Upgrade Guide

2. Hook up an internal EIDE tape drive.

Some internal drives require that you install their software before you install the drive. Read the instructions that come with your drive carefully before you start.

Turn off your PC and remove the cover.

Figure how you'll connect the data cable. Don't use the extra connector on the data cable that's connected to your PC's hard drive (the primary EIDE channel), since that might slow down your PC. Instead, use the secondary EIDE channel (the middle connector shown below in A).

If a CD-ROM drive or other device is already attached to the secondary EIDE connector on the motherboard, set the tape drive jumpers to "slave" (B). Otherwise, set the jumpers to "master."

Mount the drive in your PC (C). If there's no front-accessible 3.5-inch drive bay available, look for mounting adapters for 5.25-inch drive bays, which come with most drives.

If another device is attached to the secondary EIDE connector, attach the tape drive to that data cable's extra connector. If not, connect the cable that came with the drive to the secondary EIDE connector. Either way, make sure the colored side of the cable is aligned with the drive's Pin 1 (usually next to the power connector).

Find a free power connector and plug it into the drive.