How to Installing A CD ROM And Hard Drive

Pre Config ChecksWhen installing hard drives and cd-roms there are a few configuration changes you need to be aware of.  They both need to be connected via an IDE cable to the motherboard,  Or sata if the hard-drive is a sata drive, but if the drive is sata no configuration changes are needed. On the motherboard there are two IDE connections, Primary and Secondary.

  Use the primary IDE connection on the motherboard to connect the hard drive. And with another IDE cable connect the cd-rom to the secondary IDE connection on the motherboard. If you have a SATA hard drive is doesn’t matter if you connect the CD-ROM to the primary or secondary IDE connection.

 

  It is possible to connect two devices to each IDE connection on the motherboard, Allowing a total of 4 devices. If you have two devices on the same IDE connection you will need to set one device to master mode and the other device to slave mode. To do this you will need to change some jumper settings on the device.

Connecting The Hard-Drive

 

Open your case and locate where the hard drive slots into. If you can not see where it goes, look directly under where the floppy drive is, This is usually where it is located. There should be a small cage underneath it. Slot the hard-drive into this space and hold in place by screwing 4 screws in to the hard drive.

 

  First connect the IDE cable which came with your motherboard, to the primary IDE connection on the motherboard. On the IDE cable there will be one side which has a red stripe on it. This red strip indicates that side needs to be connected to pin 1 in the IDE slot. If it doesn’t say on your motherboard where ping 1 is look in the manual for the motherboard.

 

  Once the IDE cable is connected to the motherboard connect the other end to the hard-disk, Again connect the red stripe to pin 1 of the hard-disks IDE connection. Next connect one power cable, from the power supply that came with your case,  to the hard-drives power connection.

Connecting The CD-ROM

 

First thing to do is remove the cover plate at the top front of the case. As soon as this has been removed slot the CD-ROM in place and screw in firmly. To connect the CD-ROM is exactly the same as hard-drive, make sure you get the IDE cable the right way round, then plug a power cable in to the CD-ROM from the power supply inside the case