Two identical hard drives. How to connect a second hard drive to a computer: difficulties and recommendations

They are the main store of information. In most cases, user data is stored there. And every day the volume of this data increases. Therefore, it is not surprising that sooner or later all users are faced with the fact that free space is running out. There is only one way out of this situation; you need to buy and connect a second hard drive to the computer. In this article we will try to help solve this problem.

Step #1: Disconnect power from the computer.

Before doing anything to the computer, it must be completely de-energized. Disconnect all cables from the system unit. Simply turning off the button on the power supply is not enough; all cables must be disconnected.

Step No. 2. Remove the side covers of the system unit.

One of the bays will already have one hard drive installed. This is your first hard drive, it contains your operating system and all your data. The second one needs to be placed nearby. If the bay is designed for more than two drives, then it is advisable to place the second drive not adjacent to the first. This will significantly improve its cooling.

Carefully insert the hard drive into one of the installation locations. Please note that the drive should rest on small ledges and be secured with four screws. If there is not enough space inside the system unit, you may have to remove the video card or other components before installation. But, as a rule, this is not required.

After you have installed the hard drive in your computer, you need to secure it with four screws. Two screws are tightened on one side and two on the other. You should not skimp on screws, as this can cause unnecessary vibration and noise when the computer is operating.

Step #4: Connect the second drive to the motherboard and power supply.

Once the second drive is installed and securely fixed inside the computer, you can begin connecting it. Two cables are used, one goes to the motherboard, and the second to the power supply.

To connect to the motherboard, use this one (picture below). It is usually red in color, making it difficult to confuse. One cable connector needs to be plugged into the hard drive, and the other into the connector on the motherboard.

To connect to the power supply, a similar cable with a wider connector is used (picture below).

If your power supply is not equipped with a cable with such a connector, then you will need an adapter (picture below) from the old connector to the new one.

Step No. 5. Close the system unit.

After you have connected the second hard drive to the computer, you can close the system unit. Install the side covers and secure them with screws. Once the covers are installed, you can turn on the computer. If you did everything correctly, then after the computer boots, a new drive will appear in the system.

Hello! Please, help the average computer user understand hard drives and the possibility of their autonomous operation...
The point is this. It is now possible to install a second hard drive on your PC, so that the first one is exclusively for the OS + necessary programs + frequently used files (documents, technical diagrams, etc.), and the second one is for the home archive (videos, photos, films, rarely files used.
I successfully installed the second hard drive myself (the OS sees and maintains it well)... But one problem arises here. This hard drive should be used from time to time, but it turns out that every time you turn on and off the computer, the OS still starts it - and this affects the resource!
How to make sure that this, let’s call it “archive” hard drive, does not start up unnecessarily? Is this possible?

Nikolay | April 29, 2015, 08:40
" YUM wrote: for the sake of discussion: shouldn't we go the mechanical route? Well, for example, lengthen the power cable. Take the father/mother outside and, if unnecessary, simply open the pads. The cable, however, will still stick out in the “mother”, but , I think, OSKA won’t go beyond the display: “unknown device”... "

As a matter of fact, this is the option I considered first and here’s why. Now my system unit stands (with its wide side) close behind the monitor and the back (free) side (for certain reasons) without a cover (i.e. there is free access to the hardware). The cables of both HDDs have easy access. In general, everything is predisposed to removing/inserting connectors. But realizing that everything would quickly become unusable, so I asked myself the question of turning the HDD on and off not mechanically, but programmatically. Well, it turned out that this, unfortunately, is impossible.
So, YUM, I'll have to go down the already discussed path...

YUM | 19 April 2015, 15:32
By way of discussion: why not go the mechanical route? Well, for example, lengthen the power cord. Take mom/dad outside and if not needed, just open the blocks. The cable, however, will still stick out in the “mother”, but I think the OS will not go beyond the display: “unknown device”. I remember plugging fans into the free pads on the power supply. For outdoor use. One to blow on me, the second - into the body. Because it happened that both the computer and I overheated... :-)

Nikolay | 8 April 2015, 13:58
Nick Nick, thanks for the answer. From the answers, I understood that the second hard drive integrated into the PC will still be polled by the OS for any of its actions. And therefore, to eliminate “unproductive” inclusions and shutdowns, it is necessary to exclude it from the directory of one OS. That is, it is either a PC with two motherboards (and different OS), or a second PC, or an external hard drive, or a NAS...

Nick Nick | 7 April 2015, 14:47
I have done this, in the system unit there is a 500 GB disk divided into two partitions on one partition the system on the other with downloaded movies, etc. In a beautiful plastic case called an external HDD box there is a second (right on the table) hard drive, also rated at 500. Moreover, it has an autonomous power supply switch on the case. There are photos and archives on it and it is connected with a switch when needed, but when not needed it is turned off with a switch on the case. It is connected to a computer via USB (comes with the box included). The system sees the disk as a large flash drive. I took this box and watch photos and videos on DVD or wherever there is a USB.

