Attaching the hard drive and CD-ROM are
similar processes. This section shows how to attach both to the case.
First, the jumper settings should be properly set.
Master/Slave Jumper Settings
The designation of a hard drive or CD-ROM drive as either master
or slave is generally determined by the jumper configuration, not
by the order in which the drive is daisy-chained to the other
drive. The only exception is if the drive is jumpered (set to)
"cable select" and both the system and ribbon cable support cable
select. In this case, master and slave are determined by the
position on the data ribbon cable. Depending on how the system
controls the cable, the select line on the ribbon cable determines
where the master and slave need to be attached. Refer to the
system manual for more information on this. This description
applies only to a situation where both drives are attached to the
same IDE channel (that is, where the CD-ROM is set to slave). For
better performance, always attach the drives to separate channels.
That is, the hard drive to the primary IDE channel as "primary
master" and the CD-ROM to the second IDE channel as "secondary
master".
It is much easier to configure the jumper on these drives
before installing them in the computer case. Installing them first may leave little
room to set the jumpers. Before setting the jumpers, determine the
types and number of drives to install. It is assumed here that
there are two IDE drives, one hard drive, and one CD-ROM.
The jumper settings are often printed on top of the drive itself.
If not, consult the manual. In either case, use needle-nosed
pliers or tweezers to set the jumpers. Always save spare jumpers
for future use by hanging them on one pin. Note that hanging the
jumper on one pin is the same as not jumpered, that is, no
circuit configuration has been selected. This is also known as
"parking" a jumper. The figure illustrates some typical
jumper settings on an IDE drive.
In a basic system that only has one hard drive, set the jumper
to "master". Some drives have another setting called
"single". This setting essentially tells the drive that
it is alone on that IDE channel and works the same as the master.
It is recommended to use this setting, if available, on a one hard
drive system. The CD-ROM is similarly easy to configure. However,
jumpers may be located in different places on each drive and may
even be labeled differently. Set the CD-ROM to "Master"
if it is the only drive connected to the second IDE channel.
Attaching the Hard Drive
Technically, the hard drive can be inserted in any free bay in a
computer case. However, there are some things that should be
considered:
- Hard drives, especially the newer 7200 and 10,000-rpm drives
(there are even some 15,000 rpm drives out there now) can generate
a lot of heat. Therefore, keep these drives as far away from other
hardware as possible.
- If it is necessary to install a drive cooler, make sure there is
enough room.
- Install a hard drive away from the power supply. Some poorly
designed cases may give room under the power supply to install the
hard drive. This is not a good place for a hard drive. Power
supplies act like magnets and can damage data.
- Finally, try to keep the hard drive near the front of the case.
It will benefit from the cooling effect of the air current drawn
into the case through the front by the system cooling fans.
With the above considerations in mind, here are the general
steps for mounting a hard drive:
| Step 1 |
Set the hard drive
jumper to master, as previously explained.
|
| Step 2 |
Slide the drive into
the selected drive rail of the case. Recall that the faceplate
in this area does not have to be removed. Modern (ATX) cases
usually provide a hard drive bay without a faceplate. If the
drive is smaller than the bay, the user may have to add rails or
a mounting bracket to make it fit. |
| Step 3 |
Select the right
size screws (preferably those packaged with the drive). Screw
the drive into place, making sure not to force anything. Hand
tighten the screws first and then tighten them with a
screwdriver.
|
| Step 4 |
Now, attach the ribbon cable and
the power cord to the hard drive, the same way as with the
floppy drive. Normally, the ribbon cable goes from the primary controller of the motherboard
to the drive. The details of how to make these connections are
explained in a later section of this chapter.
|
Attaching the CD-ROM
Installing the CD-ROM is not very different from installing the
hard drive. Remove the drive bay cover first. Then set the CD-ROM
jumper to master since it will be connected to the secondary IDE
channel. Now slide the drive into the bay from the front, make
sure that it is flush with the front panel, and screw it in place.
Note: Do not tighten the screws before connecting all
the cables. This will allow the
drive to be slid out a few inches in order to connect the cables
to the drive. In some computer cases, particularly the mini
towers, it can be quite challenging to work behind the CD-ROM
because of its length and also because it is obstructed by the
power supply.
Role of drive rails – As with the hard drive, the
physical installation of the CD-ROM depends on the case design or
type. Some cases come with drive rails to help install hardware.
Simply screw a drive rail in the correct direction to each side of
the CD-ROM. Then slide the CD-ROM into the computer case from the
front, using the rails as a guide until it snaps into place. Drive
rails make hardware installations relatively easy.
