Add second used hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
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Dave

I have a P4 2.4 with a 40G hard drive that is full. I have an old
computer in the basement with the same hard drive in it loaded with
Win98.
Can I just set the old HD as Slave, plug it in and use it for storage?

Should I reformat it or just delete the files and OS that is on it?
I was told by the lady at the computer store that this is hard to do
but 2 guys at work have said that they have done it and it is easy.

Thanks
Dave
 
Dave said:
I have a P4 2.4 with a 40G hard drive that is full. I have an old
computer in the basement with the same hard drive in it loaded with
Win98.
Can I just set the old HD as Slave, plug it in and use it for storage?

Should I reformat it or just delete the files and OS that is on it?
I was told by the lady at the computer store that this is hard to do
but 2 guys at work have said that they have done it and it is easy.

Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...
It is easy. Just set the hard drive in as a slave and format it.
 
Dave said:
I have a P4 2.4 with a 40G hard drive that is full. I
have an old computer in the basement with the same hard
drive in it loaded with Win98. Can I just set the old
HD as Slave, plug it in and use it for storage?
Click to expand...

Probably. Both drives are likely to be *parallel* ATA drives, which
would mean that your P4 machine has a drive controller compatible with
your second drive. Here's a picture of parallel vs. serial ATA
connections for reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA
Should I reformat it or just delete the files and OS
that is on it?
Click to expand...

Just reformat it. I would also recommend doing the full reformat over
the quick. It will take longer, but it may reveal defects in the drive
you want to know about before you start loading it with new data.
I was told by the lady at the computer store that this
is hard to do
Click to expand...

Maybe for her, or maybe she just wants your business
but 2 guys at work have said that they have done it
and it is easy.
Click to expand...

I'll always take the opinion of someone with no apparent financial
interest in my decisions over that of someone thinking they might make a
buck.
 
I have a P4 2.4 with a 40G hard drive that is full. I have an old
computer in the basement with the same hard drive in it loaded with
Win98.
Can I just set the old HD as Slave, plug it in and use it for storage?
Click to expand...

Try it and see.
Should I reformat it or just delete the files and OS that is on it?
Click to expand...

Yes, especially if it is full.
I was told by the lady at the computer store that this is hard to do
but 2 guys at work have said that they have done it and it is easy.
Click to expand...

Set the BIOS to do a POST. Look for the disk when the computer boots.

Then when Windows comes up, find the icon representing the disk under
My Computer. Right Click, Click on Format. Do a full format using NTFS
filesystem, no compression.
 
Thanks. I will try it tonight.
One more question, are the files on the old HD recoverable? I know I
have a bunch of MP3's on it that I backed up on a CD but can't find the
CD now (did it 3 years ago).

Dave
'06 GasGas EC300
 
Dave said:
Thanks. I will try it tonight.
One more question, are the files on the old HD recoverable? I know I
have a bunch of MP3's on it that I backed up on a CD but can't find the
CD now (did it 3 years ago).

Dave
'06 GasGas EC300
Click to expand...
Yes if you DON'T format it. just delete the windows directory and
program files.
 
Yes if you DON'T format it. just delete the windows directory and
program files.
Click to expand...

Better yet, back the files of interest off to the other drive and
format it. I would not want to use a drive that has gone that long in
another machine without doing a full format.

Which brings up a question. Is full formatting the same as running
CHKDSK /R? IOW, does it mark defects?
 
Better yet, back the files of interest off to the other drive and
format it. I would not want to use a drive that has gone that
long in another machine without doing a full format.
Click to expand...

More fool you. The world has moved on and you havent even noticed, again.
Which brings up a question. Is full formatting the same
as running CHKDSK /R? IOW, does it mark defects?
Click to expand...

That's done by the drive itself now.
 
Rod said:
More fool you. The world has moved on and you havent even noticed, again.
Click to expand...

his suggestion seems strange to me, since he provides no reasoning. But
neither do you. So nobody learns anything.

Nevertheless, I don't see why he says format the drive, since a
potentially bad drive is potentially bad. Formatting won't reliably fix
it. So, I don't see why you imply that in the old days that'd have
been a good idea.
That's done by the drive itself now.
Click to expand...

Interesting. . Any reference for that?

it'd be useful to know where you ran into that fact.
 
(e-mail address removed) wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Click to expand...
his suggestion seems strange to me,
Click to expand...

It was something worth doing with the old stepper motor head actuator
drives, because they would develop sector jitter over time because the
sectors would jitter about the track due to thermal effects over time.

We havent seen any hard drives with stepper motor head
actuators for many years now, well over a decade or more now.
since he provides no reasoning. But neither do you.
Click to expand...

Wrong. I did further down.
So nobody learns anything.
Click to expand...
Nevertheless, I don't see why he says format the drive,
since a potentially bad drive is potentially bad. Formatting
won't reliably fix it. So, I don't see why you imply that in
the old days that'd have been a good idea.
Click to expand...

See above.
Interesting. . Any reference for that?
Click to expand...

Use google on <reallocated sector>

I'm too lazy to separate the hits that are just SMART dumps for you.
it'd be useful to know where you ran into that fact.
Click to expand...

Its been very well known for a hell of a long time now.
 
Thank you to the guys that provided the helpful answers. It is a PATA
drive and so is the computer that I'm putting it in to. I may have to
unplug one of the CD drives though to get a spot on the cable. I think
I will just reformat right away to avoid any potential virus issues. I
had gotten a few on that computer and I am pretty sure they were taken
care of but better be safe than sorry and risk infecting the new
machine (which is actually the old second machine as I just hooked up
my new computer)

Dave
'06 GasGas EC300
 
Dave said:
Thank you to the guys that provided the helpful answers. It is a PATA
drive and so is the computer that I'm putting it in to. I may have to
unplug one of the CD drives though to get a spot on the cable. I
think I will just reformat right away to avoid any potential virus
issues. I had gotten a few on that computer and I am pretty sure
they were taken care of but better be safe than sorry and risk
infecting the new machine (which is actually the old second machine
as I just hooked up my new computer)
Click to expand...

Yeah, sensible precaution.
 
Rod said:
(e-mail address removed) wrote


It was something worth doing with the old stepper motor head actuator
drives, because they would develop sector jitter over time because the
sectors would jitter about the track due to thermal effects over time.

We havent seen any hard drives with stepper motor head
actuators for many years now, well over a decade or more now.


Wrong. I did further down.



See above.



Use google on <reallocated sector>

I'm too lazy to separate the hits that are just SMART dumps for you.


Its been very well known for a hell of a long time now.
Click to expand...


interesting, thanks
 
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