Comments Inline --
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donald DeWitt
>
> * Jim,*
>
> * Yes, I do have a free drive bay and one free IDE PCI slot.
> Also, I like
> the idea of having the drive inside the computer case as
> opposed to the
> outside of it. Would there be a power supply issue here?
Shouldn't be, but then I am not familiar with the Dell power supply setup.
Does the system have a CDROM, CDRW, or DVDROM/RW? The power cable used for a
CD or DVD should be the same as the one used for a hard drive (a four pin
molex). You can purchase a "Y" splitter. On that note, if you have a CD or
DVD, how is it connected? They are usually IDE devices. It may be possible
to purchase a new IDE cable that will connect both the CD/DVD and the hard
drive. So much depends upon how the system is set up.
> I noticed that the
> extra/unused cable connector that is supplied for a second
> drive hookup has
> a different configuration and is incompatible with the old
> drive. There is
> another unused connector there that does has the correct
> configuration but I
> believe it is for a ZIP drive hookup/installation and is a
> bit short in
> length. *
This may be an IDE connection. A new cable would eliminate the length
problem if it is indeed an IDE connector. Look at the motherboard. Are any
of the ports designated IDE/IDE1/IDE2? This would be a clue.
As a last resort, you could try calling Dell tech support. They may be able
to help you with the proper setup, if it is possible.
Good luck and let us know if you have additional questions.
P.S. The Promise Ultra TX/2 card would provide the proper IDE ports for the
hard drive, so that is an option that remains even if the motherboard does
not support any IDE devices on its own.
Jim Maki
[log in to unmask]
> * *
>
> On 7/11/05, James Maki <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Donald DeWitt
> > >
> > > Dear Members, I'm running a 4yr old Dell Dimension series
> > > 4550. All my files
> > > (Word, photos, MP3s and etc.) are stored on a Western Digital
> > > Slave drive. I
> > > recently acquired (new) a series 8400 Dell. When I attempted
> > > to install the
> > > slave drive from the old computer into the new I found that
> > > the new computer
> > > has an ATA Master drive and that all the connections to it
> > > are unlike the
> > > Western Digital connections that I'm use to seeing.
> > >
> > > Question: Is there a way I can install my old Western Digital
> > > slave drive
> > > into the new computer (as a slave) using adaptor wires?
> Would this be
> > > practical? If not, what do you recommend?
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank You for your advice,
> > >
> > > Don DeWitt
> >
> > Don,
> >
> > A quick look at the Dell website did not show an 8400
> series anymore. But
> > the models shown all had the newer Serial ATA (or SATA)
> drives. It may be
> > possible to purchase a SATA to PATA (Parallel ATA, also
> known as IDE)
> > adapter, but a quick search of some online stores revealed
> PATA to SATA
> > adapters (i.e., and adapter to utilize a newer SATA drive
> on an older PATA
> > interface, the opposite of what you want to do), but no SATA to PATA
> > adapters.
> >
> > I would suggest adding an IDE PCI card instead. As long as
> you have a free
> > PCI slot in the computer, and an empty drive bay, you could
> add one of
> > these
> > cards to allow access to your older PATA hard drive. The
> Promise Ultra 133
> > TX/2 card (such as
> > http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=130401
> > and
> > http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=130405
> > would do the trick.
> >
> > Another option if you have a free USB2 port is to add an
> external drive
> > enclosure, such as
> > http://www.dealsonic.com/plpmsiusb20e.html
> > which would also give you access to the old slave drive.
> >
> > Hope this gives you some ideas you can utilize.
> >
> > Jim Maki
> > [log in to unmask]
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