Hi all,

After frying my first desktop PC by trying to install some RAM that wasn't compatible I've bought a new desktop PC from a mate and want to install my old hard drive into this new unit as a slave for additional memory. I have searched and searched and have figured out that the current setup is all IDE - the hard drive is an IDE master and the DVD drives are also connected via IDE. There is a SATA slot (which my old hard drive is) and from looking at how to's etc online I've connected everything properly - I'm happy that there's power going to the SATA drive and the data cables are connected properly.

When booting the computer and going into the CMOS section etc there's supposed to be an option to autodetect new drives (?), which I can't see nor do I really know what I'm looking for. Currently it says this:

Primary IDE Master : JLMSXJ - HD166S
Primary IDE Slave: ATAPI DVD A DH2
Secondary IDE Master: WDC1600AAJB-OOP
Secondary IDE Slave: Not installed

It then goes to Third IDE Master / Slave and Fourth IDE Master / Slave which all have "not installed" next to them

When loading up my computer I've also gone to the disk management utility to try and partition (?) it from there but it's not found it so I have no idea what I'm doing wrong and I'm really nervous about messing around too much in case I ruin this PC too! Ideally I'd like to install the second drive and keep the data as there was photos etc on it but if I have to reformat it then so be it.

Here's my PC information:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name CONNOLLY-7F9A7B
System Manufacturer MICRO-STAR INC.
System Model MS-6728
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. V3.5, 05/02/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name CONNOLLY-7F9A7B\Administrator
Time Zone GMT Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.48 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys


Furthermore -

I have 4GB of RAM that I bought sitting here and I would love to be able to increase the memory of my PC but I'm shit scared of setting it alight again (I think my wife would divorce me!)

The RAM is:
1. Kingston KTH - XW4400C6/2G
2. Transcend 2G DDR 800 DIMM CL5 (518178-4865)

Anyone know if any will be okay? Please PM me if not need additional information or anything as I'll be only to happy to oblige!

Thanks in advance everyone

Andy

Hi -

I'm confused as to there being an SATA slot.

The IDE interface (ie the master/slave list) will only read IDE devices not SATA.

Are you plugging it into an external port on the motherboard? Do you have the motherboard's model number?

A quick google check of your computer shows it uses DDR memory and can take up to 4GB over 4 slots. The Transcend 2G, from what you have written, is DDR and so is compatible. The kingston ram is DDR2 and is NOT compatible. The chips should have slightly different pin layouts.

Also, since it is a DDR motherboard, I'm doubting that it would be SATA compatible without a converter of some sort.

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Hi RecT - thanks so much for the reply. I'll try and answer as best as I can for you - if not I'll take a photograph of the set up on the weekend and attach it to one of these threads.

The hard drive is connected to the power by one of the spare connectors from the power supply. On the motherboard there are two slots called "SATA1" and "SATA2" into which I've plugged the SATA data cable from the hard drive.

If you go to: mysuperpc.com/build/sata_hard_drive_connectors_jumpers_3.jpg and have a look at the picture of the hard drive there I have the data cable where it should go (haven't messed with the jumper bit [white] as I'm under the impression you don't need to with SATA?). I have plugged the white power connecter into the appropriate connector (the right hand one in the picture).If you go to acscontrol.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/311_SataPowerCable.jpg and have a look at the picture there I also found a connector like the one on the left hand side coming from the main power supply and plugged that one into the available connector on the hard drive (far left on image one). I figured that one of these would be the power one right!?

At the weekend I'll get the motherboards model number if I can - I'm away at work this week so don't have access to it.

I do know that it was a self-build so that might explain the rather unique set-up of it all?

With regards to the RAM - if I slot in the Transcend one it's not going to light up like a sparker like my old PC did then!!?

Thanks again so much for all your help - I know I'm not making it very clear but I do like to learn about it all so please bear with me!

Andy