[mpenney]

Anyone know of a good link for instructions for installing a hard drive.
Also, would I need to reinstall windows on that HD as well? It's main purpose will be to save data on and not clog up my primary one. Would you also list ways of partioning the hard drive to store lets say: pics, large docs, rar files, etc so they each have their own destination.

Thanks in advance,

MPenney

[Mike0001]

Hi mpenney

Rest assured that this is an easy operation with no reinstall, but you must take a few precautions.

The easy solution is a usb external, but if you want internal then the hardest part is usually manoeuvring the new drive into place. Some cases make this easier than others.

Assuming these disks are IDE, motherboards usually have two IDE (PATA) connectors and you will see a strap inside going from the existing HDD to one connector. The CD drive will have another strap going to the other, or they may unusually share a strap.

If you see another connector on the strap going into the HDD, your job is simpler, otherwise you need to buy an IDE cable with two on.

Now DANGER! There are two ways to connect 2 drives to one cable. In one, you jumper one as master and one as slave. In the other you jumper both as cable select and connect them to the right connector. Your existing drive MUST be the master, so safest is to jumper that as master, whatever it is now. Instructions are printed on the drive, with configurations labelled MA, SL, CS and referring to a group of pins on the end. The jumpers are small collars that clip on and short out two pins.

Restart the PC and make sure it works OK. Shut down.

Now jumper the other drive as slave and connect it to the other connector on the IDE cable. You will need a spare power connector too. If you can't see one, you can buy a doubler for pence. The poiwer connectors are usually very stiff to plug in.

That is the first part done! You can now progress to formatting and partitioning.

WARNING: If you do not jumper correctly you may lose all your data!

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...new-hard-drive

[mpenney]

How do I do the partitioning

[serverguy]

Originally Posted by mpenney

How do I do the partitioning

You can get some software liek Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director, or use a linux distro like Gparted and burn that to a CD, and then boot of it.

[mpenney]

Is there not a manual way to partion the drive?

[serverguy]

What do you mean?

[Mike0001]

You know, with scissors!

Is there any particular reason why you want to partition rather than use separate folders? You can still map drive letters to the folders.