Adding New Hard Drives & Memory

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

HillBillyBuddhist Wrote:
> "bedhead" bedhead.1iod7n@news.computerbanter.com wrote in message
> news:bedhead.1iod7n@news.computerbanter.com...
> |
> | Could someone please provide assistance with adding new hard drives.
> |
> | I have recently purchased a Dell Dimension 8400 P4 3.2 system and
> wish
> | to make some of my own upgrades.
> |
> | The units has 1GB of RAM, 1 x Maxtor 250GB Hard Driver, 1 x DVD ROM
> and
> | 1 x DVD RW(16x).
> |
> | I have breifly looked inside and what seems to be the HDD location
> has
> | 1 drive installed with two bays remaining.
> |
> | The case also seems to have a lot of wasted space, probably for
> | airflow.
> |
> | My problem is I am not sure if there is a limit on the hard drive
> size,
> | the installed one seems extremely small to previous ones I have
> seen.
> |
> | Also, the connector is not a ribbon, therefore I assume it is SATA
> and
> | not ATA, the DVD drives have ribbons.
> |
> | What do I need to buy, i.e. another Maxtor, do I need power cables,
> and
> | how do I connect it all up, there seem to be an awful lot of wires
> in
> | there.
> |
> | Please help
> |
> |
> | --
> | bedhead
>
> Your computer came with a manual on the harddrive in PDF format.
> (complete
> with pictures :-) Originally there was a shortcut to it on the desktop.
> The
> file name on mine is W7026EN0.pdf. See page 95 "Installing a
> harddrive."
>
> The same manual is available online @
> http://support.dell.com/support/ed [...] /index.htm
>
> Buy a standard desktop (3.5" ) SATA harddrive. If you buy a boxed kit it
> will
> come with a data cable. If you buy an "OEM" drive you'll need to
> purchase a
> data cable. A spare set of drive rails are screwed to the side wall
> inside
> the case.
>
> I'm thinking about getting this one;
> http://tinyurl.com/4sujo
>
> Once installed use Windows XP's disk management to partition and format
> the
> drive.
>
>
>
> --
> D
>
> I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
> I was just trying to help.
> Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions
> or
> advice herein.
> No warranty is expressed or implied.
> Your mileage may vary.
> See store for details.
>
> Remove shoes to E-mail.


Thanks for your advice, I have have downloaded the Maxtor installation
guides, will also look for the pdf you mention and hopefully not
explode my machine ;-)


--
bedhead