How to connect a second SATA or IDE hard drive to a computer. How to connect a hard drive to a computer yourself? Do-it-yourself HDD connection

Not many people know how to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop via USB or directly. The need to make an external drive from an HDD may arise for a number of reasons: you need to restore an old device and the information stored on it, copy a large amount of data, or use the internal one as an external drive.

The first step is to remove the hard drive from the PC case yourself. It's easy to do:

• unplug the cord from the outlet;
• turn off the computer's power supply;
• remove the side cover of the housing;
• disconnect the wires from the motherboard and from the HDD;
• unscrew the bolts that hold the drive in the socket;
• remove the disc.

Do not remove the device yourself if you do not have the skills to assemble and disassemble a computer. It is better to entrust the solution to the problem of how to connect a hard drive from a computer to a laptop to a professional. If a disk is damaged, it will be difficult to “cure” bad sectors and restore information.

Connecting to a computer via USB

The question of how to connect a HDD to a laptop via USB is relevant for those who have switched from using a desktop PC to its portable version.

Connecting a hard drive to a laptop is difficult; it is much easier to connect the drive to a PC via a regular cable. However, having an understanding of the structure of personal computers and their mobile version, it will not be difficult to figure out how to make an external hard drive. Thus, you will save on purchasing an expensive portable analogue.

First of all, you should think about how to make the internal hard drive external and connect your laptop PC to it. You will need a special box and a wire designed to connect the two devices. The box or pocket is selected depending on the interface: IDE or SATA. The cable used for connection comes in several types. The most convenient is SATA/IDE USB. With this method, one end of the wire should be inserted into the drive connector, and the other should be connected to a port on the laptop.

Check out your DIY removable drive. To begin, turn off the laptop, plug the USB output into the connector, press the power button and go to the BIOS settings. If the laptop does not recognize the hard drive, check whether the cable is tightly pressed to the port, then you can connect it again to the computer via USB.

It happens that instead of an HDD, a solid-state drive is installed in the case. This storage device also has USB output wires, so connecting the SSD is not difficult.

How to connect a hard drive to a laptop via the motherboard

In addition to what is described above, there are several other ways to connect a hard drive to a laptop. How to connect a hard drive to a laptop without a USB cable? Below is a detailed description.

Modern HDDs tend to become more compact every year, so they can be installed in a laptop case. This is convenient when the “native” hard drive is broken or faulty, and you have an extra one from an old PC on hand. The adapter for the board is cheaper than the USB analogue.

This method is more complicated than how to connect a HDD via USB. You will need to spend more time; you will have to disassemble not only the computer case, but also the portable device.

You need to disassemble your mobile PC step by step:

1. Disconnect from power.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Unscrew the bolts securing the top cover and carefully remove without damaging the fasteners.
4. Disconnect the keyboard cables from the board and remove it.
5. Unscrew the bolts on the board and carefully remove it, after disconnecting the cables, hard drive and other components.

After this, connect one end of the adapter to the board and the other to the device. Reassemble the laptop using the reverse algorithm and insert the disk into the desired compartment. If the dimensions of the device exceed the dimensions of the socket or additional memory is needed, then, by analogy with the method of connecting a hard drive via USB, you can make an external hard drive out of it.

The general scheme is described above; in practice, each laptop computer model is unique.

Is it possible to deal with the question of how to connect a hard drive to a computer yourself without experience in repairing equipment? The answer is no! A sudden movement or an incorrectly screwed bolt can break one of the connecting cables. Subsequent repairs can cost you many times more.

Knowing the structural features of a desktop and portable PC, you can decide how to connect a hard drive from a laptop to a computer or vice versa, and how to convert an old HDD into a portable one. These skills will help you save time and money. Another advantage is that you can create a unique style for your drive: choose or order a case with an individual pattern or an interesting shape, choose a case or pouch of the right size.

The time has come when one hard drive in a computer is no longer enough. More and more users decide to connect a second HDD to their PC, but not everyone knows how to do it correctly themselves to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disk is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount a hard drive - it can be connected as an external device if there is a free USB port.

Options for connecting a second hard drive are as simple as possible:

• Connecting the HDD to the computer system unit.
  Suitable for owners of regular desktop PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
• Connecting a hard drive as an external drive.
  The easiest way to connect a HDD, and the only one possible for a laptop owner.

Option 1. Installation in the system unit

HDD type determination

Before connecting, you need to determine the type of interface the hard drive works with - SATA or IDE. Almost all modern computers are equipped with a SATA interface, so it is best if the hard drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, connecting such a drive may cause some difficulties.

