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problem installing new hard drive

thisismyusernamethisismyusername Registered User regular
edited November 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
So I got a new computer today and I am trying to install a second harddrive onto it. This computer doesn't seem to use the normal "ribbon" connector. Though it does have a "ribbon" output on the motherboard. when I try installing it using this it doesn't boot an OS and says it cannot find an OS. I'm not sure why because I have the drive set to slave. The Geek squad says they don't know and have twice just told me to call 1-800-best-buy, but I am done dealing with them. Does anybody know how to get this computer to recognize a slave drive? Thanks for your time.

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Posts

  • Uncle LongUncle Long Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Well, first of all, are you sure you have it connected correctly? Do you have both the data cable and the power cable plugged in? (I'm assuming by saying "ribbon," you mean IDE, but, if your HD is SATA you're going to need/want to connect it that way if you can).

    Now, check your BIOS settings and see if it is set to automatically detect a second HD.

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  • Mr. PokeylopeMr. Pokeylope Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    I think what happened is if you install a new drive on the ribbon (IDE) and the original was on the SATA connector the computer will try to boot from the new hard drive because it's on the IDE connector. The easiest fix probably would be connecting the new drive with the SATA connector.

    Though you can possibly go into your BIOS setting and set the computer to boot off the old drive also.

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