Nikolay | 7 April 2015, 08:19
Nick, perhaps you are right in some ways. But again, I don’t need a backup disk (did I name it correctly?) that will be stored in a closet.
There were 2 HDDs available (500 GB and 2 TB). On the first one I placed the OS with accompanying programs (not all the necessary ones have been installed yet). By the way, as Dima Svinkin mentioned, the system disk was divided into two logical ones - for the OS itself and for various files needed in everyday work. And the second HDD (2 TB) is gradually filled with “household stuff” (photos, videos, films, music, rarely used documents, drawings, etc.).

As a result, the “two-terabyte” after turning on the PC, after a while (as you mentioned, Nick) “falls asleep”, I don’t even know when this happens. On the one hand, this is good - the HDD is not used, but on the other hand, the problem I describe arises.
Nick, I can’t buy an external drive yet (especially now it’s very expensive, and there’s already 2 TB in stock). I just have the opportunity to get a small system unit - I’ll probably have to “dance” from this option.
By the way, Nick, I’m certainly not an IT specialist, but it’s still said everywhere that you need to treat the HDD with care, because it’s better for it to “spin” all day than to start and stop.

So, in summary we can say the following:
1) separate control on one computer, with one OS, of two physical HDDs (without good system knowledge and access to BIOS) is almost impossible.
2) to solve the problem I am describing, it is proposed to either physically disconnect the second HDD (which is unrealistic), or use an external HDD, or you can use a second system unit of a small form factor.
Is everything correct?

Nick | April 6, 2015, 10:47 pm
For Nikolai: the “professor” on one of the IT sites advised you correctly. It is best to have 2 disks in the system. But they are used for something completely different. For example, there is only the system on one disk. And if the system crashes or you need to restore it from a backup image from six months ago, then your current documents will not be affected in any way, because they are on another drive. You won't lose anything. Or you need to check for errors or defragment the system disk - the operation will be carried out much faster in time on a small system disk (where there is only the system) than on a huge shared disk, where, in addition to the system, there are also a bunch of your documents, pictures, videos, etc. In short , 2 disks are used to distribute data - and this is necessary for ease of system maintenance.

I don’t know why you are afraid of turning disks on and off. There is nothing to worry about, modern disks are designed for this, they can even turn off and fall asleep if they are not accessed for a long time.

Well, if you want to disconnect the disk yourself, then buy an external disk. For example, I use an external USB-3 drive. It works quickly; to turn it off, you just need to remove the connector with the cord from the computer socket (it is inserted into the USB flash drive connector).

Nikolay | 6 April 2015, 20:54
Thanks to everyone who answered my question. A special “curtsy” for Alek55sandr5 - it seems that you immediately “grabbed” the essence of the issue.
Now it becomes clear that if two (3.4) hard drives are connected to one OS (which the system “sees” as separate physical disks), then every time you turn on, turn off or reboot the system will always launch them all (which, naturally, reduces their resource, because for a hard drive one of the most difficult modes is start-up, when the spindle spins the “pancakes” Correct?)
It’s strange that at one time, some “professor” on one of the IT sites “advised” to have two separate hard drives in your PC (and not in some kind of ride-array, but precisely two separate physical ones - one for OS and related programs, and the other for home videos, photos, books, document archives and other relatively rarely used files). So I “bought” this “call”.
That is, the right solution for me would be: a separate small-sized system unit, from which to make something like a NAS and connect it as needed? This is the only way I can protect the second hard drive from unnecessary startups. Right?

Dmitry | April 6, 2015, 10:59
Place a swap file and a folder for temporary files there. The disc will kick back.

Svinkin Dima | 5 April 2015, 16:43
I strongly disagree with you! A home archive must be created and stored on an external hard drive. What size is your system (physical disk)? For an OS + various programs, 100-150 GB is usually enough, and for many users the system (logical) is even several times smaller than these sizes. If your computer had one physical disk with a nominal size of 320 GB or more, then it is unreasonable to allocate this entire volume to the OS + programs. It needs to be divided into two partitions (two logical drives) C:\ and D:\. Drive C is the system drive, and on drive D:\ you should place folders for temporary files of all programs, folders for downloads from the Internet, folders for saving files created in different programs and a temporary archive of the most popular files. Any extra physical device in a computer can turn into a headache at any time - this is practice.

Alek55sandr5 | April 5, 2015, 15:50
As far as I know, unfortunately it is impossible to completely turn off the hard drive if it is connected to a PC. Every time you start the operating system, the hard drive will load along with it and its resource will slowly wear out. You can copy some files to this hard drive and remove the connected cables from its connector. This way it will be completely disabled and its resource will be greater. But of course, if this option suits you.

