Installing a new hard drive

Okay, Thanksgiving Holiday I'm installing a new hard drive; going from 6 gig to 20 gig.

Got the HD: Maxtor 20 Gig EIDE ATA/133, 2MB Cache, but no diskette or instructions with it. Just the hard drive.

I have a good idea how to install the HD, but can you send me your CHECKLIST to install a hard drive before I get started?

Also, I'm going to load WIN2000 and want to know, do I need a boot disk with the installation? I went to the NET and found Win2000 Pro boot disks, but it's 3.8Mg; can't copy to a 3.5" disk.

Will a ME boot disk be okay to use as a boot disk?

 

Hi Sal

This may not be as simple as it seems to you, unless you have had experience installing other HD's. At least when it comes to win2k!

There are several considerations! Somewhat less for win98 but more for win2k!

Win2k has more stringent requirements to know exactly what controller is bing used, especially if it is an Ultra DMA controller so it will almost always need the specfic driver for the controller. Win98 would just use a generic Microsoft or Microsoft supplied driver!

You don't say if you wish to update your win98 or do a full clean install of win2k? Or if you want to add the old HD back also!

Does your bios support this size drive? I would reccomend that you go to the maxtor web site below and download the HD install program! It will fully install and format this drive for you quickly and easily and will add Bios support if your computer has none! This program will create 2 disks, 1 to boot from and the other to do the install of the HD!

http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/

Additionally it will allow you to attach your old HD and transfer your old to the new so that it will now boot from the new HD just like your old.

If you have a lot of software that has been personalized, emails data, internet settings etc. You may wish to upgrade to win2k! If you do a clean install you had better have all the CD's and software ready to install, know all the settings etc!

But upgrading has it's pitfalls also! Some people don't even reccomend it! But done properly it has always worked for me and I have done dozens of upgrades and more clean installs than I can count!

If you wish to do this then let me know and I will give specfic instructions but below are the basics to make it work!

Uninstall all unused or old programs using add/remove!

Uninstall special hardware like say scanners etc, they will most definately need win2k drivers anyway!

Clean your startup untill only explorer and systray are running!

Clean all temps both win and internet! Delete win swap file last before install!

Absoloutely clean of virus's!

No particular boot up problem!

Clean registry!

Now let me tell you about Ultra DMA 33 66 100 133 etc.
Any of the numbers above are faster than standard IDE. But these drives will run on a standard controller. But you will not get the speed of Ultra unless you have an Ultra controller! Ultra 133 as you have is the newest speed!

Problem! You will need to check your Bios to see if it has a setting for Ultra DMA! If not and you are using the motherboard connectors you have 2 choices! Accept the drive as is or buy an Ultra controller!

Problem 2! If you do have an onboard Ultra controller then what speed does it support! If it says 100 then that is as fast as it goes, 100 may be oK for you!

Problem 3! Some of these mother board controllers will slow down to the slowest speed of the slowest drive on the cable! So lets say you slaved your old 6g HD on this cable! You just lost Ultra dma speed! Remember this is not absoloute, some mother board controlers in the newer computers will handle mixed speeds properly!

Maxtor has the best addon Ultra DMA controller I think, that does support 133 and mixed drive speeds on the same cable!

Think about this! Ultra DMA is the best speedup you can buy excepting memory, 133 will give you a very noticable speed boost! But if you need to slave anything like a 2nd hd or cd or cdr then you need the correct controller!

Ultra DMA also requires a special cable 80 wires instead of 40. When comparing an Ultra to a standard cable the Ultra has finer smaller wires and the standard looks coarse by comparison!

In closing! You do not need floppys to install win2k! The install CD is bootable so all you have to do is go to BIOS/CMOS and set the CD to bootable. Different BIOS's have different wording etc! Most will give a prompt "to boot from CD hit a key" etc!

OK! Maybe enough info for you?

Mike

 

Here's your answer

"You don't say if you wish to update your win98 or do a full clean install of win2k? Or if you want to add the old HD back also! "

I'm removing the Win98 6 Gig HD and putting in a brand new spanking brand new 20 GIG Maxtor. Thanks for the link.

After I put in the 20 Gig, I will load W2K.

This will not be an upgrade -- unless youI recommend putting Win98 on FIRST and then overlaying with the W2K?

I want to partition 5 gig for WinXp which I also have but don't want to use just yet because of old drivers.

My system: IBMPC, 800 MHZ Duron, 256 Meg Ram.

Any more checks I should do -- do you think I can do this or should I take it to an expert?

 

Hello again Sal

No you sound to me confident enough to do this yourself!

We will help!

As to clean install or upgrade!

That will have to be your decision! If you upgrade then when win2k comes up the first time all of your software from win98 will be there and should work as always. The internet settings the emails the documents and all the little personalizations you have done over the years!

