joined in 2001 (been a webmaster or in the online biz) and can't change a Hard Drive .. lol

                      I'm not laughing at you . I'm not that great tech wise either but i would think you'd know the basics ..


                      Mike Vega-ICQ:253868499-AIM:mikeydicevega

                      Comment

                      • Pete
                        Confirmed User
                        • Jan 2001
                        • 6617

                        #12
                        Originally posted by MikeVega
                        I find it crazy that you joined in 2001 (been a webmaster or in the online biz) and can't change a Hard Drive .. lol

                        I'm not laughing at you . I'm not that great tech wise either but i would think you'd know the basics ..
                        I always pay people to do the work, this time I want to do it myself.
                        Evoke Electronics

                        Comment

                        • TeddyRacer1
                          Confirmed User
                          • Jan 2004
                          • 518

                          #13
                          pay someone, save you the heartache of losing data or hours of frustration.

                          Comment

                          • Pete
                            Confirmed User
                            • Jan 2001
                            • 6617

                            #14
                            Originally posted by TeddyRacer1
                            pay someone, save you the heartache of losing data or hours of frustration.
                            I've had a few drinks and I feel crazy!
                            Evoke Electronics

                            Comment

                            • TeddyRacer1
                              Confirmed User
                              • Jan 2004
                              • 518

                              #15
                              tigerdirect.com have a few tuts you can use

                              Comment

                              • Pete
                                Confirmed User
                                • Jan 2001
                                • 6617

                                #16
                                Originally posted by TeddyRacer1
                                tigerdirect.com have a few tuts you can use
                                Thanks I may use that. I suppose I could throw the new one in and then see what happens
                                Evoke Electronics

                                Comment

                                • TeddyRacer1
                                  Confirmed User
                                  • Jan 2004
                                  • 518

                                  #17
                                  it's really simple, make sure the jumpers on the back is set correctly (says on the box) and then just connect it to the cables that you have originally unless you're dealing with sata, and boot up, if you get the bios, you're home free.

                                  Comment

                                  • Sosa
                                    In Tushy Land
                                    • Oct 2002
                                    • 40149

                                    #18
                                    lol make it easy on yourself and just pay someone to do it. If you have no idea what kind of drive you bought then how the hell do you know if it will work in your computer?

                                    Comment

                                    • Pete
                                      Confirmed User
                                      • Jan 2001
                                      • 6617

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by TeddyRacer1
                                      it's really simple, make sure the jumpers on the back is set correctly (says on the box) and then just connect it to the cables that you have originally unless you're dealing with sata, and boot up, if you get the bios, you're home free.
                                      Perfect. If I dont get the bios...out the window it goes!
                                      Evoke Electronics

                                      Comment

                                      • TeddyRacer1
                                        Confirmed User
                                        • Jan 2004
                                        • 518

                                        #20
                                        i usually go to compusa, the techs there are really good, they can direct you to installing it, just tell them you bought it in the store, and it doesn't work, and they'll walk you through it.

                                        Comment

                                        • TeddyRacer1
                                          Confirmed User
                                          • Jan 2004
                                          • 518

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by Sosa
                                          lol make it easy on yourself and just pay someone to do it. If you have no idea what kind of drive you bought then how the hell do you know if it will work in your computer?

                                          so true, but once he gets the hang of it, it will be worth the investment to learn.

                                          Comment

                                          • xecutech
                                            Confirmed User
                                            • Jul 2006
                                            • 349

                                            #22
                                            When you unplug the old drive, just plug yours back in the same way and fire it up with your recovery cd in the cd drive. If you have xp, your fine.
                                            If it doesnt see your drive, then you may have to set the jumper.
                                            Lets plug it in first and go from there, and be careful not to bend any pins in the plug and don't tear your ide cable when you unplug it from the old drive.

                                            Comment

                                            • xecutech
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Jul 2006
                                              • 349

                                              #23
                                              If you don't have it installed by Monday, call me at my shop and I will walk you throgh it if you need help. Go to pcdude.com to get the contact info and ask for Tom.

                                              Comment

                                              • madawgz
                                                8.8.8.8
                                                • Mar 2006
                                                • 30509

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by MikeVega
                                                I find it crazy that you joined in 2001 (been a webmaster or in the online biz) and can't change a Hard Drive .. lol

                                                I'm not laughing at you . I'm not that great tech wise either but i would think you'd know the basics ..
                                                was thinking the same thing...
                                                TAEMDLRMSKRJIXMRLSMRJ.