On your own and without the involvement of a specialist, if necessary, you can connect an additional hard drive to your computer. Next we'll look at installation diagram and then connecting a new hard drive to the system unit. It should be noted that the actions are performed smoothly, clearly, without the use of force or sudden actions.

The first step will need to be de-energized the entire system unit, to do this, turn off the power, and then disconnect absolutely all the wires. Next, the side covers are unscrewed and removed, just as in the image.

The hard drive, of course, has its own compartments, which, depending on the model of the system unit, can be located in different positions and have different positions.

According to the method of connecting the hard drive directly to the motherboard, they are divided into two types, and exactlySATAAndIDE. The second option, which has very wide cables and ports for connection, is considered obsolete and is now used extremely rarely. Due to its irrelevance as an IDE, the variation will not be considered here.

If a SATA hard drive is already connected to the computer, then adding a second one can be done quickly and easily. The additional disk is inserted into the appropriate free slot and attached to the case. It is advisable that they be located at a sufficient distance from each other to avoid overheating.

In order to connect the new hard drive to the motherboard itself, you will need a cableSATA. Plug one end into the corresponding slot on the board, and the other into the hard drive.

It is worth noting that every modern system unit model provides a minimum twoSATA- connector.

The next step is to connect a new hard drive directly to the power supply. For this purpose it is used special cable, the plug of which is slightly wider than that of a SATA cable. If there is only one plug coming from the power supply, you will need a splitter. It happens that a narrow plug was not provided in the power supply, then you should purchase an adapter. Examples are shown in the images:

Having obtained all the above-mentioned cables, you should connect the hard drive to the power cable.

The auxiliary media is now fully connected. You can then start the computer by attaching the covers, connecting the cables, and turning on the power. After this, if necessary, the stage of system configuration of the new hard drive will follow.

The time has come when one hard drive in a computer is no longer enough. More and more users decide to connect a second HDD to their PC, but not everyone knows how to do it correctly themselves to avoid mistakes. In fact, the procedure for adding a second disk is simple and does not require special skills. It is not even necessary to mount a hard drive - it can be connected as an external device if there is a free USB port.

Connecting a second HDD to a PC or laptop

Options for connecting a second hard drive are as simple as possible:

Connecting the HDD to the computer system unit. Suitable for owners of regular desktop PCs who do not want to have external connected devices.
Connecting a hard drive as an external drive. The easiest way to connect a HDD, and the only one possible for a laptop owner.

Option 1. Installation in the system unit

HDD type determination

Before connecting, you need to determine the type of interface the hard drive works with - SATA or IDE. Almost all modern computers are equipped with a SATA interface, so it is best if the hard drive is of the same type. The IDE bus is considered obsolete and may simply not be present on the motherboard. Therefore, connecting such a drive may cause some difficulties.

The easiest way to recognize the standard is by contacts. This is what they look like on SATA drives:

And this is how the IDE does it:

Connecting a second SATA drive in the system unit

The process of connecting a disk is very easy and takes place in several stages:

Boot priority for SATA drives

The motherboard usually has 4 connectors for connecting SATA drives. They are designated as SATA0 - the first, SATA1 - the second, etc. The priority of the hard drive is directly related to the numbering of the connector. If you need to manually set the priority, you will need to go into the BIOS. Depending on the BIOS type, the interface and controls will be different.

In older versions, go to the Advanced BIOS Features section and work with the First Boot Device and Second Boot Device parameters. In new BIOS versions, look for the Boot or Boot Sequence section and the 1st/2nd Boot Priority parameter.

Connecting a second IDE drive

In rare cases, there is a need to install a disk with an outdated IDE interface. In this case, the connection process will be slightly different.

Connecting a second IDE drive to the first SATA drive

When you need to connect an IDE drive to an already working SATA HDD, use a special IDE-SATA adapter.

The connection diagram is as follows:

The jumper on the adapter is set to Master mode.
The IDE plug connects to the hard drive itself.
The red SATA cable is connected with one side to the adapter, and the other to the motherboard.
The power cable is connected on one side to the adapter, and the other to the power supply.

You may need to purchase a 4-pin to SATA adapter.

Initializing the disk in the OS

In both cases, after connecting, the system may not see the connected disk. This does not mean that you did something wrong; on the contrary, it is normal when the new HDD is not visible in the system. The hard drive must be initialized before it can be used. Read about how this is done in our other article.

Read more: Why the computer does not see the hard drive

Option 2. Connecting an external hard drive

Often users choose to connect an external HDD. This is much simpler and more convenient if some files stored on the disk are sometimes needed outside the home. And in the situation with laptops, this method will be especially relevant, since there is no separate slot for a second HDD.