If you do a clean install that only puts win2k on the HD! That is only half the work. Now you will have to install all of your software, copy all documents favorites bookmarks internet settings etc! Do you even have all the program install disks to do this! Then there is the device drivers for all your devices like the video and sound! Some of these will have to be upgraded for win2k also!

I would upgrade! But you are the one who has to do the work!

Are you familiar with the BIOS/CMOS? How to get in move around etc?

We need more info before we begin!

What is the exact model of your computer! With this I can log to IBM and find out what kind of controller was sold with this computer!

Do you have a cd writer or dvd?

What kind of internet access do you have, modem or broadband?

If broadband do you have a network card or is the connection by USB? If USB you would want to have this disconnected while installing win2k!

We need to find out what type of disk controller you have. Then you need to make a decision on how to handle that!

if you have an ultra controller then ok!

if not do you use the ata133 as a standard HD and forget the speedboost of 133!

or buy a ultra controller!

These are the steps I would take!

1. Install the HD with 3 partitions!
2. hook up the old hd and copy win98 to drive c:
3. Get it running on the new drive just like the old!
4. do the cleanups of win98 to prep for win2k
5. Win2k upgrade!

Your move! Smile!

Mike

 

Followup

"If you do a clean install that only puts win2k on the HD! That is only half the work. Now you will have to install all of your software, copy all documents favorites bookmarks internet settings etc! Do you even have all the program install disks to do this! Then there is the device drivers for all your devices like the video and sound! Some of these will have to be upgraded for win2k also! "

I was intending to put in a completely new hard drive and load Win2K (clean install?). I have all the CD software and all the data files backup on zip disk.

" What is the exact model of your computer! With this I can log to IBM and find out what kind of controller was sold with this computer!" It was a customized built IBM PC.

"Do you have a cd writer or dvd?" DVD Player

"What kind of internet access do you have, modem or broadband?" Both modem and DSL.

"If broadband do you have a network card or is the connection by USB? If USB you would want to have this disconnected while installing win2k!" Kingston Ethernet Adapter.

"We need to find out what type of disk controller you have. Then you need to make a decision on how to handle that!" In the Device Manager Hard drive controllers state: primary IDE controller, secondary IDE controller, VIA bus master PCI IDE controller.

if you have an ultra controller then ok!

"if not do you use the ata133 as a standard HD and forget the speedboost of 133!" The Maxtor is ATA/133, 2MB Cache. Are you saying I have to have a *special* controller for the ATA/133?

or buy a ultra controller!

 

So a clean install is your call! Smile! I wax Poetic!

OK, as long as you have the backups and software and time to restore!

So now what about the controller question?

Mike

 

How do I know what type of controller

I can only go by the Device Manager. Or should I crack the case open and read it?

 

Not nessesary!

Do you have the manual that came with the computer?

As I asked earlier, what is the model of the computer! Like Adaptiva 234 etc!

With this info we can log to IBM and tell!

Mike

 

It's a generic that I had a shop build for me

It's not a name brand. But it works! and it cost less than $500!

 

Somehow you lost yourself - if you are hesitant about installing XP because of "old drivers ", just what do you think your 2K installation is going to think about "old drivers "? I trust you are aware that when you pull the old drive out and slap in a new one, your drivers are no more - period. You would be well advised to pull all cards except video out of your machine and set your first boot device to CDROM. If you are worried about floppies (which you don't need to do a 2K install), you can make them from your 2K CD. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but it sounds like you are about to experience far more than you have bargained for. Then again - whatever blows your skirt up. Good Luck.

 

Stay with Win98?

It sounds like I should stay with Win98.
If it aint broke . . . ?

Okay, here's what I have according to the Future Power motherbd manual:

"Primary IDE connector (40pinblock)
Secondary IDE connector (40pin block)
Under "integrate IDE ", 2 channel of Bus Master IDE port supporting Ultra DMA33/66 mode devices
BIOS: Award 2 MB flash ROM

The FP-KT133 Motherboard uses the newest VIA KT-133 chipsent. The FP-KT133 motherboard offers ULtra ATA 66. "

Under advanced Bios:
First boot device: floppy
Second Boot devices: HDD-0
Third Boot Device: LS120 (should I change this to the Zip Drive?)
Boot other Device: Enabled

Don't see anything about the controller.
On the last page there's a section: How to update Bios and it walks through how to make a boot disk and copy utility program to boot disk. Should I do that?


I am using the VIA Service Pack (all drivers) "Magic Install" supports Win95/98/98SE/NT4.0/2000.

I guess this means the HD doesn't support XP?

Any further thoughts?

 

Based on your last post alone, I think you would be well advised to seek some assistance (ie: find someone to do this for you). You have been sent down the wrong road with all this commentary about "controllers ", your motherboard is at least 2 years old, you don't even want to think about flashing your bios by yourself, you have ignored setting your first boot device to CDROM and the latest official release of Via's 4 in 1 drivers is 4.43.

