IDE Primary, SATA Secondary

txretro · 06-25-2009, 03:18 PM

I currently have a 320 GB IDE drive (partitioned to four drive letters) that's filling up quickly. Since my board will support SATA, I'm thinking about adding one as a secondary drive. Can I run an SATA as a secondary drive, with the IDE as primary (containing the OS), or does the SATA have to be ran as primary? I used to be hardcore into computers and related hardware - used to follow this stuff religiously - but I got burned out. I still build my own systems, and assist friends and family with their computer related problems, but I'm somewhat out of the loop when it comes to the latest and greatest parts and pieces. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanx!

**simpswr** · 06-25-2009, 03:44 PM

and welcome to the Forum

Look thru your BIOS to see if it offers the options to select boot device. . some boards do and others do not.

txretro · 06-25-2009, 03:46 PM

Thanx, will do.

usasma · 06-25-2009, 04:41 PM

I did this with XP accidentally and had no issues with it for about a year.

Should you decide to install an OS on the SATA drive, the system will boot to the IDE drive and then transfer control to the OS on the SATA drive (it's a little slower that way).

txretro · 06-26-2009, 01:58 PM

What happened after that year? Still works I hope...

06-25-2009, 03:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
txretro Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 3 OS: Win XP	IDE Primary, SATA Secondary I currently have a 320 GB IDE drive (partitioned to four drive letters) that's filling up quickly. Since my board will support SATA, I'm thinking about adding one as a secondary drive. Can I run an SATA as a secondary drive, with the IDE as primary (containing the OS), or does the SATA have to be ran as primary? I used to be hardcore into computers and related hardware - used to follow this stuff religiously - but I got burned out. I still build my own systems, and assist friends and family with their computer related problems, but I'm somewhat out of the loop when it comes to the latest and greatest parts and pieces. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanx!

06-25-2009, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,269 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: IDE Primary, SATA Secondary and welcome to the Forum Look thru your BIOS to see if it offers the options to select boot device. . some boards do and others do not. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

06-25-2009, 03:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
txretro Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 3 OS: Win XP	Re: IDE Primary, SATA Secondary Thanx, will do.

06-25-2009, 04:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
usasma Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southeastern CT, USA Posts: 1,646 OS: Vista (x64); Win7 (x32 & x64)	Re: IDE Primary, SATA Secondary I did this with XP accidentally and had no issues with it for about a year. Should you decide to install an OS on the SATA drive, the system will boot to the IDE drive and then transfer control to the OS on the SATA drive (it's a little slower that way). __________________ aka John MVP Windows - Desktop Experience "There are very few problems in life that can't be fixed by the proper application of high explosives" If I haven't replied in 48 hours, please send me a PM.

06-26-2009, 01:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
txretro Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 3 OS: Win XP	Re: IDE Primary, SATA Secondary What happened after that year? Still works I hope...