An external hard drive is connected via USB in exactly the same way as another device with the same interface (flash drive, mouse, keyboard).

A hard drive designed for installation in the system unit can also be connected via USB. To do this, you need to use either an adapter/adapter or a special external case for the hard drive. The essence of the operation of such devices is similar - the required voltage is supplied to the HDD through the adapter, and the connection to the PC is made via USB. Hard drives of different form factors have their own cables, so when purchasing you should always pay attention to the standard that specifies the overall dimensions of your HDD.

If you decide to connect the drive using the second method, then literally follow 2 rules: do not neglect the safe removal of the device and do not disconnect the drive while working with the PC to avoid errors.

We talked about ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer or laptop. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and it is absolutely not necessary to use the services of computer specialists.

We are glad that we were able to help you solve the problem.

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lumpics.ru

How to connect a second hard drive

Even a large disk space can run out if you work on a computer for a long time. You can delete files and programs to free up some space, but this is a temporary solution. You can replace the hard drive, then you will have to reinstall the OS and configure the computer. It's easier to connect a second drive, which will significantly increase disk space for photos, games and movies.

Buy a hard drive of sufficient capacity and a SATA data cable to connect it from a computer hardware store. The disk capacity depends on the user's desire, but it is better not to save money and purchase a disk of at least a terabyte, so that you do not have to think about increasing the memory again soon. The hard drive of a modern computer is most often connected using a SATA interface. The IDE format was used on computers until 2000. To be sure that the drive and motherboard are compatible, consult your dealer or read the instructions for your computer.

Completely disconnect the computer and all its accessories from the power source. Place the system unit on its side and remove its side panel. Consider the motherboard. Modern boards can have several SATA controllers, up to 6 pieces. The IDE connector may be missing or used to connect a CD/DVD drive. A computer board diagram will help you find the right controllers.

Place the new hard drive in a special basket at a sufficient distance from the other so that they do not touch and do not overheat. If the case has three “slots” for the hard drive, then place them in 1 and 3, and 2 between them for ventilation. Secure the drive with four screws. Connect one end of the SATA cable (it doesn't matter which) to the hard drive, and the other to the found SATA controller on the motherboard. The second hard drive is connected.

If the power supply does not have a SATA connector, then you need to buy an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect the new hard drive to the power supply: among several wires of the power supply, find the SATA wire. It is impossible to confuse it, since only it will fit the hard drive, or install an IDE-SATA adapter. Connect it to the connector of the new device. The second hard drive is now fully installed.

If the RAM bar prevents you from installing a second hard drive in a special basket and you removed it, then put it in place. Secure the side wall of the system unit with the mounting screws. Turn on your computer and all peripheral devices.

Wait until the operating system loads completely. It will automatically detect a new external memory device and offer to format the disk in NTFS format. If this does not happen, open the “Computer” folder in Explorer, right-click on the new disk and select “Format” from the menu. If the new local disk does not appear, then find it using the “Control Panel” section of the “Main Menu”, which opens with the “Start” button.

Elevated temperatures can cause rapid wear on the surface of the hard drive. If it is not possible to separate the hard drives with space, then there is one way out - install a second fan to cool the drives. If all SATA controllers on the board are busy, then buy a PCI controller with SATA connectors to connect a second drive.

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Connecting the main and additional hard drive

Modern hard drives are distinguished by their capacity, sufficient to meet the needs of almost any user. However, the system requirements of programs and games grow along with disk sizes, so sometimes the problem of lack of space arises. If you can't delete anything, you can connect a second hard drive.

Connecting equipment

First, let's figure out how to connect a hard drive to a computer.

Modern hard drives for computers have a 3.5-inch format. They are connected using the SATA interface, which replaced the outdated IDE connector.

Look at your hard drive - it should have two connectors. One is short, designed to transfer data from the motherboard. The second one is long, it is needed to connect to the power supply and obtain energy for the hard drive to work.

SATA plugs can look different: straight, snap-on, L-shaped, etc. However, this does not matter - no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to connect the hard drive incorrectly.

Install one end of the SATA cable into the appropriate connector on the hard drive. Then connect the hard drive to the power supply. If the power supply is old, you may have to use a special Molex to SATA adapter to connect the devices, which can be purchased at any computer store.

The connected hard drive looks like this:

The second end of the SATA cable is installed into the corresponding port on the motherboard. These ports are usually painted blue or red, so you can easily spot them. Naturally, in this case, it is necessary to follow the main rule for connecting any equipment - “red to red, blue to blue, etc.”

If there are no SATA connectors or they are all occupied, you can purchase a special PCI controller. If you know how to connect a network card, then you won’t have any problems installing this controller; the main thing is that there is a free slot on the motherboard.

