Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: mc1csmo on April 13, 2008, 11:53:10 AM
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Ok, so I had a major issue with my pc. It wasn't booting, overcame that, now it's all a mess after repair/recovery and it's time for drasting measures). So I'm backing up data, and looking to do a full reinstall of XP on my pc. I have a 2nd pc at home, my wife's and that one is nearly identical to my own and exhibiting no issues. I'm putting the back'd up data on hers for now. I have a smaller drive that was connected to my previous old rig, that I had been saving for using as a windows home server for the two pc's, xbox, etc (never got around to it, and now I regret it!). There's data on that drive, too. Barring any questions I might have for getting the data off the main drive on my pc (pc #1 is mine, pc#2 is my wife's, pc#3 is the old rig that I was going to use for the home server, for reference hence forth) here's a few others I hope someone can help with:
First, here's my pc specs, and please note, I did build this but with a TON Of handholding. I'm still a newbie and there are some things I just need as much detail as possible with. For example, I don't know what a jumper is, and if you identify a cable or insert position, you will really need to explain details visually as much as possible or I won't get it. Thanks :)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor Model ADAFX62CSBOX
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD400LJ 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
SONY 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model DRU120C
EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Desktop Memory Model CM2X1024-5400C4
1) How to a check drive from pc #1 (the Samsung 400gb sata) so I can see if I need to replace it or not before I do a clean install? Ideally I'd like to do this prior to the setup below
2) How do I setup a two HDD system, with wiring and all (are there any detailed step by step guides, video or with pics?)? I have the drive from pc #1 and I want to add the old drive from pc #2 as a backup.
3) There's outdated data on drive from pc#3, do I need to wipe that clean, or will it be wiped clean when I do the fresh xp install. In this scenario, again, I plan to have two drives on my pc, the main one being that from pc#1, unless it needs to be replaced altogether. The backup drive (from pc#3) is going to mainly be for pics, work docs, etc, where drive #1 will be for the OS, games, other programs, but nothing perma that I can't just reinstall or that I won't care to lose if I need to do a full re-install again down the road (I hope not!!)
Thanks again!!!
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UPDATE - Ok, I've swap'd the drive from PC1 into PC 2, and I've backed up all data I wanted to keep. Now I want to check that drive (from PC1) to see if it's viable or not, before I put it back and reinstall xp.
How do I go about that? THX
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Now I want to check that drive (from PC1) to see if it's viable or not, before I put it back and reinstall xp.
How do I go about that? THX
Click on this (http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html)
Good luck
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assuming that the utility that dusty provided the link to, delivered +ve results, there's really no reason to check if the drive is empty or not. during installation, XP will give you another chance to wipe the drive clean.(a good advice is not to use the quick format option) after that, no matter what, the drive will be empty. mind you, you'll have to delete the partitions too, and repartition the disk according to your wish, which can all be done very, very easily.
but wait, you'll still have to observe the functioning of the drive while it is still in pc#2. check if you can transfer some files to and from the drive in question to pc#2's original drive (assuming it isn't disconnected.) it is not very smart to totally rely on a utility provided by a manufacturer, although it may be necessary. hard drives can be tricky some times, heavy usage tends to make them marginally slow compared to the new ones, since they are the only functional moving components of your computer that your PC can't do without.
anyway, if your HDD passes this test, it is ready to be put back into PC#1.
as for your second question, to set up multiple HDDs on your system, you need to make sure that you have 2 dual channel IDE cables installed on your system(which is usually the case). IDE cables connect HDDs to your motherboard. in case you don't know, 2 cables with 2 channel each gives you 4 channels to play with. so you can connect max 4 HDDs on your system. but at least one of those channels will be taken up by your DVD burner that leaves you with 3 remaining.
when you look at an IDE cable, you'll find 3 connector pins, 2 at the ends, 1 in the middle but a bit close to one of the other two. the pin that is isolated is to be connected to the motherboard, the remaining 2 can be connected to the IDE devices (HDD, CD, DVD etc.).
now, the device that you'll connect to the other end of this cable will be a master drive by default, and the one you'll connect (if any) to the pin remaining will be slave.
besides this, you'll have to set the jumpers on each device before connecting them to the cables. and no, you won't need any silly pics to go about this. just look at the back of your HDD, where you connect the cable, there will be a set of 8 metal pins in 2 sets of 4s. there will be a tiny plastic/metal connector on top of 2 of the pins in there, that is your jumper. a Jumper is a device used to short 2 pins, the manner in which the pins are shorted, determines the functioning of the device in question. every IDE device has it's jumper setting. you can place this tiny connector in such a way that determines the behaviour of your HDD. and the manner in which you should connect this jumper is completely specified on the back of your hard disk in a figure. it should specify which 2 pins you should connect the jumper across in order to connect your HDD in master or slave specification. Follow my advice and connect the jumper in the 'cable select' position which is a sort of default specification to get rid of conflicts. and don't be alarmed if you find more than one jumpers in there, which is likely coz u have a samsung drive. Just follow the instructions that are ON THE HARD DRIVE and not anywhere else.
OK, so connect one HDD on the master end of your IDE cable with jumpers set as master/cable select, connect the second HDD on the slave end of the IDE cable with jumpers set as slave/cable select, connect the power and you're good to go!!
alternately you can also connect one of you HDDs on one IDE cable as master/slave (with correct jumper settings of course) and the other HDD on the other IDE cable, independent of the other HDD, as master/slave as you wish.
connect your DVD drive on any of the remaining positions on the IDE cables, with it's own jumpers set properly.
as for your 3rd question, there's no real need to fromat the 3rd HDD, but it would be wise to format it just to resolve conflicts if there is an Operating System installed in it. your computer won't know which one to boot from it haven't installed multiple OS on your system, and in any case, if there is a crash, the data on your second drive should remain in dependant on the first drive, unless of course, there is a fatal virus infestation on your system.
GOOD LUCK!!!
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mc1csmo,
here are a couple decent tutorials with some pictures:
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm
http://compreviews.about.com/od/tutorials/ss/DIYSecHD.htm
and after you have it hooked up:
http://www.vistasector.com/tutorials/1/installing-windows-xp/