To connect an external device designed to work via a USB port to a computer as a second hard disk, you just need to insert the connecting cable into the corresponding connectors on the cases of both devices. The process of installing a stationary hard drive as the second main drive in the system unit of your computer is more complicated. The sequence of actions for this particular option is described below.
Instructions
Step 1
Shut down the operating system, shut down the computer, and disconnect its network cable. Position the system unit so that you have free access to both of its side surfaces.
Step 2
Remove both side panels. As a rule, for this it is enough to unscrew two screws that connect them to the back panel, and then move 5 centimeters back and remove somewhere not very far.
Step 3
Install the new hard drive into one of the free slots in the chassis. Do this carefully so as not to accidentally disconnect wires, which are abundant inside the case. The connectors for power supply and data bus should be on the side of the motherboard, and the hard drive is secured with four screws - two on each side of the case of the system unit. Use an already installed hard drive as an example of placement and fastening.
Step 4
Connect the power cable and data cable (ribbon cable) between the new hard drive and the motherboard. These wires differ depending on the type of hard drive being installed (IDE or SATA), but in any case, their connectors are asymmetrical and there is only one way to insert connectors, so you cannot make a mistake. An already installed hard drive will help you find the right slots on the motherboard - the connectors you are looking for should be located next to those that were used to connect it. On the cases of hard drives using the IDE bus, there are jumpers with the help of which the hierarchy of the disks installed in the computer is set - one of them should be designated as primary, and all the others - as secondary. However, in most cases, there is no need to use them, since the BIOS is able to figure out the device configuration itself with the default jumpers.
Step 5
Make sure that you did not break anything inside the case of the system unit during the installation process and did not forget tools in it. Do not rush to close the case - you should first check the result of the operation performed. Connect all necessary wires, the last of which should be the network cable. Then turn on your computer and go to BIOS settings to make sure it can recognize the new device. After that, turn off the computer and reinstall the side surfaces of the system unit.
