Sata harddrive installation - E-Machines T5212 PC Desktop

The Harddrive is a SATA unit.

Uses a SATA data cable, and a SATA power cable.

SATA data cable, and connector on motherboard, example;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA_ports.jpg

Between the SATA data cable connector, and the SATA power cable connector; the SATA data cable connector is the shorter of the two in width.
SATA data cable connector has 7-pins.
SATA power cable connector has 15-pins.

The connector end used on the harddrive side, and optical drive side, (CD/DVD drive), is usually a 90 degree Bent Elbow.
The connector end that plugs into the motherboard, is a Straight connector.

NOTE* Color of connectors does NOT matter.
Most of the time the SATA data connectors on the motherboard, are different colors.

This is to help discern what number of SATA data connector it is.
Four SATA data connectors on the motherboard?

SATA 1, SATA 2, SATA 3, and SATA 4;
Or:
SATA 0, SATA 1, SATA 2, and SATA 3?

SATA 0, or SATA 1, is usually reserved for the Harddrive.
The Primary harddrive with the Operating System on it.
(Unless you have harddrives set in a RAID configuration)

DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SATA DATA CONNECTOR, you plug into, on the motherboard.

Want to plug the harddrive into SATA 3, or SATA 4?
Go ahead.
NO matter what SATA connector on the motherboard that you plug into, BIOS will find the harddrive.

Note the L-shape in the connector.
Has to line up on the L-shape on the harddrive, optical drive, or motherboard, SATA data connector.

There is usually a lock on the connector. This you may not see.
Sometimes there is a little 'bump' on the connector. Depress with the thumbnail to install the cable, or remove.

This is an example of a SATA power cable,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#sata

NOTE*
IF, your SATA harddrive has a provision for plugging in a SATA power cable, AND a 4-pin Peripheral power cable; ONLY plug the SATA power cable in.

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

Using BOTH types of power cables will BURN the harddrive up.
May not happen right away, but I assure you it will happen.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

David, this is the Service Manual for the Dell Dimension 3100 Desktop PC,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/index.htm

Click on Removing and Installing Parts.
Click on Harddrive

1) Pull the SATA power cable out of the back of the Harddrive,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#sata

[ Note the L-shaped slot in the connector. Lines up with the L-shaped tab on the back if the Harddrive ]

2) Pull the SATA data cable out of the back of the Harddrive,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA_ports.jpg

[Top example is a SATA data cable. The bottom example is a SATA connector on the motherboard. Again note the L-shape in the connector.
The SATA power cable connector has 15 contact pins.
The SATA data cable connector has 7 ]

3) Now press the blue tabs (Clips) towards each other.
(Can also be said as -> Towards the middle of the harddrive )

4) Pull up, and out on the harddrive.

If I may ask, why are you removing it?
Post back in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

A SATA harddrive uses a SATA power cable,

(15-pins, long connector. Harddrive side connector is usually a 90 degree elbow,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#sata

Cables are usually Red with Black connectors, but cable, and connectors can be ANY color )

,and a SATA Data cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

A SATA Data cable has the shorter connector. It has 7-pins.

{ SATA power cable provides power to the SATA harddrive.
The SATA Data cable is the information cable. Data,..information, is transferred back, and forth across this cable }

This is a 4-pin standard Peripheral power cable. The connector on the end of the cable is referred to as a 'Molex' connector.
(It is a misnomer. Molex was the first design name, from the first company who made it. The name stuck. Kind of like calling an open-end adjustable wrench, a Crescent wrench ),

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

IF, the SATA harddrive has a provision for plugging in a 4-pin standard Peripheral power cable, AND a SATA power cable,

ONLY USE JUST THE SATA POWER CABLE

Otherwise you will burn up the SATA harddrive. (Maybe not right away, but I assure you it eventually will happen)

The connectors on the end of the SATA power cable, and SATA Data cable, have an L shape on the inside.

