Re: installing 2nd drive into DIM 9200

So, guys- it there any reason for me to NOT enable write caching and the
second option to enable advanced performance? Since I have a UPS I don't
have to worry about lost data if the power goes out. Other than that caveat,
there is no other reason to not use these features?

Joe



"Joe" <> wrote in message news:...
> Tom, I did the full format- it took over an hour. I did look in Device
> Manager and I saw nothing about UDMA. I have no clue what that is. But, I
> do see under Properties/Policies an option to "enable write caching on the
> disk". I believe this disk has a 16 meg cache- a slightly cheaper model
> had only an 8 meg cache. Once this is enabled there is a second option to
> "enable advanced performance". Since I'll be doing video editing, perhaps
> I should enable these? I do have a UPS installed.
>
> The Dell didn't come with a floppy but it did come with 2 DVD players.
> I'll have to see if the remaining empty slot can hold the hard drive- or
> just get another cable.
>
> Joe
>
>
>
> "Tom Scales" <> wrote in message
> news:C5180672C9C6423FAB5A7D05B5F18B2B@M2010...
>> Make sure you go into Device Manager and confirm it is running UDMA
>> after the format. If you did the full format (not Quick) then it will
>> take awhile.
>>
>> As for the cable, there is an easy solution if you do not have both the
>> floppy drive AND the card reader. If not, put the drive in the empty
>> slot and use the regular cable.
>>
>> I have four drives in mine and it works great.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Joe [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
>>> Posted At: Saturday, December 15, 2007 2:14 PM
>>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>>> Conversation: installing 2nd drive into DIM 9200
>>> Subject: Re: installing 2nd drive into DIM 9200
>>>
>>> Tom and others,
>>>
>>> You're right Tom, at least in my case - the Dell didn't see the new
>>> drive at
>>> all. I went into BIOS and turned on that port, as you suggested I did
>>> read
>>> the number off the MB.
>>>
>>> Under the listing of the ports- there is something about RAID, which
>> by
>>> default was ON- I didn't dare change it- presumably the 2 drives are
>>> not now
>>> going to function as a RAID system.
>>>
>>> And, when I asked about SATA some weeks ago- you mentioned that I
>>> needed a
>>> SATA cable with a right angled end to plug into the hard drive- I had
>>> forgotten that and just picked up a cable at a local computer shop-
>> but
>>> he
>>> only had a cable with both ends the same and no right angle turn- so,
>> I
>>> can't close the case at this time- which doesn't bother me all that
>>> much, I
>>> can order one. Actually, I had no idea that the drive would not come
>>> with a
>>> cable or that the cable wouldn't already be in the case- this is the
>>> first
>>> time I've opened a PC case in several years. Back in the old days, the
>>> hard
>>> drive cables each had 2 connections so I was quite surprised to find
>> no
>>> cable.
>>>
>>> As of this moment the drive is formatting- very slow, but that's OK.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>> PS: the interior of the tower sure looks a lot better designed- much
>>> neater
>>> than the PCs from a decade ago.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Tom Scales" <> wrote in message
>>> news:21E76E8D9F5B477B97A57E5B93CCD451@M2010...
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>> >> From: gregg [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
>>> >> Posted At: Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:37 AM
>>> >> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>>> >> Conversation: installing 2nd drive into DIM 9200
>>> >> Subject: Re: installing 2nd drive into DIM 9200
>>> >>
>>> >> On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:57:58 GMT, "Joe" <> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> >I have a DIM 9200 purchased last spring- it came with a 160 gig
>>> SATA
>>> >> II
>>> >> >drive. Since I'm going to be purchasing a camcorder I decided to
>>> add
>>> > a
>>> >> >second drive. I just got a 500 gig WD Caviar drive, also a SATA
>> II.
>>> > It
>>> >> came
>>> >> >with no installation instructions. The Dell manual gives
>>> instructions
>>> >> in how
>>> >> >to physically install it- I think I can handle that (several years
>>> > ago
>>> >> I did
>>> >> >a lot of this sort of thing), but I'm not familiar with the
>> current
>>> > OS
>>> >> >issues. The Dell manual says to go to BIOS, go to Drives section
>>> and
>>> >> under
>>> >> >SATA 0 through 5, set the SATA ports to the correct configuration.
>>> I
>>> >> have no
>>> >> >idea what that means- I suppose I could figure it out when I get
>>> >> there, but
>>> >> >I don't like surprises and would prefer to know ahead of time what
>>> > I'm
>>> >> >facing. How am I supposed to know the "correct configuration"?
>>> >> >
>>> >> >Then the DELL manual says to refer to the drive's documentation
>> for
>>> >> >"instructions about installing any software required for the
>>> > operation
>>> >> of
>>> >> >the hard drive". I doubt that will be necessary, but I don't know
>>> for
>>> >> sure.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >My Dell's OS is Vista Ultimate.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >Help will be appreciated.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >Joe
>>> >>
>>> >> You should not have to do anything other than plug it up and start
>>> the
>>> >> computer. Since you already have a SATA Drive, then SATA has
>>> >> definately not been disabled. So as not to be fearful in the future
>>> of
>>> >> having to do things which might require getting into the Bios, just
>>> go
>>> >> and take a look under the hood. At the Dell Boot screen punch the
>> F2
>>> >> key once or twice and that should get you there. You shouldn't have
>>> to
>>> >> change anything in the bios for this task.
>>> >>
>>> >> Gregg
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Unfortunately, this is incorrect. He DOES have to go into the BIOS.
>>> >
>>> > When you plug in the new drive, note which SATA port you used. It's
>>> > printed on the motherboard in small type, so a flash light is
>>> helpful.
>>> > Then when the machine boots, go into the BIOS and enabled that port.
>>> >
>>> > It will work if you don't, but the performance of the drive will be
>>> > TERRIBLE. It will run in PIO mode.
>>> >
>>> > I have four of these, so I've done this often. I have over 7TB of
>>> disk
>>> > in them.
>>> >
>>
>