Don't forget to secure the hard drive with screws!

After turning on the computer, the new disk should appear in the system. If this does not happen, perform the initialization procedure.

Right-click on “My Computer” and select “Manage.”

Go to Disk Management. The initialization wizard should appear on the screen. Click "OK" to launch it and complete the hard drive installation.

Second disc

Connecting a second hard drive is done in the same way. The main thing here is to maintain a distance between the hard drives so that they do not overheat.

Install the hard drive only in a special basket. Under no circumstances does it leave it hanging.

When you turn on the computer, a new disk is detected automatically. All you have to do is format it in the NTFS system. If formatting does not start automatically:

After formatting is completed, you can work with the new hard drive.

Since you are committed to improving the functionality of your computer, try connecting USB, increasing the number of available ports. You can also connect a video card to your computer if your old one doesn't suit your visual needs.

Old hard drives

If you are the proud owner of two vintage hard drives with an IDE interface and want to install them in one computer, then you will have to perform several additional steps to ensure that the equipment works correctly.

Connect the hard drive first hard drive to the motherboard and power supply.
Connect the second hard drive to the remaining connector on the cable.

Now you need to manually set the configuration of the hard drive operating modes. For this purpose, a special jumper is used.

On the hard drive that will be the main one, it should be set to the “Master” position.
The second hard drive is set to “Slave” mode.

The mode diagram should be indicated on the hard drive itself.

Finally, you need to check that the devices are defined correctly in the BIOS. Go to the basic I/O system and make sure that on the initial page of the interface the master disk is marked in the “Primary IDE Master” column, and the slave disk is marked in the “Primary IDE Slave” column. Subsequent configuration of hard drives is carried out in the same way as when connecting hard drives via the SATA interface.

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How to properly connect a second hard drive to your computer

When you purchase a new HDD, the question arises of how to connect a second hard drive to your computer. This is not difficult to do, but before you get started, you need to make sure that your system unit is not under warranty. The fact is that in order to install a second hard drive, you need to remove the side cover of the computer. This will break the seal and therefore void the warranty. To avoid such a situation, you should contact a service center.

Connecting an additional hard drive

If the warranty has expired or is missing, feel free to remove the side wall. It is secured with two screws on the back of the PC. Be sure to turn off your computer and unplug it. An additional hard drive can only be installed when the system unit is turned off. This is not a flash drive, and the HDD may simply fail.

You need to inspect the motherboard and the place where the hard drive is already installed. Most modern computers have SATA connections. Trace where the cable of the existing HDD is connected to the motherboard. There should be at least one more similar one next to this connector. This will depend on the type of motherboard you have. Large ones have up to 5-6 connectors, small ones can only have 2.

If you have a standard type of motherboard, then you just need to select a socket for connection. If you have a combo (that is, a small one), then slight difficulties may arise. The fact is that the first hard drive and optical drive may already be connected to the slots. And it may turn out that there is simply no other place to connect an additional hard drive. These are budget motherboards, and sometimes they do not provide the ability to connect multiple hard drives. How to install two hard drives in this case? You'll just have to unplug the DVD-ROM to free up the port.

If you have an old computer with an IDE connection type and only one slot left, you have the opportunity to install two equipment on one cable. This can be either 2 HDDs or a hard drive with an optical drive. When connecting on one cable, it is advisable to follow the sequence in which the system disk will be connected to the master connector, and an additional one to the slave. Master is the outermost connector on the cable, slave is in the middle. The instructions for the HDD should indicate in what position the jumpers should be set for a particular mode.

After we have figured out where to connect the second hard drive to the computer so that it recognizes it, we move on to the next point. This powers the device with electricity. Take a close look at the wires that come from the power supply. In older system units the connection type is IDE, in new ones it is SATA. Some PCs have both types at the same time. If the hard drive has a SATA port, and only IDE is left free in the power supply, do not worry. You need to purchase an adapter from one connection type to another.

We found out which connectors the second hard drive is connected to. Now it needs to be installed and secured. Find where the first hard drive is located. Depending on the size of your case, there may be one to three drive slots nearby. If there is a lot of space, it is advisable to connect two HDDs so that they are located further away from each other. Hard drives can get very hot during operation and require ventilation. The more free space around them, the better ventilation will occur.

In a small case, installing a second hard drive will mean that both hard drives will get very hot. Especially in the hot season. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a cooling system for them. When connecting a second drive, do not forget that it must be screwed to the case. Unlike solid-state drives, HDDs have mechanical parts that can be easily damaged. During transportation, the hard drive may fall out of the slot, and this will damage not only it, but also, possibly, the motherboard.