Sal_gal - save yourself a lot of frustration and perhaps a lot of money - find somone who knows what they are doing and ask them if they will guide you through this - not trying to be nasty here, but you are in way over your head.

 

OK Sal


From you specs it says you do have Ultra DMA of 33 and 66!

This is better than standard HD speed but still half of the speed of your 133 drive.

In other words your controller will run this HD at 66 not 133!

If you are going to do this thing then to do it right I reccomend
that you buy a Ultra 133 controller!

You are trying to make this harder than it really is! Now you are wondering if to stay with 98 etc!

You asked so here is what to do!!!!!

Before anything else find and download win2k drivers for all your hardware like Video sound etc!

1. You have Win2k so forget XP untill your next new computer!

2. Install a new 133 controller for the new HD! Do not remove
the old drive!

3. Disconnect the old HD (ribbon cable only) while installing the
new controller and HD! Make 3 partitions (drives c d e)!

4. After new HD and controller are installed and working
reconnect the old hd (to the 2nd connector on the new
controller) (this will make it a secondary master so it will no
longer be bootable) and transfer win98 to new HD drive c: Do
this using the Maxtor disk!

5. Reboot! Now you have win98 running on your new HD at 133
speed! But you have an interesting fact that now your old 6g
HD is now showing as drive d: Just confirm this then shut
down and unplug the ribbon cable to the old drive again!
Then reboot! Now it comes up with only the new HD and d: is
empty!

NOW! We have your win98 on this old drive as a backup and
to get at it all we do is reccnnect the cable! If there are
problems installing win2k then we can get win98 back anytime!

6. Now cleanup win98! Then do an upgrade install of win2K on
drive c:! If it don't work, all we need to do is hook up the
other HD and get our win98 back!

7. OPTION! Win2k will install on any drive and allow you to run
both win2k or win98. This is called dual booting! It will ask
when you boot if you want win2k or win98! So install a clean
win2k on drive d: if you want!

8. Finally after everything is working like we want! We will FDISK
the old drive as an extended partition then format and on
reboot it will come up as drive f: that you can use as you
want!

These are the steps! Print this as a guide before you begin! This BBS and I will help as you proceed!

Mike

 

Sal

I presume that you are not ready to buy a new computer!

Trying to save some money by doing it yourself!

Want to learn something about this! (Maybe!)

Everyone has their own ROAD! This mine!

If you do it as I suggested in my last message and keep your old HD as it now is, untill everything is working on your new HD! Then you will have nothing to lose but time!

At anytime you can go back to the old HD and run as always!

So this is your safety valve!

Now I agree, if you don't feel comfortable doing this, or you don't care to learn and you can afford it, then take it to a pro!

When you asked for help I presumed you had already considered taking it to a shop!

Therefore I have no alternative but to answer your question and give details! That is all I did! All I can do!

Just let us know what you want to do!

Mike

 

Where do I buy a 133 Controller

Can I shop it online at pricewatch.com?

I normally buy all my own hardware and peripheral 'stuff' and take it to the tech to do the work, but I was led to believe I could do it myself.

Here's what we have:
1) Get a 133 Controller FIRST
2) Update the Motherboard
3) Save the Win98 HD which I was going to do anyway
4) I don't have the money for a tech and believe it or not, I'm the most experienced person in my building to do this
5) I thought all I needed to do was swap one hard drive for another, but according to you it's much more than that! HAH!

Anything else I should consider?

Getting started with the M/b bios update today. That should be easy. Just an easy download l?

 

Excuse me I'm at the M/b web site

It looks like all I have to do is download the update for the KT133 M/b. What could go wrong?

 

Hi Sal

Be careful in flashing the BIOS! The utility that you downloaded probably has a backup feature so use that! Then if something bad happens you can put it back!

SAL! Understand this!

Quote!
5) I thought all I needed to do was swap one hard drive for another, but according to you it's much more than that! HAH!

You can slap in the new HD on the existing controller an it will work! But not at 133! I am only making you aware of the speed diff!

Yes! pricewatch com is ok for the controller! After you pick one make sure they have a win2k driver for it!

Find and download the win2k drivers for your video and sound!

What video and sound do you have? I can help find the w2k drivers?

Sal, did you understand the logic and basic steps in my last post?
The disconecting and reconnecting of the old drive etc!

Mike

 

What is a controller?

Is that a card? or a cable? a connector?

I should be able to do this. Each time I take my computer to the shop to be fixed, I end up cleaning up after the techs. Usually I end up reformatting and undoing/redoing what they did to make the computer run better.

 

Sal

About MB update!

Make sure it is the correct BIOS for your MB1 It should tell you how to confirm!

Mike

 

Sal


"What is a controller? "

You are starting to worry me now too!

A controller can be as you already have, built onto the motherboard!

But what you will buy is a card that will be added to a slot on the MB!

Mike