Setting up a second hard drive on SATA?

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-09-08 08:54pm

Okay, how do I get a secondary hard drive to work on SATA? Everything I've done so far has met with complete failure. The second drive is in, it's getting power, and all the connections are in right, but the computer refuses to recognize it's presence.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2006-09-08 11:05pm

Your not trying to run SATA2 features on an SATA1 controller, are you? Things like NCQ?

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2006-09-09 12:08am

First off, 'slave' drives are nonexistent. Kaput. You're running the equivalent of a secondary master. How many SATA connectors are on the board you're running the drives off of?

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-09-09 12:16am

Are you using the IDE to SATA cable adapter?

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-09-09 01:34am

Destructionator XIII wrote:It might also be that it is not partitioned, so Windows isn't giving it a drive letter. I don't remember how to check or repartition on Windows though. It has been too long and I forget details.

Under XP:

Control Panel; Administrative Tools; Computer Managment, then go to Disk Managment.

Post by **Edi** » 2006-09-09 04:33am

Dominus Atheos wrote:
Destructionator XIII wrote:It might also be that it is not partitioned, so Windows isn't giving it a drive letter. I don't remember how to check or repartition on Windows though. It has been too long and I forget details.

Under XP:

Control Panel; Administrative Tools; Computer Managment, then go to Disk Managment.

Or right-click on the My Computer icon, select Manage and go to Disk Management. Much quikcer than going through the Control Panel.

Edi

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2006-09-09 07:25am

Are you trying to use an SATA300 drive on an SATA150 controller? If so, a lot of drives need you to alter a jumper before they'll work.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-09-09 09:05am

Dominus Atheos wrote:Are you using the IDE to SATA cable adapter?

Yes.

Also annoying is the fact that the power cable plug on the SATA drive and the one on the IDE drive with the adapter are on opposite sides, such that the power cable cannot reach both while they are in their housings. I guess I'll have to install the IDE one upside down or something.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-09-09 05:09pm

Rogue 9 wrote:
Dominus Atheos wrote:Are you using the IDE to SATA cable adapter?
Yes.

Also annoying is the fact that the power cable plug on the SATA drive and the one on the IDE drive with the adapter are on opposite sides, such that the power cable cannot reach both while they are in their housings. I guess I'll have to install the IDE one upside down or something.

Just buy this, and save yourself a lot of headaches.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-09-10 10:25am

Edit: Heh. I identified the problem right after I posted this post. Disregard all of the above.

New question: Is it harmful to install a hard drive upside down? Because the power cable problem is still there.

Pezzoni · Post by **Pezzoni** » 2006-09-10 12:58pm

I don't think it should cause a problem - I think hard drives are generally designed to work in all orientations.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-09-10 04:36pm

Pezzoni wrote:I don't think it should cause a problem - I think hard drives are generally designed to work in all orientations.

Designed to work either horizontal or vertical. What orientation they are within those to doesn't matter. So flipped is fine.