This L shape needs to be matched up with the L shape on the harddrive for the SATA power cable, and harddrive AND motherboard, for the SATA Data cable.

The beauty of SATA technology;

IF, there is more than one SATA connector (Header) on the motherboard, the harddrive can be plugged into ANY one of them.

For example if there are 4 SATA headers on the motherboard;
They can be labeled SATA 1, SATA 2, SATA 3, and SATA 4,
OR,
SATA 0, SATA 1, SATA 2, and SATA 3.

The harddrive usually plugs into SATA 0, or SATA 1.

With the SATA technology however, you can plug into ANY of them, and BIOS will find the device. (In this case a harddrive)

For the HP Compaq Business Desktop D330 computer, the motherboard is an Asus A8SN-CF (HP/Compaq name = Phoenix),

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00858789&product=321856#N31

All I see is one SATA header (Connector) on the motherboard. It is at the top right area, and is Black in color.
(Right below the thin green label on the edge of the motherboard, at the top. Third connector from the right)

Go down, and click on the + sign to the left of -
Motherboard Layout.

Look at the Top, and third connector over from the Right side.
You can barely make out - SATA1.

Motherboard installed in the computer case, the SATA 1 header (Connector) is at the Bottom of the motherboard.
Third connector (Black) over from the left side.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
(Remember, there is NO such thing as a silly question)

Regards,
joecoolvette

A) To resolve the initial BIOS lockout, download the most recent BIOS firmware, and flash the system if possible.

[ Note*
1) IF, there is a power outage at your home/business, when flashing the BIOS, your motherboard becomes an expensive paperweight.

It isn't it may happen, it IS do Not lose power, or this will happen. However this goes with number 2 below also,

2) When flashing the BIOS program it will be asked (Should) if you wish to create a backup, before proceeding to the flash.
The answer is Y-E-S.

Should something happen as briefly described above, you will have the original BIOS program backup to go back to ]

B) Then remove your harddrive, install it into an economical 2.5 SATA external enclosure, and pull your personal info off by attaching the external enclosure's USB cable, to a working computer.

Then reinstall the harddrive, and use the Recovery Disk to Repair.
(Non-Destructive Installation)

You May be forced however, to perform a Full Installation instead.
(Destructive Installation)
You will have your personal information because you saved it. You will however, have to reinstall programs/applications.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

[ Harddrives come in two different sizes, and technologies, at present.

A harddrive is measured across it's Width.
A laptop harddrive is 2-1/2 inches across.
A desktop harddrive is 3-1/2 inches across.

The two technologies being used at present for harddrives, is IDE (PATA), and SATA.

The Satellite L455D series uses a 2.5 inch SATA harddrive,

http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Toshiba,Laptop,Part,P000506260.aspx

{ Not stating the original harddrive was an Hitachi. Showing that the harddrive uses the SATA technology. It is already known that the size is 2.5
It is a laptop harddrive }

This is information on IDE (PATA) technology,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA#IDE_and_ATA-1

This is information on SATA technology,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

This is but one example of a 2.5 SATA external enclosure,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3195233&CatId=2783

Use Anti-Static Precautions when working on your laptop.
Be Sure ALL power is removed. AC adapter (Charger) and Battery.

A) If you have the Restoration Disk (CD), or a full installation disk of the Windows operating system, the answer is yes.

B) If you have an image backup program, such as Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image, or DriveImage XML, for example, the answer is yes.

The Windows operating system is copied over to the new harddrive.

It would be easier, and more cost effective to just install the 160GB harddrive as a Slave drive.

I don't know if your harddrive is an IDE (PATA) unit, or a SATA unit.

Here is more information on installing either an IDE harddrive, or a SATA harddrive, as a Slave drive in a desktop computer,

1) IDE {PATA} harddrive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4inX3nC6M1E

1A) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTOgt3UiB4


2) SATA harddrive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCgFYNLzn18&NR=1

IDE, also known as PATA is the older style of technology.
SATA is the newer style.