The easiest way to recognize the standard is by contacts. This is what they look like on SATA drives:

And this is how the IDE does it:

Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit

The process of connecting a disk is very easy and takes place in several stages:

Boot priority for SATA drives

The motherboard usually has 4 connectors for connecting SATA drives. They are designated as SATA0 - the first, SATA1 - the second, etc. The priority of the hard drive is directly related to the numbering of the connector. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to go into the BIOS. Depending on the BIOS type, the interface and controls will be different.

In older versions, go to the section Advanced BIOS Features and work with the parameters First Boot Device And Second Boot Device. In new BIOS versions, look for the section Boot or Boot Sequence and parameter 1st/2nd Boot Priority.

Connecting a second IDE drive

In rare cases, there is a need to install a disk with an outdated IDE interface. In this case, the connection process will be slightly different.

Connecting a second IDE drive to the first SATA drive

When you need to connect an IDE drive to an already working SATA HDD, use a special IDE-SATA adapter.

The connection diagram is as follows:

1. The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
2. The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.
3. The red SATA cable is connected with one side to the adapter, and the other to the motherboard.
4. The power cable is connected on one side to the adapter, and on the other to the power supply.

You may need to purchase a 4-pin to SATA adapter.

Initializing the disk in the OS

In both cases, after connecting, the system may not see the connected disk. This does not mean that you did something wrong; on the contrary, it is normal when the new HDD is not visible in the system. The hard drive must be initialized before it can be used. Read about how this is done in our other article.

Option 2. Connecting an external hard drive

Often users choose to connect an external HDD. This is much simpler and more convenient if some files stored on the disk are sometimes needed outside the home. And in the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for a second HDD.

An external hard drive is connected via USB in exactly the same way as another device with the same interface (flash drive, mouse, keyboard).

A hard drive designed for installation in the system unit can also be connected via USB. To do this, you need to use either an adapter/adapter or a special external case for the hard drive. The essence of the operation of such devices is similar - the required voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and the connection to the PC is made via USB. Hard drives of different form factors have their own cables, so when purchasing you should always pay attention to the standard that specifies the overall dimensions of your HDD.

If you decide to connect the drive using the second method, then literally follow 2 rules: do not neglect the safe removal of the device and do not disconnect the drive while working with the PC to avoid errors.

We talked about ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer or laptop. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and it is absolutely not necessary to use the services of computer specialists.

Additional;

Select which hard drive will be the main one, that is, the active one from which the operating system will boot. Determine the order by installing small jumpers in the appropriate positions according to the diagrams shown directly on each hard drive.

Turn on your computer and go to BIOS settings. If the hard drives are not detected automatically, identify them manually with the appropriate command. Then save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• how to install a second hard drive
• How to connect a second hard drive

To connect to computer as a second hard disk external device designed to work via a USB port, you just need to insert the connecting wire into the corresponding connectors on the bodies of both devices. The process of installing a stationary hard disk as the second main drive in the system unit of your computer. The sequence of actions for this option is described below.

Instructions

Shut down the operating system, turn off the computer, and disconnect the network cable. Position the system unit in such a way that you have free access to both of its side surfaces.

Remove both side panels. As a rule, to do this, it is enough to unscrew two screws connecting them to the rear panel, and then move them back 5 centimeters and put them somewhere not very far.

Install the new hard drive into one of the free slots in the case. Do this carefully so as not to accidentally disconnect the wires, of which there are plenty inside the case. The connectors for connecting power should be on the motherboard side, and the hard drive is secured with four screws - two on each side of the system unit case. Use an already installed hard drive as a sample for placement and fastening.

Connect the power cable and data cable (“cable”) between the new hard drive and the motherboard. These wires differ depending on the type of hard drive being installed (IDE or SATA), but in any case, their connectors are asymmetrical in shape and the connectors can only be inserted in one way, so you cannot make a mistake. An already installed hard drive will help you find the necessary slots on the motherboard - the connectors you are looking for should be located next to those used to connect it. On hard drive cases that use the IDE bus, there are jumpers that are used to establish a hierarchy of disks installed in the computer - one of them must be designated as primary, and all the rest as secondary. However, in most cases there is no need to use them, since the BIOS is able to figure out the device configuration itself with the jumpers set by default.

Make sure that you have not damaged anything inside the system case during the installation process or forgotten any tools in it. Do not rush to close the case - you should first check the result of the operation performed. Connect all the necessary wires, the last of which should be the network cable. Then turn on your computer and go into the BIOS settings to make sure it can recognize the new device. After this, turn off the computer and replace the side surfaces of the system unit.

