Adding a 2nd dvd drive - sata

[Whickerman]

if you add new hardware to a sata only set-up, (which is new to me, am used to IDE), do you need to 'unlock' the sata port on the motherboard in some way to allow the pc see the new hardware? If so, does this need to be done each time for each port, and how's it done?

[Paulst30]

I think you just add the SATA drive to the other SATA port on the motherboard and thats it. Make sure its recognised in the BIOS and away you go. Pressumably the drivers have been installed already so it should be ok

[rojash]

I think Paulst30 is right, but are you sure your SATA controller supports DVD drives? My motherboard manual specifically states that my SATA controller will only support hard drives (obviously it's a fairly early implementation).

[Whickerman]

Hi guys - firstly, yes, it will support dvd drives (the other original one is already installed via sata)

Secondly - Paulst30: when you say 'make sure it's recognised in the BIOS' - can you give me an idea how to do that?

[Paulst30]

When you attach something like a hard drive it should be recognised in the systems BIOS.

If you are familiar with the BIOS then thats ok, however if not its no place to be messing around, it holds the core configuration for all hardware attached to you pc.

Alternatively right click My Computer and select Manage. It will open up the Computer Management console where the new drive can be seen in the Disk Management area.

It can also be formatted from here too, If the drive cannot be seen here then its the BIOS you need to check. I dont think you will need to access the BIOS tbh as it seems to be a failry new board

[Whickerman]

Thanks folks. I actually did need to adjust the bios. The port was set to 'off' position - Dell's way of trying to catch people out? They were quoting �120 (about �80) for the new burner, got it from Komplett for �35 and it's great.

Thanks for the pointers.