"Installing My First HDD."

[Brangwen]

Fellow Members:

No ... I know how to do this!

My sister 5 states away wants to install a new HDD. I told her I would walk her through it over the telephone, but in the mean time, she is interested in reading a rudimentary step-by-step instruction manual on "How to Install a HDD."

Can anyone provide me a link to such a online manual?

Thx.

Brangwen

http://www.tweak3d.net/articles/howtoinstallhd/

http://www.basichardware.com/HowTo_I...ard_Drive.html

http://www.cheap-computers-guide.com...ive-CDROM.html

http://www.hardwaves.com/display/200...1249229_0.html

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,47370,00.asp

[Atomic Rooster]

Maxtor has a Flash video of interactive installation guide .

[Brangwen]

GroundZero3 and Atomic Rooster:

Thank you for the rapid responses and the terrific links. My sister is becoming a Nerdette!

Brangwen

[micki]

I am the novice sister of the initiator of this thread.

I thank you for your assistance. I opened the tower for the first time , located the HD and IDE cables. Actually, I took out the HD - guessing which one - then I saw HDD etched in the bay bracket! I need to write down how they are plugged into the drives.

The situation is the BIOS. I have an AOpen AX34-U MB. The manual for this board shows R1.20 BIOS - the System Resource Report shows Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG. The current HD is 13 GB and I want to install a 160 GB - as a slave or master.

With regard to the slave/master, I need to look at the IDE cables. I have a CD ROM, CDRW (separate units), Floppy and HD. It seems (during my peek) that all were in use. Hmm. There is an empty bay for an add-on. This computer was built for me - still a Pentium III.

I have formatted a computer from FDISK, installing Windows, Sound Blaster, CDRW, etc.; however, I have never installed hardware - actually, the hardware is easy - it is the software.

[squeech]

Welcome to TechIMO, micki!

[Brangwen]

Micki:

So, what's your question again? Is it: "If the BIOS on your board can handle a 13 GB HDD, should you expect any difficulty with a larger drive, e.g., 120 - 160 GB?"

Is that the question? If so, I do not believe you would encounter any difficulties. Those with more experience than I may have a different and better answer.

Sincerely,

Brangwen

[micki]

Thanks Little Brother. How nice it is to have a geek in the family!

I am mulling over the possibilities. I shall keep you posted.

LAH Micki

[meese]

I'm not so sure many older BIOS's will detect correctly drives that large. 13GB is a far cry from 160GB. keep the optical devices seperate from the hard drives, that is don't mix them on the same ide controller.

[XShadowZxX]

Tell her, MOLEX IDE CABLE. Easy she should kno where to put them.