How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA?

FloridaPapa · 05-14-2008, 06:28 AM

I hope I posted this in the correct forum.

My current master hard drive C: (WD 160GB IDE drive) is almost full and starting to show signs of impending failure. I bought a new 500GB WD SATA hard drive to replace it.

My question: Can I do the swap without having to do a clean install of Windows XP Pro and all the other software and hardware currently installed? If so, how? Or, is a clean install the preferred way to go?

My GIGABYTE GA-K8N motherboard supports both IDE and SATA. I also have a slave WD IDE 120GB drive currently installed (drive D:). More info... Actually, I purchased two WD 500GB SATA drives and want to install both, one as drive C: and the other as a another secondary drive (no RAID), but I also want to keep the 120GB IDE drive installed as another place to back up files. Is this all possible?

Thank you (anyone) who can help me.

**Deleted090308** · 05-14-2008, 10:09 AM

Hi

A clean install would be better.
Of course it'll be more work, but your computer will run like it did when you got it (faster).
You will need a driver for the SATA controller on a floppy if you choose this route.

Or - you could clone and transfer the current Windows installation to the new drive.
Follow this guide: http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...ticles/47.html

Install the SATA driver for the motherboard before you clone the drive.

FloridaPapa · 05-15-2008, 04:52 PM

Thanks. I think I'll do the clean install as you suggest.

I've downloaded all the software for my SATA drives that I could find on the Western Digital download site. I've also downloaded all the latest drivers for my motherboard, printer, scanner, CD & DVD drives, video & audio cards. Have I forgotten anything?

Also, since I'm new to SATA drives and I haven't done a clean install in several years, I'm a little worried that I'll screw something up. Do you have any hints or last words of encouragement before I do this? (I'll be removing the main IDE hard drive and installing two new SATA drives, but I don't really want a RAID setup. I want the two drives to be entirely separate entities).

**Terrister** · 05-15-2008, 05:48 PM

"I've also downloaded all the latest drivers for my motherboard, printer, scanner, CD & DVD drives, video & audio cards"

Do not forget the driver for your network card. If you have this driver, you can get online and download anything you may have missed.

**Deleted090308** · 05-15-2008, 09:45 PM

Disconnect the IDE drive before you start installing Windows.

Change the boot order in BIOS - CD/DVD should be #1 and the SATA drive where you're going to install XP should be #2.

Then boot the computer with the Windows disc.
Press F6 when prompted to load the SATA driver from a floppy.

nmr59 · 09-24-2008, 07:15 AM

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I do have a related question going from IDE to SATA as my IDE died. I am going to do the same thing as above, however my floppy is USB. Also, My primary CD/DVDRom is not reading. I am moving my secondary CD/DVDRW up to the P1 cable. Will BIOS automatically recognize it? Before the swap I went in to set the CDDVDRW as 1st boot but BIOS never recognized the 2 CD/DVDs. Thanks. Nancy

05-14-2008, 06:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
FloridaPapa Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Originally from Northeast US; now living in hot & humid Central Florida Posts: 44 OS: Win XP Pro	How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? I hope I posted this in the correct forum. My current master hard drive C: (WD 160GB IDE drive) is almost full and starting to show signs of impending failure. I bought a new 500GB WD SATA hard drive to replace it. My question: Can I do the swap without having to do a clean install of Windows XP Pro and all the other software and hardware currently installed? If so, how? Or, is a clean install the preferred way to go? My GIGABYTE GA-K8N motherboard supports both IDE and SATA. I also have a slave WD IDE 120GB drive currently installed (drive D:). More info... Actually, I purchased two WD 500GB SATA drives and want to install both, one as drive C: and the other as a another secondary drive (no RAID), but I also want to keep the 120GB IDE drive installed as another place to back up files. Is this all possible? Thank you (anyone) who can help me.

05-14-2008, 10:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,281 OS: Xp	Re: How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? Hi A clean install would be better. Of course it'll be more work, but your computer will run like it did when you got it (faster). You will need a driver for the SATA controller on a floppy if you choose this route. Or - you could clone and transfer the current Windows installation to the new drive. Follow this guide: http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...ticles/47.html Install the SATA driver for the motherboard before you clone the drive.

05-15-2008, 04:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
FloridaPapa Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Originally from Northeast US; now living in hot & humid Central Florida Posts: 44 OS: Win XP Pro	Re: How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? Thanks. I think I'll do the clean install as you suggest. I've downloaded all the software for my SATA drives that I could find on the Western Digital download site. I've also downloaded all the latest drivers for my motherboard, printer, scanner, CD & DVD drives, video & audio cards. Have I forgotten anything? Also, since I'm new to SATA drives and I haven't done a clean install in several years, I'm a little worried that I'll screw something up. Do you have any hints or last words of encouragement before I do this? (I'll be removing the main IDE hard drive and installing two new SATA drives, but I don't really want a RAID setup. I want the two drives to be entirely separate entities).

05-15-2008, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 6,904 OS: Xp	Re: How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? "I've also downloaded all the latest drivers for my motherboard, printer, scanner, CD & DVD drives, video & audio cards" Do not forget the driver for your network card. If you have this driver, you can get online and download anything you may have missed. __________________

05-15-2008, 09:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,281 OS: Xp	Re: How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? Disconnect the IDE drive before you start installing Windows. Change the boot order in BIOS - CD/DVD should be #1 and the SATA drive where you're going to install XP should be #2. Then boot the computer with the Windows disc. Press F6 when prompted to load the SATA driver from a floppy.

09-24-2008, 07:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
nmr59 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Daytona Beach Posts: 69 OS: XP sp2 My System	Re: How do I replace IDE hard drive with SATA? I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I do have a related question going from IDE to SATA as my IDE died. I am going to do the same thing as above, however my floppy is USB. Also, My primary CD/DVDRom is not reading. I am moving my secondary CD/DVDRW up to the P1 cable. Will BIOS automatically recognize it? Before the swap I went in to set the CDDVDRW as 1st boot but BIOS never recognized the 2 CD/DVDs. Thanks. Nancy __________________ ~nancy ...some times my ADHD gets in the way