Second hard drive on a laptop

Hard drives on laptop computers do not have the same large capacity as those on stationary computers. And sometimes users want to increase space, but the laptop does not have a slot for an additional hard drive. How to connect a second hard drive to a laptop in this case? This can be done by installing an HDD instead of an optical drive.

There are special adapters for this. Without them, you won’t be able to connect another hard drive, since the DVD-ROM and HDD connectors are different. The first thing you need to do is figure out the thickness of your drive. It may vary on different laptops. The most common are 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. You can find out this way:

Use a program to diagnose equipment like Everest or AIDA. View the optical drive model and find the specifications on the Internet. The exact dimensions must be indicated on the manufacturer's website. Unscrew the drive and take measurements manually.

After purchasing the adapter, you can begin installing the hard drive. Unplug your computer and turn it off. It can only be untwisted when not in use. Pull out the optical drive. In most cases, it is secured with 2-4 screws.

Take the adapter and remove the stop, which is located on the opposite edge from the connectors. Some people try to turn on the second drive by connecting it to the adapter at an acute angle. This can break the contacts. The support is removable and is needed to fix the hard drive. Then press the hard drive firmly against the contacts. Sometimes this requires effort.

After installation and fixation with the stop, tighten the bolts to more firmly connect the adapter to the disk. In order not to spoil the appearance of the laptop, you need to remove the front panel from the optical drive and attach it to the hard drive adapter. Carefully insert the device into the laptop and put all the covers back. If everything was done correctly, the BIOS will display the new hard drive.

Disk system settings

You learned how to install a second hard drive in a PC. But this is not enough to fully work with it. Now you need to configure it so that the system recognizes it. After all, if the disk is new, it does not have marked areas and will not be displayed by the operating system. If you have Windows installed, this can be done by going to Disk Management. You can get to this menu by right-clicking on the “My Computer” icon and selecting “Manage”.

All connected drives and their capacity will be displayed in the lower central part. The new disk will be labeled "Unallocated". You need to right-click on this area and click “Create simple volume”. The “Setup Wizard” will appear, following the instructions of which you will determine the space of the future disk, the file system and assign a letter to it. Remember that two partitions cannot be assigned the same letters. To avoid having to deal with OS freezes and process failures, close all unnecessary programs. At the end of the procedure, the new hard drive will be displayed in the system.

We looked in detail at how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer. By watching the video below or above in the text, you will be able to understand and consider in more detail incomprehensible points.

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HDDiq.ru

Connecting a second hard drive to a computer

Computer equipment has long ceased to be a curiosity; almost everyone has it in stock. Only the nature of use differs: some users actively use the equipment, downloading movies, games and music onto it, while others use an electronic computer when they want to view the latest news on the World Wide Web or do some homework.

At certain times it is necessary to replace outdated components

In this regard, the load level of the hard drive also differs. If there is very little free space left, then you should not expect normal performance from your PC at all. Given these circumstances, many owners decide to purchase a second “screw”, thereby increasing disk space. However, it is very important to first find out how to connect the hard drive to the computer.

PC connection

Finding information on the Internet on how to connect a hard drive to a computer is not difficult. It is only important to carefully read all the recommendations, and then no problems will arise if the user independently installs an additional hard drive, while leaving the old one in the same place.

An old hard drive must be removed only if it has become completely unusable and cannot be restored. By installing a second hard drive along with the old one, the user receives expanded space, thanks to which all actions will be performed faster.

Installation in a PC case

Connecting a hard drive to a computer begins with the step where the user must initially place it in the case and securely fasten it.

To ensure that the “screw” is inserted correctly, you should first remove the cover from the system unit case. In the front part you can easily find special compartments designed for drives and hard drives. The drives are located at the top, and the second hard drive should be located at the bottom of such bays.

The hard drive is inserted into any free compartment, but preferably at a short distance from the existing one. This is very important, since during operation they both heat up, which will adversely affect the performance of the PC.

Then the second hard drive is inserted strictly along the guides so that the connectors are directed towards the inside of the system unit to ensure its comfortable connection in the future. When the new hard drive has taken its correct position, it should be securely fastened by tightening the screws on both sides, ensuring a tight connection with the compartment.

After fastening, you should check the strength by trying to loosen it. If the hard drive does not wobble, it means that all actions were performed correctly.

Connection using cables

Once you have successfully connected the second hard drive to your computer, you can move on to the second part of these important steps. At this stage, you should connect the second hard drive directly to the motherboard, and also ensure that power is supplied to it.

To do this, you will need to purchase additional cables. By the way, it is advisable to note that the connectors through which the hard drive is directly connected may differ, depending on the year of manufacture of the PC.

