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Install, Get Set, Go

This document provides instructions for installing an IDE hard drive in a desktop PC. It discusses preparing for installation by grounding yourself, handling the hard drive carefully due to its high rpm speed. It explains the difference between a master and slave hard drive and ensuring the correct jumper settings. The document outlines connecting the IDE and power cables, securing the hard drive in the case, and configuring it in the computer's CMOS setup.

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karma
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65 views

Install, Get Set, Go

This document provides instructions for installing an IDE hard drive in a desktop PC. It discusses preparing for installation by grounding yourself, handling the hard drive carefully due to its high rpm speed. It explains the difference between a master and slave hard drive and ensuring the correct jumper settings. The document outlines connecting the IDE and power cables, securing the hard drive in the case, and configuring it in the computer's CMOS setup.

Uploaded by

karma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter

Installing HDD

Install, Get Set, Go

Hard disk is the beat of your system and its installation can be an interesting challenge.
Here we look at how an IDE hard drive is installed.

Buying a new hard drive is probably the simplest decision one makes when in need of
some big fat space for those gigs of games and mp3’s. Just make a phone call to your
vendor and ask for the biggest, leanest, fastest and cheapest hard drive and that’s just
about it. The real trouble starts when it comes to installing a hard disk.

Unlike PCI cards which can be simply inserted into thier respective slots, one first needs to
make appropriate space for the hard drive, then connect the the IDE and power cable,
make proper jumper settings and finally ascertain that the hard drive is secured firmly in
it’s position and completely immobile. Does it sound too complex?
Read ahead and you shall realize installing a Winchester Drive (popularly known as Hard
Drive) is as simple as replacing a 60 Watt bulb ... well almost!

The Interfaces
Hard Drives are available in two types of interfaces: IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) /
EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Device Electronics) and SCSI (Small Computer System
Interface).
IDE is the defacto standard for all desktop PC’s. Servers and laptops however prefer
SCSI interface as it is more rugged compared to IDE. Due to each of the myraid SCSI
manufacturers having unique techniques of installing, explaining how to install a SCSI
hard disk is beyond the scope of this article.

Do the Groundwork

Over here, we restrict ourselves in explaining how to install an IDE - Hard Drive on a
normal desktop PC. But before that, there are a few absolutely necessary things, which
needs to be considered and understood.
Ground yourself against any static electricity. Touch the metal chasis to discharge any
electric current from your body and then turn off the power supply and remove the plug.
Tie an antistatic wrist-strap before opening the PC to protect against a possible electric
shock.

Most hard drives spin either at 5400rpm or 7200rpm, which is approximately the speed at
which the tyres of an airoplane move when it takes-off making them extremely fragile.
Hard drives do have a plastic protection at the edges, but an occasional drop can render
the drive useless. So be extremely careful in handling the hard drive.
The dorsal side of the hard drive contains some circuitry. Regardless of whether it’s
properly shielded or not, always take care to keep your hard disk on top of a non-
conducting material (magazine, newsapaper) to prevent any short circuit.

Master Hard Drive : A hard drive is said to be “Master” drive if it has been directly
connected to the computer.

Slave Hard Drive : When another hard drive is connected to the drive already connected
directly to the computer, then the former hard drive is said to be Slave while the latter is
Master Drive.

While installing, make sure the jumper settings are correct (i.e. in Master or Slave mode).
If not, the CMOS may display messages such as “Boot Failed” or worse, fail to detect the
hard drive.

On top of every hard drive, there is a small rectangular box, which gives a pictorial
representation explaining the jumper settings to be made when connecting the hard drive
in master or slave mode.
To remove the jumper, make use of a small pointed tool, usually a “pin”, insert it in the
middle of the jumper and slowly remove it. Again be careful as excess amount of force
breaks the jumper pins.

IDE Connector : This is a male connector at the back of the hard drive.An IDE-data
cable is connected to it.Inserting the data cable into the connector can be quite tricky as
both the top and bottom side look quite familiar.So ensure doubly before inserting the
cable.
While remove the IDE cable , adopt a zig-zag manner . Pulling it the way we plug-out
our iron socket can do irreparable damage to the IDE cable . The same applies while
connecting or removing the power chord .

Securing the Drive : After making proper connections & jumper settings , secure the hard
drive in the appropriate sized bay [3-1/2 “ or 5-1/4 ”] Hard drives come in 3-1/2 “ sizes &
thus fit properly in 3-1/2 ” sized bays .
It ay be possible that all 3-1/2 “ bays are pre-occupied . Under Such circumstance ,
make sure you have a mounting breaket & proper screws for the 5-1/4 ” bay .
It is mandatory to secure the hard disk firmly before one starts using . A loose-fit makes
the drive shaky & even a minor jerk , when the drive is in operation will cause irreparable
damage .
Configuration : Once these prerequisite steps are completed , starts the PC . The hard
drive settings now need to be configured in the CMOS . In most cases, the Auto-Detect
option will successfully detect your hard disk . Under rare circumstance, one may need to
specify Cylinders , Sectors , Heads , Write Precomp , Landing Zone , & the Size
manually . These details are normally found on top of the hard disk . If not, check the
accompanying user’s manual .

Figure .
Nowadays, it’s common to find 20 GB & 40 GB sized hard drives . For those who buy
these hard drives with the sole purpose of replacing their 8 GB [ or less ] hard drive
,ensure that your accompanying CMOS supports the capacity of the hard drive you plan to
install .
Some CMOS chips can be made to provide support to the hard drive by
downloading an upgrade from the anufacturers website . If that doesn’t do the tirck , buy a
new CMOS chip [ usually available for less than Rs.400 /- ] but make sure you know how
to install, as it is a grueling task .
Installing a hard disk can at times be tedious. Be extremely careful while handling the drive
as its fragility makes it very susceptible to damage. If it’s the first time you are doing this,
make sure you have some experienced candidate nearby.... Until next time, happy hard
driving.

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