Additional HD

This is my problem, I hope someone can help:

I have a Seagate Barracuda UATA 200GB HD.

I need to add another larger one for extra storage.

I don't think that I can install a SATA, right?

Do I need another UATA?

I am confused by all these SATA, UATA, UDMA, IDE, connectors, settings, and so on!

Thanks!

well, what does your motherboard support? If it supports SATA and you have an open SATA port, buy a SATA. If not, buy a UATA (EIDE), and make sure to slave it.

Thanks for your reply!

I was actually in fear of getting a question like yours, since I don't know where any documentation might be.

So, I have to ask, without docs, how do I find out if SATA is supported by my MB?

Thanks!

Google your motherboard model #, which can be found by opening the case and looking at it

OK, thanks!

I'll try and see if I can find it.

You could always get an external USB drive. You should be able to find one for no more than $15 than price of the drive by itself, and if you can't you can buy the enclosure separately. Otherwise, you can always open up your computer and see what connectors you have available.

Hi guys!

Instead of looking inside the case (I will to double check but it's positioned in an awkward way), I found the specs of the desktop online: It's a HP pavilion a720n;
I can't post an URL so here are the specs for Storage, according to HP:

Two UltraDMA 100 IDE connectors

Two Serial ATA connectors


Does it look like I can install a SATA?

Is it only about connectors? How are SATA connectors different?

Thanks!

PS: I don't want any clutter so I won't go for an external one at this stage, but thanks for the suggestion.

It looks like you can, but I still have three concerns:
1) Some of stock name brand computers come with power supplies that are just barely capable of serving the included parts. If you upgrade much you may find yours taxed, which can cause odd issues. You're probably fine, but you should be aware of this potential issue.
2) Some of those HP cases barely had space for the components already included. This case looks like it's probably okay, but if you buy a drive you'll have to open things up anyway so you may as well do it now and make sure there's a place for your drive.
3) This looks like an older machine, which mean that SATA ports may not support newer SATA drives. I think you'll be okay though- the likely result if you get a drive that's too new is that it just runs in some compatibility mode.

I suppose if push comes to show you can always replace your existing drive rather than adding a second one to the system which would solve issues 1 & 2 with one blow, but it seems a shame to throw out a perfectly good 200GB hard drive. On the other hard, you probably ought to replace your hard drive every 5 or 6 years even if it still seems like it's running fine to help lower the risk of data loss. So may this is a good time to just replace the old drive completely.

I agree with this. I noted the online documentation only mentioned replacing the drive rather than adding an additional one. This could be either the power supply could not handle more than one drive or space was limited.

If one goes to the HP web site there is documentation available for the "HP pavilion a720n" showing how to replace the hard drive.

This should not be a problem as long as the drive can handle it. For example I have an even older motherboard (Dec 2002) that only supports SATA 150. The Seagate drive (SATA 300) I just bought had a jumper to limit the drive to SATA 150 if required. The drive works fine using the jumper.

If the computer only supports one drive then teamboston could always replace the old drive with a new one and save the old one for use in an external enclosure for backups.

OK guys, very articulate answers!

I guess that I'll take a look inside the case and then prob decide to buy this Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA and see in what way I'll set it up when I have it.

The actual HD is fine and I want to use it, even if just for storage.

But that would mean having to go through the process of installing the OS and all the rest on the new one, and I have never done it before and without help.

But these forums look great, I have to hang around more often!

Thanks again, DrStrangluv and MisterEd!