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| Fix PC Problems | |
| November 2000• Vol.6 Issue 11 Page(s) 30 in print issue | |
Set Up Master/Slave Drive Relationships |
Jump to first occurrence of:
[MASTER]
[SLAVE]
[RICH]
[GRAY]
 The time has come; you need
to add more storage space to your PC. One option is to add a second hard
drive to your system. To do this, you need to set up a master/slave
relationship between your two hard drives.  Master & Slave. First, you need to
understand what a master/slave relationship is. The most common storage
interface on a computer for hard drives is IDE/EIDE
(Integrated Drive Electronics/Enhanced Integrated Drive
Electronics). Most IDE/EIDE systems come with two controllers,
both of which let you connect two drives to it. If you have only one drive
on your system, it will be set to be the master drive. The master
drive contains the startup files, and it is usually labeled, or
has a partition labeled, C:. When you add a second drive to your system,
you will have control issues between the two drives. If the two drives are
set on the same controller, one has to be set to slave,
which the master drive will control. (NOTE: Before you begin, make sure
you’re completely ready to do the job. Read this article and the manual
that came with your new hard drive completely.) Pre-Setup.
Before you start, you will want to do several things to make
sure the process goes smoothly. First, carefully read all documentation
that came with the drive. Get a clear idea in your head of the steps
involved in the process. (All drives will differ.) You also need to back
up any important files on your present hard drive, or better yet, the
entire drive. In addition, make a Startup Disk so you can boot the system
even if both drives go down.Next, make sure the system power is off and unplug the system. Sketch the interior of the computer around the drives and connectors so you can reassemble everything more easily later. Check to see that you have a free bay for the new drive and decide which drive you want to be the master. In general, you’ll want to use the fastest drive as the master, which is where you will store your system files. Jumpers.
The plastic jumpers (on/off switches) on the
back of the drives are what the PC uses to determine which is the slave
and which is the master drive. By default, most drives usually come with
their jumpers in the master position. However, by placing the jumpers in
different positions on the drive, you create a current between specific
pins, which let the computer differentiate between a slave and a master
drive. Each drive manufacturer has its own jumper configuration, so check
your new hard drive’s documentation to see how yours is set up. (You also
can look to the back of the drive; often, the settings for slave and
master will be stamped on the drive.) You can easily move jumpers by
gently pulling them out with pliers or tweezers, changing their positions,
and pushing them back in. Installation.
Once you set the jumpers, its time to connect the new drive to
the system. ( NOTE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself
when handling drives; touch something metal or wear an electrostatic
bracelet. In addition, grip the drive by its sides only; don’t touch the
circuitry.) First, figure out how you’re going to wire it in. If
you’re putting it on the same connector as the original drive, see if the
cable has an additional plug so the two drives can both plug into it and
the motherboard. If it doesn’t have an additional plug, replace the cable
with one that came with the new drive or plug the new drive into the
second connector. (Trace the first drive back to where it plugs into the
PC; the second connector should be close by.) When plugging the cable into
the drive, make sure they come together correctly. Check your
documentation for specifics, but the red edge/line on the cable should
probably line up with the #1 pin on the drive. (NOTE: It doesn’t matter
what order two drives are in on a connector. The jumpers determine which
is the master and which is the slave.) Attach the drive to your PC’s power supply, (if there aren’t empty cables coming off it, you can purchase a Y splitter at a PC store), making sure the cable correctly lines up with the drive (one edge of the connector should be rounded). Attach the drive securely in the empty bay. Then, check your hard drive’s documentation for instructions on how to configure the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) and BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and how to format the drive. Drives will usually come with utilities for making these tasks easier. You can find additional documentation, downloads, and tech support by visiting the hard drive manufacturer’s Web site.  by Rich Gray
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