The old computer is equipped with IDE connectors, while the new one already has SATA connectors, which are characterized by amazing performance. Previously, users were instructed to pay attention to the connectors when making a purchase and to purchase only a hard drive with the desired type. Currently, finding a hard drive with an IDE connector on sale is problematic, but this does not mean that there is no hope of installing a second drive. It’s just that in this case the user is required to additionally purchase special adapters.

By connecting the second hard drive using SATA connectors and adapters, the owner of a smart machine not only ensures system performance, but also facilitates the installation process.

When installing an old hard drive with an IDE connector a few years ago, it was necessary to manually configure the operating mode of the “screws,” which involved installing jumpers in certain positions.

Connecting using SATA connectors is much easier. All connectors on the new equipment are equipped with special partitions, so it is a priori impossible to connect the second hard drive incorrectly.

USB connection

There is another alternative method that provides absolutely easy connection of new disk space, while completely eliminating the need to disassemble the system unit case.

In this regard, many people want to know how to connect an additional hard drive to a computer without experiencing any additional difficulties. The answer is obvious; the second hard “screw” can be connected to an electronic computer using a USB device.

Such hard drives receive power via the USB connector to which it is directly connected. However, this is typical only for disks measuring 1.8 or 2.5 inches. More powerful ones, for example, starting from 3.5 inches, already require an additional power source.

External devices are very easy to connect, which is why they are preferred by a large number of users.

Detecting devices in BIOS

Having ensured that the hard drive is correctly connected, you should make sure that it is displayed correctly in the BIOS, otherwise it will be simply stupid to dream of high-quality work.

To make the correct settings in the BIOS, you should also understand how to connect the old hard drive to the computer, how to connect the new hard drive, and how to ensure the correct operation of these two drives.

The user understands that the operating system is installed on one of the disk spaces; in most cases, the old hard drive is the place where the operating system was once loaded.

In this regard, in the BIOS settings, the user must set the boot priority from the old hard drive. Setting the priority incorrectly will prevent the system from booting. In the BIOS, determining the priority is quite simple, since SATA with an assigned number will be written next to the existing hard drives. It is the number that indicates priority. The hard drive with the operating system must be set to SATA 1.

If any hard drive does not appear in the BIOS, you should double-check that it is connected correctly, otherwise you will not be able to use the installed disk space.

So, installing an additional hard drive is a predictable act, accompanied by actions that can easily be performed by any user if he makes an effort and shows increased attention.

Question from a user

Hello.

Tell me, how can I connect another drive to the laptop (or is this impossible)? It’s just that my 500 GB disk is no longer enough, now I’m thinking about increasing the space...

Svetlana.

Good day!

Yes, such questions are not uncommon. In general, laptops have recently gained great popularity and are slowly replacing conventional PCs. Laptops have many advantages, but upgrading is a difficult matter. Adding another disk or changing memory is in some cases completely impossible...

It's a pity that the author of the question did not describe the essence of the problem more specifically. In this article, I will look at several ways to connect another drive to a laptop (in some cases, you may end up with 3 of them at once!). Many people connect another drive not only to increase space, but to increase the speed of the system (they install an SSD drive and transfer Windows from the HDD to it).

Methods for connecting 2 drives to a laptop

Option number 1: install the disk in the second slot in the laptop

Some laptops have two slots for hard drives (however, I want to say right away that the configuration of such laptops is quite rare). Basically, such laptops belong to the gaming category and are quite expensive.

To find out how many slots you have, just look at those. characteristics of the laptop (if you don’t have documents for the device, you can look it up on the Internet), or just remove the protective cover from the back of the laptop and take a look yourself (Important! Do not open the lid if the laptop is under warranty - this may be a reason for refusing warranty service).

Because The chance that you have two slots is small, I don’t focus on this option. An example of such a device, by the way, is in the photo below.

Toshiba Satellite X205-SLi3 - inside view (2 hard drives installed)

If you want to buy a disk for your laptop, but don’t know where to go, then I recommend reading this article:

Option No. 2: install SSD in special. connector (M.2)

If you have a new modern laptop, it is possible that you have an M.2 connector (a connector for connecting an SSD, present in many new products (usually in those that are more expensive ☺)). Created as a replacement for mSATA. Allows you to get maximum performance from installing an SSD drive.

To find out if you have such a connector, you can:

knowing the laptop model (about), look at its technical details. characteristics (the Internet is full of sites with all models of mobile devices ☺);
you can simply open the back cover of the laptop and look for the right connector with your own eyes.

Important!

By the way, this M.2 connector is quite “insidious” (even many experienced users get confused)... The fact is that it has quite a lot of varieties. Therefore, even if you have a similar connector, before ordering a new drive, read this article:

Option No. 3: connect an external HDD/SSD to a USB port

An external hard drive can help significantly expand your space. It is a small box, the size of a regular phone. Connects to a regular USB port. Such a disk, on average today, can hold about 1000-4000 GB (i.e. 1-4 TB).

