How to install the Hard Drive

Like with all hardware and software we recommend reading the manual BEFORE using or installing the component.

1. Set the Hard Drive Jumper. Open your hard drive users manual to the jumper section and read it if you haven't already.

If you only have one hard drive, set the jumper to "Master" or "Single" depending on your brand of hard drive. If you have two, set the one you are going to put an operating system on to "Master" and the second to "Slave."

NOTE: If you are using more than one Hard Drive, it is best to use the same IDE cable for both.

Below is what our hard drive looks like when our jumper is set to "Master." Your hard drive may differ so consult your owners manual for correct jumper placement.

2. Insert into Hard Drive bay. In most cases there are open bays below the floppy drive. Slide the hard drive in. Sometimes the bay is too large and we must install mounting brackets like we did with the floppy drive. Continue on to step 3 if you need to install brackets. If you don't then skip to step 4.

Note: Hard Drives generate a lot of heat so when installing one, set it as far away from other components as possible. Some cases still have hard drive bays near the power supply. Power supplies generate a small magnetic field which can damage or cause problems with your hard drive so avoid this if possible.

3. Installing mounting brackets. These generally come in the box with the drive when it is purchased and there is usually a guide that comes with them on how to install them. There are usually two ways they can be installed and one is generally better than the other depending on how the brackets are made.

1) You can screw them onto the drive and then insert the drive into the bay. Usually they slide right into place and the screw holes will line up, however, they sometimes are a little off and require some trial and error to line them up but this only takes a few moments and isn't that big of a deal.

2) You can mount the brackets inside the bay first and then insert the drive into the bay and continue on to step 4. As with the first method, the screw holes sometimes don't always line up like you wanted but it only takes a few moments to adjust them.

4. Screw in the Hard Drive. As you did with the floppy drive, line up the screw holes and insert screws on both sides of the case to ensure it is securely in place.

5. Connect the IDE Cable to the motherboard. Behind the FDD socket or near it is the Primary IDE socket. It is usually colored BLUE. As with the FDD cable there is only one way it can be inserted. It should line up similar to the image below. Once it is lined up, firmly press down and it should slide into place. Like with all cables, do not force it. If it does not go in the first time, you might have it backwards.

6. Connect the IDE Cable to the Hard Drive. Using the same IDE cable, connect the other end to the back of the drive. There should only be one way it can go in, but to make sure it is installed properly, line up the red wire on the IDE cable with PIN #1 which is almost always located closest to where the power cable plugs in.

7. Adding power. On the same power cable you used with the floppy drive, there is a larger 4 pin power lead. Plug this into the back of the hard drive. Also like with the floppy drive, there is only one way it can plug in.

That wasn't too bad now was it? Installing the CD-ROM drive is just as easy.