Can a hard drive from an old computer be added to a new computer?

Answer 1

This depends largely on the type of hard-drive that you are trying to re-use.

Commonly, home computers will have hard-drives which connect to the computer motherboard (main-board) in one of two ways:

1. PATA (also ATA or IDE). The connector is a block of 40 vertical metal pins, arranged 2x20.

2. SATA (Serial-ATA) these have a connector about the size of a USB connector, the socket for which which consists of a central plastic ridge which is L shaped. The plug has the same L shape cut into it. Conctact is made between pins inside the plug to strips of copper on the sides of the raised L.

SATA drives are more modern and have been steadily replacing PATA drives for several years. The type of drive that you have, as well as the capabilities of your new computer dictate how you can re-use the drive.

SATA drives can be connected using a SATA cable to any SATA socket on the motherboard, or on a SATA Controller Card if one is available.

PATA drives must be connected to an IDE header on the motherboard using a 40 pin ribbon cable.

In either case, ensure that the socket number (e.g. SATA-1) printed on the motherboard next to the socket is higher than the one used for your new computer's main (already existing) hard-drive. The reason for this is that the computer will most often boot from the first bootable hard-drive it can find. If your old drive still has your operating system (e.g. Windows, Linux) installed on it, then the computer may end up booting that if you connect it into a lower-numbered socket.

If this is/will be the only drive in the computer, it does not matter which socket is used.

Bear in mind also that many IDE (PATA) cables have two connectors on the 'disk' end, which allows two devices to be connected to the computer with the same cable. If only one device is being used, it is important to use the connector nearest to the 'motherboard end'. The motherboard end is the end furthest away from the other two connectors.

It is labelled X in the following illustration: X-----------1-----2.

1 and 2 indicate connectors IDE disks may be connected to.

SATA cables connect only one device to the computer so this restriction does not apply.

Finally, if this device will be the second device on a PATA/IDE channel (i.e, disks are being connected to both connectors 1 and 2 in the cable illustration above), then it is important that the jumper settings on both are correctly set. Jumpers are rows of two pins which look like this [::::].

Small caps called jumper caps or jumper switches are connected across two pins like this: [(:):::] to tell the disk which configuration it should expect.

The disk at connector 1 must be set to "Primary" or "Master" or "Single", the disk at two should be set to "Secondary" or "Slave". Most hard-disks have a sticker somewhere on them, or labels on the circuit board, which indicates which pair of pins to bridge to achieve the desired role.

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If your computer does not have the appropriate connector available on its motherboard, you will need to purchase a PCI-slot card. Most motherboards have at least one PATA connector on them, and all new motherboards provide several SATA connectors.

SATA expansion cards (aka SATA controller cards) can be purchased from almost all computer hardware shops, as well as eBay, internet shops and so on.

PATA cards are also available, although it is unlikely that you will need one unless you have used all of the existing connectors on the motherboard. If this is the case, it may be possible to re-arrange the drives, placing two on each IDE connector, to save connector space.

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If this works successfully then your computer will boot from its existing hard disk OR if the one you just installed is the only one, will boot from that (assuming it has an operating system installed on it)

In Windows, your new hard disk will be available under "My Computer" OR if it is the first, you will know it works because the system booted. Chances are the drive letter of the newly added disk will be D:, E:, F: or G:, depending on the number of pre-existing hard-drives and optical drives.

Answer 2

In most cases, yes.

Instructions

1. Remove the hard drive from the old computer.
2. Identify its type (PATA or SATA). PATA cables are wide and flat. SATA cables are narrower and thicker, and often red in color.
3. If the drive is a PATA drive, locate the jumpers. If the drive is being added to a cable with a drive already on it, set it to "Slave." If the drive will be alone on the cable, set it to "Master."
4. Physically install the drive in either a 3.5" bay, or any empty brackets the case provides.
5. Connect the data cable
6. Connect the power cable
7. Turn on the computer and see if the drive is detected in your BIOS. You may want to change your boot order so that the drive is not the first to be booted from, if this has been preselected.