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March 17th, 2006 14:00

I'm trying to install an additional hard drive in a E310

I recently got a Dimension E310 and am wanting to add another hard drive I already have (Seagate 250GB). There is one 5.25" bay available that I could put it in (with an adapter), but I also noticed there is a space right below the system's own hard drive located at the bottom of the casing. It has the extra power connector as well so I figure something is meant to go down there. However, the installed system hard drive seems to be connected to the motherboard via a special connector. Therefore, there is only 1 IDE cable/channel & its connected to the DVD drive. Is there any way of installing a new hard drive right under the current one?
 

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 17th, 2006 15:00

northview
 
If you wish to install an IDE hard drive, in the second 3.5" bay, instead of the optical bay, you will have to buy the carrrier for it from Dell, this carrier is made for an SATA drive, you may have to modify it.    As the installed IDE cable cannot be connected to the IDE hard drive, in this location due to it's limitations, you will need to buy a PCI IDE controller card [$30/50].
 
You could use an USB 2.0 IDE external enclosure, install the IDE hard drive in it, then connect the drive to a USB 2.0 port.
 
Bev.
 
 
 
 

223 Posts

March 17th, 2006 15:00

OK, I see what you are saying and its pretty much kind of what I thought, but just wanted to make sure. I will probably put the extra hard drive in the available 5.25" optical bay. It will obviously need an adapter. I was looking at getting one from CompUSA. Below is a link to the one I am looking at getting. Will this work for that 5.25" bay?

 

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50891745&pfp=SEARCH

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 17th, 2006 15:00

northview
 
The brackets should be fine.
 
Bev,

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 17th, 2006 23:00

derek101700
 
It's not advisable to use an IDE data cable longer than 18".
 
 
Bev.

137 Posts

March 17th, 2006 23:00

just that the cable cant reach the 3.5 in bay

maybe an IDE cable extender?

366 Posts

March 18th, 2006 13:00

Bev,

He is posting bad information all over the forum. Hopefuly Dell is being notified.

X-Rogue
"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." -- Albus Dumbledore

For the newbies ~ www.djdenham.com/etiquette.htm

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 18th, 2006 18:00

X-Rogue wrote:
 
" Bev,
  He is posting bad information all over the forum. Hopefuly Dell is being notified."
 
I've noticed that and I'm certain that Dell has been.
 
Bev.

March 22nd, 2006 00:00

I just got my E310 over the weekend and noticed that there's a slot for the second harddrive that I had from my old computer, BUT, I also saw that Dell uses these blue plastic clips to hold the drives in and that no extras were in my box.  So the question is:  Where can I obtain one of those clips?

Then, I see that the HD in the new Dell has this small connection that is in no way like any of the IDE cable connections I used in my old set up... so how do I wire this old harddrive into the new Dell?  I know I could get a docking port and USB it into the computer, but I'd prefer to keep it in the box and limit my external peripherals.

Any ideas?

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 22nd, 2006 02:00

Brandon206

 The E310 second hard drive "tray" can be purchased from Dell Spare Parts @ 1-800-357-3355 option 4, M-F 7 to 7 CDT and have the system's "Service Tag" handy.
 
If you have one optical drive installed, you could connect the second hard drive to the middle connector, set the jumpers to "cable select" and install the drive in the spare 5.25" bay,using a set of the following brackets, as shown here.
 
To install an IDE hard drive, in the second hard drive 3.5" bay, instead of the optical bay, you will have to buy the carrrier for it from Dell, as noted above, this carrier is made for an SATA drive, you may have to modify it.    As the installed IDE cable cannot be connected to the IDE hard drive, in this location due to it's limitations, you will need to buy a PCI IDE controller card [$30/50].

You could use an USB 2.0 IDE external enclosure, install the IDE hard drive in it, then connect the drive to a USB 2.0 port.

Bev.
  
 
 
 
 

223 Posts

March 22nd, 2006 16:00

OK, I think I'm gonna probably put my extra IDE hard drive in the available 5.25" bay (w/ adapters), but I am also thinking of maybe taking out the floppy drive and put it in there instead. However, where do I find a cover plate for the floppy bay on this E310?

 

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 22nd, 2006 17:00

Brandon206 
 
That's what I used for my D-8400, to install a spare "off the shelve" IDE hard drive for additional storage and backups.
 
Bev. 

10 Elder

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46K Posts

March 22nd, 2006 17:00

northview
 
Call Dell Spare Parts @ 1-800-357-3355 option 4, M-F 7 to 7 CDT and have the system's "Service Tag" handy.
 
Bev.

March 22nd, 2006 17:00

hmmm... sounds like the external USB idea will work best for me. Thanks Bev!

223 Posts

March 31st, 2006 13:00

OK, I've talked to the DELL parts dept. about getting a floppy cover for my E310. They said its part number #J9061, but they don't have it in stock. I've called several times now to see if its back in stock yet, but it isn't. They also tell me they are not sure or know when they will have it back. I get the impression it will never be back in stock. Anybody have any other suggestions on where to get this part other than DELL directly?

 

Message Edited by northview on 03-31-2006 10:45 AM

10 Elder

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46K Posts

May 18th, 2007 19:00

ziggenpuss

Adding 2nd SATA hard drive to E310/3100,

After you've physically installed the second SATA drive, then enter the setup and check that the hard drive is set to "Auto" [on].

How to install hard drive

Motherboard Layout

E310/3100 Setup

A SATA [90* x 180* x 24"] data cable, will be required, similar as the unit shown here

In order for windows XP to recognize the second hard drive, it must be partitioned and formatted.
These are generic instructions for installing an additional hard drive using Windows XP Disk Management, they are by Seagate, but apply to all brands.

Bev.





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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

Message Edited by shesagordie on 05-18-2007 03:59 PM
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