Installing second hard drive question

willyoke

Commendable
Jul 4, 2017
11
0
1,510
I'm going to install a second HDD to my desktop PC. Is this as simple as installing it into my case, and then hey presto? Is there anything more I need to know, like if this will affect my OS (W10) in any way? I currently have W10 installed onto an SSD. I also have another 1TB HDD currently installed.

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
Well, more precisely, after you have installed it and verify that the original boot drive is still the boot device and Windows has started up, go into the Windows tool Disk Management. Look in the bottom part of the display for your new HDD. It should show up as a block with all Unallocated Space. RIGHT-click on that space and choose to Create a New Simple Volume.

IF this new HDD is over 2 TB in size you will need to be sure to specify that it should use the new GPT Partition system, and not the older MBR. If it's 2 TB or smaller, MBR will be fine unless you want the GPT system on it. A Full Format will take perhaps hours, so be patient. After it's finished, when you back out of Disk Management your new drive will show up inn Explorer...

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
Well, more precisely, after you have installed it and verify that the original boot drive is still the boot device and Windows has started up, go into the Windows tool Disk Management. Look in the bottom part of the display for your new HDD. It should show up as a block with all Unallocated Space. RIGHT-click on that space and choose to Create a New Simple Volume.

IF this new HDD is over 2 TB in size you will need to be sure to specify that it should use the new GPT Partition system, and not the older MBR. If it's 2 TB or smaller, MBR will be fine unless you want the GPT system on it. A Full Format will take perhaps hours, so be patient. After it's finished, when you back out of Disk Management your new drive will show up inn Explorer ready to use.
 
Solution