If you are considering models with additional power (an adapter is usually included with some drives), then the capacity can reach up to 8 TB! I think that over time it will be even higher.

Note! You can buy external hard drives cheaper than in a regular store on AliExpress - .

There are, however, certain disadvantages to this option: extra wires on the table, lower speed of interaction with the disk (if HDD - then on average up to 60 MB/s via USB 3.0), and the inconvenience of carrying a laptop (it’s one thing to take a laptop in one hand and go, and another thing to additionally tinker with an external drive...).

True, there are undeniable advantages: such a disk can be connected to any laptop or PC, it can be used to transfer information from one PC to another (it won’t take up much space in your pocket), you can buy several of these disks and use them one by one.

Option No. 4: install another disk instead of the CD/DVD drive

Well, the most popular option is to remove the CD/DVD drive from the laptop (available in the vast majority of models) and instead insert a special adapter (some call it a “pocket”) with another disk (HDD or SSD). I’ll describe this option in a little more detail...

What kind of adapter is needed? Let's decide...

First you need to find and select this adapter correctly. It is rarely found in our regular computer stores (you need to order it from some Chinese online store, for example, from AliExpress -).

Note: in English, such an adapter is called “caddy for laptop” (this is how you enter the query in the store search bar).

Universal adapter for installing a second disk in a laptop instead of a CD drive (2nd HDD Caddy 12.7 mm 2.5 SATA 3.0)

There are 2 important points:

Adapters are available in different thicknesses! Actually, the same as disks and CD/DVD drives. The most common are 12, 7 mm and 9.5 mm. Those. before buying an adapter - you need to measure the thickness of the CD/DVD drive(best using a caliper rod, at worst - a ruler)!
disks and CD/DVD drive can come with different ports (SATA, IDE). Those. Again, you need to look at the installed CD/DVD drive live. Most often, modern laptops have drives that support SATA (they are most popular in Chinese stores).

How to remove a CD/DVD drive from a laptop

In general, of course, a lot depends on the design of your laptop. The most common case: on the back of the laptop there is a special protective cover, removing which you will be able to see the mounting screw that secures the drive in the laptop slot. Accordingly, by unscrewing this screw, you can freely remove the drive.

Some laptop models do not have a protective cover - and in order to get to the insides, you must completely disassemble the device.

Note: before removing the protective cover (and indeed, carrying out any manipulations with the laptop), unplug it and remove the battery.

Most often, the drive is fixed with one screw (see photo below). To remove it, in most cases, you will need a Phillips screwdriver.

After the screw is removed, just slightly pull the drive tray - it should “come out” of the tray with a little effort (see photo below).

Installing an SSD/HDD drive into an adapter, and the adapter into a laptop

Installing an SSD/HDD drive into the adapter is not difficult. It is enough to put it in a special one. “pocket”, then insert into the internal port and secure with screws (screws are included with the adapter).

The photo below shows an SSD drive installed in a similar adapter.

If the thickness of the adapter and the disk was chosen correctly (no more than the thickness of the CD/DVD drive), then it can also be safely pushed into the slot and secured with a screw (if the adapter has a similar fastening).

If the thickness of the disk/adapter is chosen correctly, but there are problems with insertion into the slot, pay attention to the compensating screws on the adapter: some models are equipped with them (located on the side walls of the adapter). Just remove them (or drown them).

After the adapter with the disk is installed in the drive slot, place a neat socket on the adapter so that it looks like a real drive and does not spoil the appearance of the laptop. Such sockets usually always come with adapters included (in addition, you can remove the CD drive from the removed one).

Checking if the drive shows up in the BIOS

After installing the second disk, I recommend that after turning on the laptop, go immediately to the BIOS and see if the disk is detected and visible. Most often, the identified drives can be found in the main menu: main, information etc. (see photo below).

Note!

1) If you don’t know how to enter the BIOS, I recommend this material:

2) You might find this article useful on how to transfer Windows from a hard drive (HDD) to an SSD drive (without reinstalling the system) -

Results (what is important)

Initially, check if your laptop has another slot for a hard drive, or a new connector for an M.2 SSD;
Now there are many external drives on sale that connect to a USB port - perhaps this is the best way to expand free space;
before buying an adapter for installing a disk instead of a CD drive, find out how thick your CD/DVD drive is and what ports are used (the most popular thicknesses: 9.5 and 12.7 mm);
do not open the protective cover if your laptop is under warranty (this may be a reason for refusing warranty service);
Perhaps after installing a new disk, your Windows will refuse to boot. In this case, you need to check the BIOS settings (whether a new disk has been detected and put it in the correct boot queue), and in some cases you may have to restore the bootloader. About this here:

That's all, thanks for the corrections and additions.

All the best!