Sources:

• how to connect a drive to a computer in 2019

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All problems with hard drives(screws) can be divided into two groups: incorrect connection (which, of course, is not a malfunction) and a malfunction of the device itself (failure of the electronics and/or the disks themselves).

It often happens that everything works great until you... connect a second hard drive. After this, the system “does not see” both disks or “does not see” the second disk.

Or you went to a friend with your hard drive (screw), everything worked fine for him, and when you came home, you discovered that the system “does not see” your drive.

All these are symptoms of an incorrectly connected hard drive. There is nothing complicated about connecting a hard drive, so every user should know how hard drives are connected to a computer.

It's like knowing how to change a car tire. Don't call a tow truck if your tire is punctured.

Hard drive interface

For connecting the hard drive to the computer one of three interfaces can be used:

IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) - developed in 1986 and still in use;

SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) - also developed in 1986 and is also still in use;

Serial ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) – developed in 2003, is steadily gaining momentum.

In addition to these interfaces, ST and ESDI interfaces were previously used to connect hard drives, but the first was forgotten in 1989, and the second in 1991.

Initially, IDE was developed only as an interface for connecting hard drives. Later it was modified and received the official name ATA - Advanced Drive Connection Interface.

The difference between ATA and IDE is that ATA can connect not only hard drives, but also CD/DVD drives.

The ATA interface has been constantly improved, and at the moment there are several of its varieties, issued in the form of standards (Table 4.1).

Table 4.1. ATA Standards

Yes, the last version of ATA was released in 2001. It seems that the interface will not develop in the future, but will live out its life peacefully. The next adopted standard, ATA-8 (2004), already describes SATAII, not IDE (ATA).

The SCSI interface is a high-performance interface for connecting various types of devices. Using this interface, not only drives, but peripheral devices can be connected to the computer.

For example, there are SCSI scanners, the speed of which is much higher than the speed of scanners connected to a parallel LPT port. But with the advent of the USB bus, there was no longer a need to produce peripheral devices with a SCSI interface - USB is much more convenient.

Therefore, now the SCSI interface is used mainly on servers - ordinary users, as a rule, do not buy SCSI drives because of their high cost. And a motherboard with a SCSI controller is quite expensive (compared to regular motherboards).

The SATA (Serial ATA) interface was developed in 2000, but it was only in 2003 that it first appeared in finished systems. Compared to regular ATA (sometimes called PATA - Parallel ATA - parallel ATA), it provides greater performance. A lot also depends on what the actual cache memory of the hard drives is.

The ATA interface is described in the ATA-7 (in parallel with regular ATA) and ATA-8 standards. The ATA-7 version interface supports data transfer speeds of 150 Mb/s, and ATA-8 – 200 Mb/s. As you can see, even the very first version of SATA is faster than the most recent version of PATA. And SATAII is even faster.

So far, 200 Mb/s is the limit for a home/office computer, that is, for a workstation. But the data transfer speed over the modern SCSI interface (Fast-320DT technology) is 640 Mb/s.

But such interfaces are used only on high-performance servers - most ordinary users cannot afford them, and there is no need for such speed.

Physical connection of the hard drive

As we know, hard drives come in two types: ATA (IDE) and SATA (Serial ATA). The first discs are more “ancient”, but nevertheless, the second ones are on sale - more modern, promising and faster.

Definitely, SATA is the future. It seems to me that in a few years ATA drives will be discontinued. I think so. Wait and see.

Attention! Any change in the physical configuration of hard drives and other disk storage devices requires turning off the computer's power!

Connecting an ATA disk (IDE)

As a rule, there are two controllers on the motherboard for connecting IDE drives - primary and secondary. Each controller can connect two IDE devices. I specifically do not say “two hard drives” because CD/DVD drives can be connected to the IDE controller.

The first device connected to the controller is called the master. This is the main device, so you need to choose a faster device for the role of master.

The second device is called a slave. So, the system can have four (maximum) IDE devices:

primary master;

primary slave;

secondary master – second controller;

secondary slave – the second controller.

Open the computer case cover. Typically, the first controller is labeled IDE0, and the second - IDE1 (that is, the numbering starts from zero). If you already have an IDE drive installed (because you could buy a computer with a SATA drive), then it will be connected to the first controller.

How to distinguish an IDE connector from a SATA connector? It’s very simple: the IDE connector is large (Fig. 4.3), and the SATA connector is small (Fig. 4.4).

