Install 2nd (old, ata) hard drive on Dell 8400

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hi

I have a Dell Dimension 8400 with a single SATA hard drive.
I want to install a second hard drive, & I want to use a 120 Gb *ATA* hard
drive I have lying around for this purpose.
( I cannot just install it on the IDE controllers as the 2 CD/DVD ROM drives
use the only PATA channel there is. The Dell has 4 SATA connectors on the
MB, thus 3 spare )

I have (foolishly ??) bought an ATA/SATA adapter that claims to enable
connection of ATA HD to SATA motherboard.

OK, I fit the adapter, connect everything up, and - the BIOS doesn't find
this 2nd drive. (Yes the BIOS is configured with the relevant SATA MB input
'active' )

I read a lot on this ng & elsewhere about having to load the xp drivers for
SATA from a floppy by hitting F6 etc etc.. but if there is already one
functional SATA drive in there (which there is) , presumably I don't have to
do this again for the second HD ??

There is loads of material around about installing xp onto a SATA HD, but
none - that I can find - that helps me with this.

Should I just give up & dump my shiny ATA drive & buy a SATA one ??

Help appreciated.


--
Paul Seaton