[MRmonster]

I'm looking to buy my first SATA hdd as an add-on to my new pc & when
looking at serial ata cables, one thing confuses me.
This one here
says "Connectors: Two 7-Pin Serial ATA Females;180 degree to 90 degree", while this one here
says "90 degree to 90 degree".

What's the ultimate difference or should I say, what does it mean '90 degree & 180 degree'?

 

[MRmonster]

Drivers, really?
So I'm looking at a
Maxtor / DiamondMax 10 / 250GB / 7200 / 8MB / SATA-150

Anyone know where I can find drivers? How does it go, by motherboard, or what?

Yikes man. This stuff is starting to get to me.
Please help.

 

[MRmonster]

So, if there's already a SATA hdd attached I still need drivers for the new hdd? I'm adding this SATA drive as a secondary drive to another already installed.
The existing hdd in my system is SATA so it's a sata mobo.
And there's one available SATA connection [there's sata 0, 1, 2, & 3 which is free.] I shouldn't need any kind of adapter.

"If you have a SATA able Motherboard you should have the drivers on the install disk or as a separate floppy"
What install disk? One that comes with the hdd?

Anyway, the hdd I'm getting is an OEM so I had to buy cables separately. Tigerdirect says 'OEM hard drives do not include cables, software, or hardware (screws, brackets, etc.).'

I was informed by another friend that I shouldnt need drivers if I already have a sata drive installed & even if i do I should be able to find them on the mfr's site (such as 'Maxtor').

thanks

 

[MRmonster]

Well, I believe that the existing HDD is attached to SATA 0.
SATA 0 & 1 are grouped together. 2 & 3 are also grouped together.
That would make optical drive 1 on Sata 1, optical drive 2 on SATA 2 leaving SATA 3 open.
So, would 2 & 3 be on a separate controller?
Even so, I guess it shouldn't be a big deal getting drivers.
I'm just racing against the clock with my old machine (4yrs & 2 months) & don't want any down time before my new system is complete.
Transferred over 24gb to an external hdd with usb(not 2.0 so you can imagine how long that took), & a little more than halfway through 24 dvd's or so for music & video.
The 60gb hdd that came in it is still in there running after all this time.
I'm scared & proud all at the same time. Ha.
Thanks again.

 

[MRmonster]

---------------"ALL DONE!
Weeehoo.
I'm so relieved. Didn't need drivers either.
Had no fun though. I shut it down, installed the hdd
& went into my bios. I set the SATA settings to enable SATA 3
& rebooted. Wasn't there. Oh dear. Shutdown again, opened back up, took out the hdd plugged it back in MAKING SURE the cables were connected tightly & rebooted.
BINGO!
Initialized the drive in disk management but couldn't remember how to format.
Went into create a 'new partition' & formatted as such.
All done!!!

Now I have to show off my little setup.
C: & F: are on the primary hdd, a Seagate 250gb (233 in reality) -sata150- .
D: & E: are on the new Maxtor 250gb sata.

C: = 142gb, Windows & all installed programs.
D: = 116gb, some incoming files, photoshop projects, music production projects & misc files.
E: = 116gb, Incoming files (movie, tv, etc.) My Documents containing pictures, project files, all programs & appz that I use to install from rather than discs, & other misc files.
F: = 90gb, My Music (MP3's).
PLUS
298gb external usb 2.0 hdd, Backups of C: important files, & D: & E:

Thanks guys for your patience & support.
TSF rules."----------