Rice. 4.3. IDE connectors on the motherboard

Pay attention to the color of the IDE cable that connects the motherboard and hard drive. If it is gray, then it is better to replace it with yellow cables - these are higher-performance cables (your hard drive will work faster if you connect it with a yellow cable).

You can watch a visual video tutorial - the subtleties and nuances of
checking your hard drive in HDD Scan

The difference is that the old (gray) cables have 40 pins, and the new (yellow) cables have 80. When connecting the drive using the old cable, the BIOS issues a warning that a 40-pin cable is being used instead of an 80-pin cable ( 80 pin).

Rice. 4.4. SATA connectors

Connect one end of the IDE cable to the IDE connector on the motherboard (don’t worry - you won’t plug it in incorrectly, since the key won’t allow it), and the other to the hard drive.

And this is where the fun begins. You have connected the hard drive to one of the controllers, but now you need to select its mode - master or slave.

Next to the connector for connecting the IDE cable on the hard drive there will be a connector for selecting the operating mode. The operating mode is selected using a jumper (Fig. 4.5), which must be set to one of the positions corresponding to a particular operating mode.

The map of hard drive operating modes is drawn on the hard drive itself - on a sticker on top. Sometimes the master device is called DEVICE 0 (Fig. 4.6), and the slave is called DEVICE 1. Don't let this confuse you.

Please note: two masters or two slaves cannot be connected to one controller. If a device is connected to the controller, you need to disconnect it and check the operating mode - if master, then connect the second device as a slave, or vice versa.

Rice. 4.5. Connecting an IDE device

It is not advisable to change the operating mode of already installed devices. Now I will explain why. Let's assume that a hard drive is connected to the first controller as a master - Windows boots from it.

If you install new hard drive as a master, and make the old one a slave, then the computer will try to load Windows from the new hard drive and, of course, it won’t succeed!

Usually there is a third mode of operation of the IDE device - by cable selection (CABLE SELECT). In this mode, the device will be master or slave depending on how it is connected to the loop - to the middle or to the end of the loop. There is no need to select this mode, otherwise the controller may end up with two masters or two slaves (if you connect them incorrectly).

So, we connected the IDE cable, selected the operating mode, all that remains is to connect the power. Everything is simple with this: there are many power cables coming out of the power supply, connect one of them to the hard drive. Don't be afraid - you won't connect it incorrectly. Typically, when connecting power, the yellow wire faces you.

The general diagram for connecting an IDE device (yes, exactly a device, since CD/DVD drives are connected in the same way) is shown in Fig. 4.5.

Why didn't we talk about the location of the device in the computer case? I remember an acquaintance came from America and brought with him his computer, or rather, one system unit.

It was a system unit of the so-called white assembly. When I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised - the length of all the wires was adjusted to the millimeter. There was an air intake from the fan to the processor, the second fan was directed to the IDE devices for optimal cooling.

Our computers are the so-called yellow assembly. Although they are assembled here, all the components, including the housings, are made in Taiwan (hence the name of the assembly - yellow).

But with Taiwanese cases the situation is such that hard drives have to be placed not where you want or need from a cooling point of view, but where they will fit. I'm not even talking about adjusting the length of the wires. I'm keeping quiet about this...

Connecting a SATA hard drive

Now let's talk about SATA drives. Connecting a SATA drive couldn't be easier. But your motherboard must have a SATA connector on board (see Fig. 4.4). All modern motherboards have it. Don't worry, you won't get confused: the SATA cable cannot be connected to any other connector on the motherboard.

Connecting a SATA drive is easier than IDE:

The SATA cable has two identical connectors at the ends. One end is connected to the motherboard, the other to the hard drive. It is impossible to connect the SATA connector incorrectly - the dongle will not allow it;

A SATA drive does not have jumpers, so you do not need to select the device operating mode;

Only one drive can be connected to one SATA connector;

Jumpers on existing IDE devices have no effect on SATA drives;

After connecting the SATA cable, do not forget to connect power to the SATA drive. Please note: you need a special power cable (3.3V) that comes with your hard drive.

Sometimes an adapter is supplied that allows you to connect a regular power cable to a SATA drive (Fig. 4.7).

Rice. 4.7. SATA power cable with adapter (left) and SATA interface cable (right)

As you can see, the physical connection of the SATA drive is simple. If you want to install Windows on a SATA disk, then you need to make it bootable.

How? When you boot your computer, when you see the message, press DEL to enter SETUP, then among the settings of the SETUP program, find one called Boot Sequence or Boot Device Priority.

