One IDE device (one hard drive or one optical drive)
One floppy drive or one media card reader
NOTICE: When removing and replacing drives, be sure to leave the drive data and power cables connected to the system board.
NOTE: The 3.5-inch media card reader/floppy drive carrier is not interchangeable with the hard drive carrier.
1
CD/DVD drive bays (2)
2
floppy drive/media card reader
3
hard-drive bays (4)
About Serial ATA (SATA) Drives
Your computer supports up to four serial ATA hard drives and two serial ATA optical drives. SATA drives provide the following benefits by transferring data using serial technology and flexible cables that are thinner and longer than IDE cables:
Improved cable routing facilitates more efficient airflow inside the chassis.
Compact cable connectors save space on the system board and on the hard drive, allowing for more efficient utilization of space inside the chassis.
General Drive Installation Guidelines
SATA drives should be connected to connectors labeled "SATA" on the system board. IDE drives should be connected to the connectors labeled "IDE."
When connecting a SATA cable, hold the cable by the connector at each end and press firmly into the connector. When disconnecting a SATA cable, hold the cable by the connector at each end and pull until the connector detaches.
1
SATA data cable
2
SATA data connector (on the system board)
3
SATA drive
When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE data cable and configure the devices for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the data cable is the primary device or the boot device, and the device attached to the middle connector on the data cable is the secondary device. See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting.
To connect an IDE data cable, align the tab on one connector with the notch on the other. When disconnecting an IDE data cable, grasp the colored pull-tab and pull until the connector detaches.
Hard Drive
Removing a Hard Drive
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover.
NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data that you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the hard drive.
NOTE: If you are not replacing the hard drive at this time, disconnect the other end of the data cable from the system board and set it aside. You can use the data cable to install a hard drive at a later time.
1
SATA power cable
2
SATA data cable
3
SATA data connector (on the system board)
Press the black tabs on each side of the hard-drive bracket towards each
other and slide the drive up and out of the hard-drive bay.
1
black tabs (2)
2
hard drive
3
hard-drive bay
Ensure that all the connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.
NOTE: If a hard-drive bracket is installed inside the hard-drive bay, remove the bracket before you install the new hard drive.
Prepare the new hard drive for installation and check the documentation
for the hard drive to verify that the hard drive is configured for your
computer.
NOTE: If the hard drive you are installing does not have a hard-drive bracket attached, use your original hard-drive bracket; snap the bracket onto the new drive.
1
hard drive
2
hard-drive bracket
Verify that the hard-drive bay is empty and unobstructed.
Slide the hard drive into the hard-drive bay until it clicks securely into
place.
1
hard drive
2
hard-drive bay
NOTICE: Ensure that all the connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.
Connect the power and data cables to the hard drive.
NOTE: If you disconnected the data cable while removing the hard drive or if you are installing a new hard drive, connect the data cable to the system board.
If no screws are attached to the new floppy drive, check the inside of the
drive panel for shoulder screws. If screws are present, attach the screws to
the new drive.
1
floppy drive
2
shoulder screws (4)
Slide the floppy drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
1
drive-release latch
2
floppy drive
Connect the power and data cables to the back of the floppy drive.
Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid
blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents.
Disconnect the media card reader cable from the back of the media card
reader.
1
media card reader cable
Slide the drive-release latch towards the base of the computer to release
the shoulder screw, and then slide the media card reader out of the
drive bay.
If no screws are attached to the media card reader, check the inside of the
drive panel for shoulder screws. If screws are present, attach the screws to
the new card reader.
1
media card reader
2
shoulder screws (4)
Slide the media card reader into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
1
drive-release latch
2
media card reader
Attach the media card reader cable to the back of the media card reader.
Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid
blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents.
Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive.
NOTE: If you are uninstalling the only CD/DVD drive in your computer and will not replace it at this time, disconnect the data cable from the system board and set it aside.
1
data cable
2
power cable
Slide the drive-release latch towards the base of the computer to release
the shoulder screw, and then slide the CD/DVD drive out of the drive bay.
Prepare the CD/DVD drive for installation and check the documentation
that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your
computer.
NOTE: If you are installing an IDE drive, configure the drive for the cable select setting.
If no screws are attached to the drive, check the inside of the drive panel
for screws and, if screws are present, attach the screws to the new drive.
1
CD/DVD drive
2
shoulder screws (3)
Gently slide the drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
1
drive-release latch
2
CD/DVD drive
Attach the power and data cables to the CD/DVD drive.
