Do certain computers not accept a 2nd hard drive? I have a budget Dell, 3-4 years old. I can't complain too much because it was gifted to me, but my hard drive is nearly full. I purchased a 2nd drive to hold pictures, music, etc to clear up some room on my main drive. Upon cracking the case I saw that there was no spot to hold another hard drive. No problem, I got duct tape. There was a 2nd power cord available, but the data cord didn't have a 2nd pluggie thing (not sure what it's called) in the middle like I've always seen before. I drove over to radio shack and picked up a new data cord and fiddled around way too long trying to get the 2nd drive to work, but to no avail. Infact, the only way I could get my main drive to work with the new cord was to use the plug that was in the middle of the cord, not the one on the end. I was under the impression that the plug on the end is for the master drive and the one in the middle is for the slave. I moved the dip switch on the slave to indicate it to be a slave drive also, but that didn't help. Am I doing something wrong or is my computer not able to accept a 2nd drive?

I can't imagine there's not a way to get it to recognize a second drive. BTW, I've done the duct tape thing before myself. Sounds like you were on the right path... If adding a second drive, you may have to set the jumpers on one for master, and the other for slave (anymore the master also works as the only drive...used to be a jumper had to be moved). I don't think it matters which drive is at the end or middle..that's really old school. Also, these days, most systems will automatically detect new drives and update the BIOS accordingly. But, it may not be a bad idea to go into SETUP (there should be a prompt when you start up F2, F10, DEL, etc..) and have it detect them there to see if it is being recognized. Since you said the original drive wouldn't work on the end plug, I wonder if you have a flaky cable. Now, for another option....get an external case and plug in the second drive as an external USB drive. Not nearly as fast as the internal IDE, but, should work for extra storage.

yeah, what Tom said.

I am pretty certain your motherboard will accept a second drive. Your case may not be built for it but that is another matter. I strongly recommend against using duct tape. Some hard drives can get pretty hot. The duct tape insulates, which is bad for the hard drive.

Hey you technies forgot to ask if he had a top load bottom load or a right handed or lefthanded computer. not to mention it also makes adiffrfeence if you are a right braniac or a niac left brain. Further more you forgot to ask if the two hards speak the same language you can not match an english hard drive to a spanish hard drive. you got to knowwhat computer language to use and when. Tish Tish Tish Or is it disc disc disc. Ha ha.

A lot of computers now, are using cable select for drive assignments- try using the "CS" setting on both drives.

You also must make sure that the "Jumper" pins on both drives are set correctly. Your original drive must be set to "master" position and the new drive would need to be set to the "slave" position. Also, if your PC has an open bay where you would normally put a CD/DVD drive, you could put it there. You may need a bracket that makes the drive the correct width so that you can screw it in place.

It was as simple as buying a new cord. Copying files over as we speak.