Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150

pasteiner · 12-10-2007, 09:53 PM

I hope someone could help. I have a Dell GX150 desktop that came with a 20GB hard drive. I want to either add a second 160GB Hitachi hard drive or replace the 20GB hard drive with the 160 GB hard drive. I can't seem to get the computer to recognize the second hard drive or the 160 hard drive when it is the only drive. Does anyone know how I could get the 160 GB hard drive to work in this computer?

**Deleted090308** · 12-11-2007, 09:36 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

How is the new drive connected? As a master or slave drive?
If you connect it to the same ribbon cable as your old drive - set the jumper on the new HDD to "slave" and the old to "master".

Can you see the new drive on BIOS? To enter BIOS you tap F2 when the computer starts.

pasteiner · 12-16-2007, 12:00 PM

I have the new drive as slave and the old as master and it does not work. I check the bios and it does not seem to recognize the 160GB hard drive.

**Deleted090308** · 12-16-2007, 01:11 PM

And the computer doesn't recognize the drive when it's "alone" on the ribbon cable?

Are there any "signs of life" from the drive - vibrations, sound, blinking HDD light at the front of the computer case?

jbirdie1 · 12-19-2007, 02:49 AM

dell only uses csel...NOT master/slave so set both drives to csel(cableselect) so now, hurry n get my check in the mail, xmas is comin ya know, aloha

pasteiner · 12-24-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbirdie1

dell only uses csel...NOT master/slave so set both drives to csel(cableselect) so now, hurry n get my check in the mail, xmas is comin ya know, aloha

I tried with the original 20GB drive in the Dual (master) setting and the 160GB drive I am trying to add set to cable select (16 logical head settings) and it still did not recognize the 160GB drive. I also tried with the 160GB drive in cable select (15 logical head setting) with the same results. I also tried both of the above with the original 20GB drive in cable select with the same results. It seems the computer boots with the original drive in either Dual (master) or cable select.

At this point I do not know what to try. Any suggestions? I have heard some say that I need to do something in the bios, but what? Do I need to do the above again in conjunction with some changes in the bios? I have also heard that I should be able to at least get the computer to recognize the second drive as a 40GB drive, but I have not even gotten that. Please, anyone out there that could help?????

**Deleted090308** · 12-26-2007, 09:29 AM

If you have both drives connected to the same cable you shouldn't have to change anything in BIOS.

If you choose cable select both drives have to be configured that way.

I think you should hook the Hitachi up as a slave drive on the ribbon cable's middle plug - the old drive as master at the end of the cable.

What model is the Hitachi?

pasteiner · 12-28-2007, 10:06 PM

I now have the 160GB Hitachi HD connected as a slave drive on the ribbon cable's middle plug and the old 20GB drive as master at the end of the cable. The computer boots up OK, but I do not see the second HD. I only see the "C" drive. However, when I go into the BIOS I see the following:

device 0: Hard drive
device 1: Hard drive

Does this mean the computer is seeing the 160GB HD? If it is why can't I find an icon for it when the computer is on?

The Dell seems to be booting OK when the original 20GB drive is in "device master" or "cable select". The Hitachi HD is model HDT722516DLAT80, 164GB.

I am a loss as to what else to try. Please help!

**Deleted090308** · 12-28-2007, 10:22 PM

It sounds like it's working now.
But - you need to format the new hard drive before you can use it.

To do that - open Disk management:
Start > Settings > Control panel > Administrative tools > Computer management > Disk management.
In Disk management > right click the new drive > choose "New Partition" and follow the wizard.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000

pasteiner · 01-07-2008, 07:19 PM

I did the above as suggested and I got the 160 Hitachi HD to work!!! However, there are still a few issues. On startup I get the error message "Plug & Play Configuration Error". It then gives the option of F1 to continue setup or F2 to enter the bios utilities. Also, when I plug a USB memory stick into the USB port the computer freezes and the computer, via the USB, will not sync with my iPOD. It seems the USB ports are not working? I am assuming this is all due to the "plug and play configuration" error. Please help!!!!

**Deleted090308** · 01-08-2008, 04:49 AM

Good news, sort of.

I don't know the Dell BIOS.
Press F2 - then load "Defaults"(or something similar).

pasteiner · 01-08-2008, 09:54 AM

I pressed F2, but it was not obvious to me what if anything needed to be changed in the setup BIOS. When I go under "Device Manager" to the USB drives I see the following warning "This drive cannot start (code 10)". I am assuming this is all related. Anyone have a suggestion regarding the "plug and play configuration" error along with this information on the USB ports?

**Deleted090308** · 01-08-2008, 10:26 AM

It could be an expansion card has become loose.

Have a look here: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...blems.htm#msgs

Scroll down to "Plug and Play Configuration Error".

dallastech · 11-11-2008, 11:20 AM

I have the same problem...i can't get my old Dell Dimension 4500 POS to recognize my 2nd harddrive that I am trying to add. I've tried various combinations of setting the jumpers on the main drive to master, cable select and the 2nd harddrive to the coresponding slave or cable select, but for some reason the 2nd drive keeps screwing it up.
What i mean is, it boots fine with the main drive on the end (black) connector of the IDE cable and set to master or cable select, but when i hook up the 2nd drive on the middle (gray) connector and set it to slave or cable select, it only shows the blue Dell logo and then says "insert a valid boot device" or something of the like. I try going to BIOS, but under the IDE configuration it has the master and slave grayed out as if it doesn't recognize either of the drives.
This is very frustrating, especially since it will boot up fine w/ just the main drive.
Any of you have any ideas? Should I switch the drives (main to middle and 2nd to end)? Could my 2nd drive be bad?

