LibriumArcana.Games

Okay, how do I get a secondary hard drive to work on SATA? Everything I've done so far has met with complete failure. The second drive is in, it's getting power, and all the connections are in right, but the computer refuses to recognize it's presence.

I'm pretty sure you just plug it in and it should be accessible. Is it a all new drive? If so, you might have to partition and format it first.

To be sure it is working, check to see if it is listed in the device manager (right click my computer, properties, hardware).

I plugged it in and it got power and everything, but it wasn't assigned a drive letter and, in fact, the computer didn't seem to realize it was there. I went into Setup when I was starting up as a desperation measure, and it flat out told me that there was no secondary drive on the thing.

Also, it was on my old computer, is formatted, and has a lot of data on it that I need.

Okay, I got it working. New question: Is it harmful to install a hard drive upside down? Because the power port on the existing hard drive and the power port on the old one are on opposite sides, and there isn't enough slack between plugs on the power cable to reach both while they're mounted in their places. I'd have to turn the old one upside down to make it work.

I'd say do not do it. For reasons why, check out how hard drives work(hint, VERY quickly spinning magnetic platters, tiny tiny seekers on tiny peices of metal, all moving very quickly), and consider how they would work flipped.

Okay, so I'm to run the computer with the box open and the drive sitting on the rim for all eternity. Great.

I have the box open, with a fan blowing in, for most of the hot months.

For you people unaware of my location, thats most of the year.

If the roommate sucks, think about emplacing it into the case floor, or tear out the floppy area, or move the drives around.

Yeah, well the drive sitting on the rim means that the whole thing is sideways. I don't think I have to explain why that is unacceptable; I like being able to use the DVD drive, thanks.

Hint: Custom built stools are a good thing.

My setup when using external HDs is stack a few books, with the top one being a softcover, and putting the HD in the appropiate height.

Putting the hard drive upside down or on its side should be fine. The moving parts are secured inside the hard drive's case.

Mounting the hard drive on edge or upside down DOES have an effect on it-the service lifetime is reduced. From freaking forever all the way down to until hell freezes over, actually. IOW nothing anybody really needs to worry about. Mount the bloody thing upside down.