Replace an EIDE HD With SATA
SATA is the new interface taking over the world of hard drives. The cables are thinner, transfer rates are faster, the signals are less susceptible to interference and the drives are easier to install. There are no jumpers to configure on SATA drives. The order you install them on the controller dictates their status in the machine. As a result, manufacturers are producing SATA drives instead of the older PATA (EIDE) drives.
If you have only used EIDE hard drives in the past, upgrading to SATA may seem a bit intimidating. There are new connections and a new interface. Fortunately most newer motherboards contain both EIDE and SATA controllers and connections to make the transition easier. With a few steps you can replace your older EIDE hard disk with a newer SATA hard drive and embrace the newer technology yourself.
Instructions
Upgrading
1. Back up all data on the EIDE hard drive that you are replacing.
2. Place the operating system install disk into the optical drive of the computer.
3. Power down the computer.
4. Unplug all cables from the computer (Power, USB, video, Ethernet, etc.).
5. Open the computer case.
6. Remove the EIDE hard drive and ribbon data cable from the computer.
7. Install the SATA hard drive in the bay that the EIDE hard drive occupied, reusing the screws to secure the SATA hard drive.
8. Connect one end of the SATA data cable to the motherboard. Place it in the SATA port numbered as primary (generally they will have numbers marking them, or the first one will be a different color).
9. Connect the other end of the SATA data cable to the back of the SATA hard drive.
10. Connect the power cable from the power supply to the power port on the back of the SATA drive.
11. Reconnect the power, video, keyboard and mouse cables to the computer.
12. Turn on the monitor and power on the computer.
13. Immediately upon boot, press the required key combination (each computer may be different) to choose which device to boot from.
14. Select the optical drive as the boot device and press "Enter."
15. Allow the computer to boot from the operating system install disk.
16. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the operating system on the computer. Install drivers as required by your operating system of choice.
17.After installing your operating system, power down your computer and close the case. This step is left for last in case of loose connections.
Tags: hard drive, EIDE hard, operating system, SATA hard, SATA hard drive, data cable, EIDE hard drive