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Installing and Configuring Your
New Hard Drive

In our last article, I talked about hard drive (HD) upgrading strategies. Now that you've decided to take the big step, here's a do-it-yourself guide that will help you install and configure a new drive. Of course, if you're really technologically inept (as in "I have trouble resetting the clock in my car when it's time to switch to or from daylight-savings time."), perhaps you'd better get some help.

Unless your computer is relatively new (less than a year old), it probably does not support the fast ATA-66 data transfer specification, which means if you want to take advantage of your new drive's high-speed data transfer capability, you'll also need an ATA-66 controller card. You can purchase one of these on-line at http://www.beyond.com for just $27.00. If you just want the bigger drive and don't care about the additional speed capability, you won't need the card. My recommendation is to get the card because it's not only inexpensive, but will definitely improve your computer's performance.

Now you must decide if you're going to replace your existing drive with the new one or keep it as a supplementary or back-up drive.

Regardless of which of the above you decide upon, you must now make a second decision:
  1. I want my computer to operate just as it did before. If you're happy (and your computer is also) with the way everything is working at present, then go with this option.
  2. I want to install a new operating system (or reinstall the existing one). This option will require that you not only install an operating system, but also reinstall all of your existing software programs. If you have data files on your old drive (including your email addresses, browser bookmarks, etc.) which you want to move to your new drive, you'll need to transfer them to another media such as a tape, zip-disk, CD-R, etc. (or keep your old drive at least temporarily connected as mentioned below). This is obviously the more complicated and lengthy choice, but now is the time to make it if you want or need to do so.
If you have nothing on your old drive you want to transfer to your new one, and you're not keeping the old one for a backup, remove the old drive or just leave it and disconnect the data and power cables. If you will be keeping your old drive or you want to transfer the entire contents of it or any portion thereof to your new one, keep your old drive connected to the computer (at least until you have transferred the system or files you want or need).

Remember, you cannot move a software application from one drive (or partition) to another by simply transferring the folder containing it. When you install software, certain files are also created in various areas of your Window folder. You can transfer software between drives or drive partitions, however, by using a utility such as Powerquest's Partition Magic or Drive Copy, or with Norton's Cleansweep.

Clean the inside of your computer first. Unless you have a vacuum cleaner that allows you to plug the hose into outlet port, have a can of compressed air handy because the inside of your computer is probably full of dust and cobwebs (no kidding...I've found spiders inside!).

To avoid risk of electronically damaging anything inside, always make sure you first touch the metal frame of the case before you touch anything inside. By doing this, if your body does have any static electricity to discharge, it will be done to the case and not to one of the sensitive chips in the computer. If you want a true ground connection between your body and the computer, purchase what is called a "grounding strap" which attaches around your wrist with Velcro and to the frame of the case with an alligator clip.

Remove the cover(s) from your computer, take it outside and blow it out thoroughly. Make sure you direct airflow into the power-supply box from both the fan-side (the 3"-4" round hole generally right next to where you plug in the power cord) and the louvers on the opposite side, also. Direct airflow over and inside all components, particularly against the processor's heatsink and cooling fan.

Next, install your new HD by carefully following the instructions that came with it. If you are installing an ATA-66 controller card, it's particularly important that you follow these instructions, as you will be connecting the data cables that were previously connected to the busses on the mainboard, to the busses on the new card. If, by chance, your computer's mainboard already supports ATA-66 and you don't need the controller card, just remember that in order to take advantage of this transfer rate that you'll need to use the 40-pin/80-wire cable that came with the new HD.

In all instances, pay attention to the red edge stripe on the data cable. It MUST be plugged into the pin 1 on both the drive (always the side of the buss nearest to where you plug in the 12V power connector) and the mainboard or controller card. If you get everything connected and boot up your computer and it doesn't boot or won't recognize a drive or CD, the first thing to check are the data cables. You probably have one or more of them reversed.

Also, if you're keeping your old drive as a supplementary or back-up drive, make sure you connect it as a master drive on the secondary channel, along with your CD-ROM as the slave. So, for example, connect your new HD (configured as a master or stand alone) using the ATA-66 40-pin/80-wire cable to the IDE1 (primary) buss and your old drive (master) and CD-ROM (slave) using the existing 40-pin/40-wire cable to the IDE2 (secondary) buss. This example applies regardless of whether you're connecting the drives directly to your ATA-66 mainboard or the ATA-66 controller card.

Perhaps you have more than one CD device as I do in one of my computers. Since this machine does not have an ATA-66 mainboard, I installed the controller card and connected the new HD to it using the 40-pin/80-wire cable. Then I configured my CD-ROM as the master and my CD-RW (read/write) as the slave and connected them to the primary buss on the mainboard (IDE1). Finally I connected my DVD drive to the secondary buss on the mainboard (IDE2).

When everything is connected (including the 12V power cables to the HD's and CD's), boot your computer (Press the ON switch!). Since you have made changes to your computer, the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) should detect them automatically (unless you have an older computer). It may stop and ask you to accept the changes by pressing a particular key on your keyboard or it may put you into the BIOS setup program because it detected a change in the devices connected to your mainboard. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to your mainboard manual for assistance.

It is not practical for me to attempt to present all of the various scenarios you may encounter as a result of making changes to your computer, but if you need assistance, please email me and I'll get on the phone with you and we'll go through it together.

Once your BIOS is properly set, the next thing you'll need to do is partition and format your new HD. Follow the instructions that came with your drive. Use the floppy disk included with the drive to accomplish this task in relatively quick fashion (you'll also need your Windows Start-up disk which contains the necessary system files).

Next you'll want to install Windows on your new HD or transfer everything from your old drive to your new one, depending upon what you've decided to do.

If you've decided to reinstall your existing Windows or a newer version, you'll need your Windows setup disk and the Windows CD-ROM. Simply insert the floppy into your floppy disk drive and reboot your computer. When the on-screen menu appears, choose the option START COMPUTER WITH CD-ROM SUPPORT and press enter.

When completed, your computer will tell you which drive letter is your CD-ROM drive. Put your Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive and log on to that drive by typing the drive letter followed by a colon and then pressing the ENTER key on your keyboard. So, for example, if your CD drive is drive D, type 'd:' (without the quote marks) and press ENTER. To install Windows, type the word SETUP, press ENTER and you're off to the races.

In the next issue of Everything Office, I'll explain how to transfer everything (or any portion thereof) from your old drive to your new one.

We, at Office Helper, appreciate the opportunity to bring you Everything Office. Don't forget to check out this week's great tip on our website .


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