If you plan to visit it later... ( Connection procedure
hard drive to computer | Connecting a hard drive)

Computer equipment has long ceased to be a curiosity; almost everyone has it in stock. The only difference is the nature of use: some users actively use the equipment, downloading movies, games and music onto it, while others use an electronic computer when they want to view the latest news on the World Wide Web or do some homework.

At certain times it is necessary to replace outdated components

In this regard, the load level of the hard drive also differs. If there is very little free space left, then you should not expect normal performance from your PC at all. Given these circumstances, many owners decide to purchase a second “screw”, thereby increasing disk space. However, it is very important to first find out how to connect the hard drive to the computer.

Finding information on the Internet on how to connect a hard drive to a computer is not difficult. It is only important to carefully read all the recommendations, and then no problems will arise if the user independently installs an additional hard drive, while leaving the old one in the same place.

An old hard drive must be removed only if it has become completely unusable and cannot be restored. By installing a second hard drive along with the old one, the user receives expanded space, thanks to which all actions will be performed faster.

Installation in a PC case

Connecting a hard drive to a computer begins with the step where the user must initially place it in the case and securely fasten it.

To ensure that the “screw” is inserted correctly, you should first remove the cover from the system unit case. In the front part you can easily find special compartments designed for drives and hard drives. The drives are located at the top, and the second hard drive should be located at the bottom of such bays.

The hard drive is inserted into any free compartment, but preferably at a short distance from the existing one. This is very important, since during operation they both heat up, which will adversely affect the performance of the PC.

Then the second hard drive is inserted strictly along the guides so that the connectors are directed towards the inside of the system unit to ensure its comfortable connection in the future. When the new hard drive has taken its correct position, it should be securely fastened by tightening the screws on both sides, ensuring a tight connection with the compartment.

After fastening, you should check the strength by trying to loosen it. If the hard drive does not wobble, it means that all actions were performed correctly.

Connection using cables

Once you have successfully connected the second hard drive to your computer, you can move on to the second part of these important steps. At this stage, you should connect the second hard drive directly to the motherboard, and also ensure that power is supplied to it.

To do this, you will need to purchase additional cables. By the way, it is advisable to note that the connectors through which the hard drive is directly connected may differ, depending on the year of manufacture of the PC.

The old computer is equipped with IDE connectors, while the new one already has SATA connectors, which are characterized by amazing performance. Previously, users were instructed to pay attention to the connectors when making a purchase and to purchase only a hard drive with the desired type. Currently, finding a hard drive with an IDE connector on sale is problematic, but this does not mean that there is no hope of installing a second drive. It’s just that in this case the user is required to additionally purchase special adapters.

By connecting the second hard drive using SATA connectors and adapters, the owner of a smart machine not only ensures system performance, but also facilitates the installation process.

When installing an old hard drive with an IDE connector a few years ago, it was necessary to manually configure the operating mode of the “screws,” which involved installing jumpers in certain positions.

Connecting using SATA connectors is much easier. All connectors on the new equipment are equipped with special partitions, so it is a priori impossible to connect the second hard drive incorrectly.

USB connection

There is another alternative method that provides absolutely easy connection of new disk space, while completely eliminating the need to disassemble the system unit case.

In this regard, many people want to know how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer without experiencing any additional difficulties. The answer is obvious; the second hard “screw” can be connected to an electronic computer using a USB device.

Such hard drives receive power via the USB connector to which it is directly connected. However, this is typical only for disks measuring 1.8 or 2.5 inches. More powerful ones, for example, starting from 3.5 inches, already require an additional power source.

External devices are very easy to connect, which is why they are preferred by a large number of users.

Detecting devices in BIOS

Having ensured that the hard drive is correctly connected, you should make sure that it is displayed correctly in the BIOS, otherwise it will be simply stupid to dream of high-quality work.

To make the correct settings in the BIOS, you should also understand how to connect the old hard drive to the computer, how to connect the new hard drive, and how to ensure the correct operation of these two drives.

The user understands that the operating system is installed on one of the disk spaces; in most cases, the old hard drive is the place where the operating system was once loaded.

In this regard, in the BIOS settings, the user must set the boot priority from the old hard drive. Setting the priority incorrectly will prevent the system from booting. In the BIOS, determining priority is absolutely simple, since SATA with an assigned number will be written next to the existing hard drives. It is the number that indicates priority. The hard drive with the operating system must be set to SATA 1.

If any hard drive does not appear in the BIOS, you should double-check that it is connected correctly, otherwise you will not be able to use the installed disk space.

So, installing an additional hard drive is a predictable act, accompanied by actions that can easily be performed by any user if he makes an effort and shows increased attention.