Hardware Installation and I have no idea

Jak

Help here would be much appreciated - as the fkin alledged computer expert in this office (the others find toasters technically challenging) I have been nominated to fix a drive.

I have a SupraDisk LS120 drive to install on a machine where the old one has gone mad.
Now this thing is basically same size and dimensions etc as a floppy drive ... but i've never really done this so what do i do?

Just want to know really if there are any things to consider before ripping it open and tearing wires out .. or any special procedure.


Cheers,

JAK.

ps- I assume i wont have to reinstall software if this new drive is the same as the old one.

WhiteWashMan

just try replacing it and see what happens
not sure if there is any special softwarefor it, but make sure the bios recognises it first and work from there
make sure it reads disks in dos first as well before doing anything in windows to see if the problem (ifany) is hardware or software

Jak

Ok - Now my problem has multiplied.

We are ordering 3 LS120's and i will have to be installing them.

Now there was some mention of an IDE cable - wtf is this, is there one in my computer already (i dont already have an LS120) - Does anyone know if these Supradisk things use different cables inside?

Cheers,

JAK.

TinCool

An IDE Cable is the cable that connects floppy drives and hard drives to the motherboard. Its the communications cable if you will.

If I'm right in thinking that these disk drives you're installing are these new flavour of floppy drives which have more capacity but still accept the same 3 1/2" disks, installing them should be simple enuf.

If you open up the computer and find the ide cable which is connected to the back of the floppy drive, cant miss it its thin, wide and grey. Make a mental note of what side the red strip is down and make a mental note of the way the power cable is arranged. the best thing would be to remove the cables from the old disk drive and insert them into the new one to see if you can get it working before you start unscrewing the old disk drive and putting in the new one. Leave off the case of the computer as you may not get it going first time round.

Jak

I'm Packing my Screwdrivers for Monday,

Cheers for the help as always ppl.

JAK.

WhiteWashMan

like i said, just replace the existing floppy drives with the new drives
just replace everything you unpluged from the floppy drive and reattach same style to new drives
should work fine

ide cable is the big grey ribbon or seatbelt style cable
the one for the floppy disk id just s bit smaller than the other two which connect to your hard drives and cd-roms

Jak

It all worked fine thanks ppl.

I've conquered my fear of opening machines and pulling at little cables without knowing what they do.

The drive is in and works fine, and im goin home to install a 2nd Grphx Card

Cheers again all,

JAK.