How to Install an Internal ATA Hard Drive

An ATA internal hard drive is the primary hard drive used in your computer system. Most computers have at least one hard drive installed; however, if you want to increase the amount of data you can save on the system you can install a second (or even third) ATA internal hard drive.

Things You'll Need

• ATA internal hard drive
• ADA power cable
• ATA data cable
• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Power down your computer and remove all the cables from the system. Remove the screws along the back side of the computer with a Phillips screwdriver.

2. Open the computer case. At the front of the computer you will see the current hard drive. Slide the new ATA internal hard drive into an open slot either above or below the existing hard drive.

3. Plug the provided ATA power cable into the power port on the back side of the ATA hard drive. Follow the power cable of the other hard drive to the motherboard, where you can find an open power source. Connect the other end of the cable into this port.

4. Determine whether you want to use the new ATA hard drive as the master drive or the slave drive. (The master drive is where you install the operating system and primarily all of the programs. A slave is used to save files and other content such as music, images and videos.)

5. Examine the ATA ribbon cable. There are three connection plugs, one on each end and a third in the middle of the cable. Use the cable in the middle if you want the hard drive to be a slave drive.

6. Plug one end of the cable (typically marked "motherboard) into the motherboard next to the ATA ribbon cable of the other hard drive. Connect either the middle connection plug or the other end of the cable (as determined in Steps 4 and 5) into the ATA cable slot on the hard drive.

7. Close up the computer case, replace its screws and connect the cables. Power on the computer.

8. Insert the driver installation CD. Follow the installation wizard prompts to complete your system setup. Once the driver is installed you can begin using the hard drive.

References

• Seagate: How To Install and Troubleshoot ATA Hard Drives