                                                Comment

                                                • Pete
                                                  Confirmed User
                                                  • Jan 2001
                                                  • 6617

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by xecutech
                                                  When you unplug the old drive, just plug yours back in the same way and fire it up with your recovery cd in the cd drive. If you have xp, your fine.
                                                  If it doesnt see your drive, then you may have to set the jumper.
                                                  Lets plug it in first and go from there, and be careful not to bend any pins in the plug and don't tear your ide cable when you unplug it from the old drive.
                                                  sounds easy enough, I'm just in the process of burning the recovery discs.
                                                  Evoke Electronics

                                                  Comment

                                                  • Pete
                                                    Confirmed User
                                                    • Jan 2001
                                                    • 6617

                                                    #26
                                                    Originally posted by madawgz
                                                    was thinking the same thing...
                                                    If you dont mind, the big boys are talking right now. Run along now would ya.
                                                    Evoke Electronics

                                                    Comment

                                                    • BusterBunny
                                                      perverted justice decoy
                                                      • Aug 2005
                                                      • 19291

                                                      #27
                                                      Originally posted by xecutech
                                                      When you unplug the old drive, just plug yours back in the same way and fire it up with your recovery cd in the cd drive. If you have xp, your fine.
                                                      If it doesnt see your drive, then you may have to set the jumper.
                                                      Lets plug it in first and go from there, and be careful not to bend any pins in the plug and don't tear your ide cable when you unplug it from the old drive.
                                                      that seems the easiest explanation
                                                      my sig caught gonoherpasyphilaids and died

                                                      Comment

                                                      • Matt 26z
                                                        So Fucking Banned
                                                        • Apr 2002
                                                        • 18481

                                                        #28
                                                        Assuming this is a second hard drive for added storage...

                                                        If it came with a thin (but wide width) gray wire - IDE -

                                                        Hook the drive up to the same wire in your computer that is already attached to your current drive. There should be an open black plug available on it. Read the manual to see if you'll need to change the jumper for it to be a slave drive.

                                                        If it came with a smaller red wire - SATA -

                                                        Hook that up to your new drive and hook the other end where it fits into the motherboard. You can't really mess this up. Just find where it fits.

                                                        If your old drive is an SATA and your new one is an IDE -

                                                        Use the wide gray cable it came with and plug that into your motherboard. Should say "Primary IDE" or something next to where you plug it in.

                                                        Comment

                                                        • Matt 26z
                                                          So Fucking Banned
                                                          • Apr 2002
                                                          • 18481

                                                          #29
                                                          Originally posted by Pete
                                                          sounds easy enough, I'm just in the process of burning the recovery discs.
                                                          Must be for a new primary drive then. You may want to have both drives anyway. And if this was for added space then you won't need to reinstall everything.

                                                          Comment

                                                          • Pete
                                                            Confirmed User
                                                            • Jan 2001
                                                            • 6617

                                                            #30
                                                            Originally posted by Matt 26z
                                                            Assuming this is a second hard drive for added storage...

                                                            If it came with a thin (but wide width) gray wire - IDE -

                                                            Hook the drive up to the same wire in your computer that is already attached to your current drive. There should be an open black plug available on it. Read the manual to see if you'll need to change the jumper for it to be a slave drive.

                                                            If it came with a smaller red wire - SATA -

                                                            Hook that up to your new drive and hook the other end where it fits into the motherboard. You can't really mess this up. Just find where it fits.

                                                            If your old drive is an SATA and your new one is an IDE -

                                                            Use the wide gray cable it came with and plug that into your motherboard. Should say "Primary IDE" or something next to where you plug it in.
                                                            Its actually going to be the main drive
                                                            Evoke Electronics

                                                            Comment

                                                            • directfiesta
                                                              Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                              • Oct 2002
                                                              • 30191

                                                              #31
                                                              If it is an IDE drive ( big large flat cable ... ), and if it is the only drive on that cable, set the jumper to master and connect the end connector to the drive.

                                                              If you have an XP disk, just boot up, hit del, go into Bios and set it to boot from CD. Reboot, cd will take over the system, accept the install, format the drive as NTFS and so on ...

                                                              I never use recovery disk... sorry.


                                                              If SATA, pay somebody.
                                                              I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

                                                              But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

                                                              Comment

                                                              • Star 69
                                                                Confirmed User
                                                                • Nov 2005
                                                                • 8602

                                                                #32
                                                                OMG OMG, heh
                                                                e-mail star69

                                                                Comment

                                                                • chaze
                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                  • Aug 2002
                                                                  • 9774

                                                                  #33
                                                                  I apologize for all the lame answers on this thread

                                                                  You have ide, you simply take out the old one and reconnect the cables to the new one. I usually mount it first then connect the cables.

                                                                  From there have to do a fresh installation of I assuming windows xp if you don't have the install disk for your os then you have to buy a copy from some place like newegg.com

                                                                  Once you install the new os re-install your software and set up your emails and browser links from scratch. all your information will be lost so make sure you write down any passwords or stuff you really need. You may want to burn your emails, favorites, and text docs to a cd so you put them back on the system.

                                                                  Good luck, you can do it.

                                                                  Your computer run faster then ever since it's fresh and you will have a better hard drive.
                                                                  Like the desert needs the rain
                                                                  We do fully manged WordPress, VPS, and Servers. Adult Host Pro https://adulthostpro.com/ Since 2001

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