12-10-2007, 09:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
pasteiner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I hope someone could help. I have a Dell GX150 desktop that came with a 20GB hard drive. I want to either add a second 160GB Hitachi hard drive or replace the 20GB hard drive with the 160 GB hard drive. I can't seem to get the computer to recognize the second hard drive or the 160 hard drive when it is the only drive. Does anyone know how I could get the 160 GB hard drive to work in this computer?

12-11-2007, 09:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 Hi, welcome to TSF. How is the new drive connected? As a master or slave drive? If you connect it to the same ribbon cable as your old drive - set the jumper on the new HDD to "slave" and the old to "master". Can you see the new drive on BIOS? To enter BIOS you tap F2 when the computer starts.

12-16-2007, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
pasteiner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I have the new drive as slave and the old as master and it does not work. I check the bios and it does not seem to recognize the 160GB hard drive.

12-16-2007, 01:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 And the computer doesn't recognize the drive when it's "alone" on the ribbon cable? Are there any "signs of life" from the drive - vibrations, sound, blinking HDD light at the front of the computer case?

12-19-2007, 02:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
jbirdie1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 74 OS: winxp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 dell only uses csel...NOT master/slave so set both drives to csel(cableselect) so now, hurry n get my check in the mail, xmas is comin ya know, aloha

12-26-2007, 09:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 If you have both drives connected to the same cable you shouldn't have to change anything in BIOS. If you choose cable select both drives have to be configured that way. I think you should hook the Hitachi up as a slave drive on the ribbon cable's middle plug - the old drive as master at the end of the cable. What model is the Hitachi?

12-28-2007, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
pasteiner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I now have the 160GB Hitachi HD connected as a slave drive on the ribbon cable's middle plug and the old 20GB drive as master at the end of the cable. The computer boots up OK, but I do not see the second HD. I only see the "C" drive. However, when I go into the BIOS I see the following: device 0: Hard drive device 1: Hard drive Does this mean the computer is seeing the 160GB HD? If it is why can't I find an icon for it when the computer is on? The Dell seems to be booting OK when the original 20GB drive is in "device master" or "cable select". The Hitachi HD is model HDT722516DLAT80, 164GB. I am a loss as to what else to try. Please help! Last edited by pasteiner; 12-28-2007 at 10:08 PM.

12-28-2007, 10:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 It sounds like it's working now. But - you need to format the new hard drive before you can use it. To do that - open Disk management: Start > Settings > Control panel > Administrative tools > Computer management > Disk management. In Disk management > right click the new drive > choose "New Partition" and follow the wizard. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000

01-07-2008, 07:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
pasteiner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I did the above as suggested and I got the 160 Hitachi HD to work!!! However, there are still a few issues. On startup I get the error message "Plug & Play Configuration Error". It then gives the option of F1 to continue setup or F2 to enter the bios utilities. Also, when I plug a USB memory stick into the USB port the computer freezes and the computer, via the USB, will not sync with my iPOD. It seems the USB ports are not working? I am assuming this is all due to the "plug and play configuration" error. Please help!!!!

01-08-2008, 04:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 Good news, sort of. I don't know the Dell BIOS. Press F2 - then load "Defaults"(or something similar).

01-08-2008, 09:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
pasteiner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I pressed F2, but it was not obvious to me what if anything needed to be changed in the setup BIOS. When I go under "Device Manager" to the USB drives I see the following warning "This drive cannot start (code 10)". I am assuming this is all related. Anyone have a suggestion regarding the "plug and play configuration" error along with this information on the USB ports? Last edited by pasteiner; 01-08-2008 at 09:55 AM.

01-08-2008, 10:26 AM	#13 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 It could be an expansion card has become loose. Have a look here: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...blems.htm#msgs Scroll down to "Plug and Play Configuration Error".

11-11-2008, 11:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
dallastech Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Ubuntu	Re: Adding 2nd HD to Dell GX150 I have the same problem...i can't get my old Dell Dimension 4500 POS to recognize my 2nd harddrive that I am trying to add. I've tried various combinations of setting the jumpers on the main drive to master, cable select and the 2nd harddrive to the coresponding slave or cable select, but for some reason the 2nd drive keeps screwing it up. What i mean is, it boots fine with the main drive on the end (black) connector of the IDE cable and set to master or cable select, but when i hook up the 2nd drive on the middle (gray) connector and set it to slave or cable select, it only shows the blue Dell logo and then says "insert a valid boot device" or something of the like. I try going to BIOS, but under the IDE configuration it has the master and slave grayed out as if it doesn't recognize either of the drives. This is very frustrating, especially since it will boot up fine w/ just the main drive. Any of you have any ideas? Should I switch the drives (main to middle and 2nd to end)? Could my 2nd drive be bad?