(Parallel ATA
Serial ATA )

The beauty of SATA is not only the faster speed, but if you connect a SATA cable (Data cable) to ANY SATA connector on the motherboard, BIOS will find the device.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) will find the harddrive with the operating system on it, first.
Then it will recognize that you have a second SATA harddrive also.

(BIOS looks at both SATA harddrives.
When it finds the one with the operating system on it, BIOS will disregard the other SATA harddrive)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScqDZZeFK9I

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

1) Computer unplugged from power, observe Anti-Static Precautions.

Anti-Static Precautions:
Your body carries Static electricity. Static WILL fry out (Short Circuit) the hardware components inside a computer.

Computer unplugged from power, computer on a table, computer case open.
TOUCH the metal fame of the open computer case to relieve your body of Static.
Also before you take new hardware components out of their anti-static bags, or boxes.

If you leave your computer in the middle of working on it, be SURE to Touch the metal frame again upon your return.


HP Support > Pavilion Media Center a1320n > Opening the computer case

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00593575&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=1818050&tmp_track_link=ot_search

Replacing the Harddrive, (Hard Disk drive),

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00639788&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=1818050&tmp_track_link=ot_search

The Harddrive is a SATA harddrive. Uses a SATA 7-pin data cable, and a 15-pin SATA power cable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

Top right photo shows the SATA data cable connector, and cable.
Top right photo below it shows a typical SATA data header (Connector) on a motherboard.

Typical SATA power cable, and it's respective connector,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#sata

NOTE*
IF, your SATA harddrive has a connection for a standard 4-pin Peripheral power cable, (Misnomered as Molex), AND a connection for a SATA power cable, ONLY use the SATA power cable.
It will Burn Up the Harddrive if you use both.

If you are putting a new Harddrive in, you will need to have backed up, (Copied) the info you wish to save off of your old Harddrive, first. This is if the harddrive is not bad, of course.

You will also need the Restoration Disk/s to install a new Harddrive, if you are going to just replace the harddrive with a new one. (Larger, or replacing a bad harddrive)

If you do not have the Restoration Disk/s you can obtain them from HP Support.
In the US call 1-800-474-6836
24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
Disk/s are free. Shipping and handling is not.
$17 for a 5 to 7 day ship, $24 for a 2 to 3 day ship.
Have the Serial Number from the back of your computer tower handy to give to the representative.
(White Service Tag. S/N is Serial Number)

If you are not in the US, here is the Worldwide Support contact page,

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/wwcontact_us.html

If you are going to install a new operating system, per se Windows, (Windows 7?), you may have to go into BIOS Setup, and in Boot Order set the first boot device to CDROM, if the disk does not automatically load.

It's a SATA harddrive, not SCSI.

Serial ATA

Acer Support > Aspire T180 > Specifications >

http://www.acersupport.com/acerpanam/desktop/0000/Acer/AspireT180/AspireT180sp2.shtml

Will use up to a 400GB SATA harddrive according to Acer.

IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics.
Another name is PATA.
Parallel ATA
Used to distinguish between IDE and SATA.

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Drive_Electronics

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCSI

Exchange it?
Your harddrive has the Operating System on it.
A new harddrive will not have an O/S on it.
(Windows XP is an example of an O/S)

It would be much easier to install the harddrive you wish into an external enclosure, and plug the external enclosure's USB cable into your T180.

One example of a desktop size harddrive SATA external enclosure,
(3.5 inch SATA external enclosure.
3 and 1/2 inches across in width, for a desktop harddrive.
Laptop HD's are 2.5)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

pmarrs177 you are quite welcome!

I suppose I better post this as a solution, instead of in a Clarification.

This way when someone looks for this type of information, it will be available in a search hit on the internet.

Your problem and my solution will be on the internet for years to come. (Also easier to read) Congratulations! You'll be known worldwide as one more person, who helped bring the mysteries of SATA to be a little bit less mysterious.

Installing it as a secondary storage Harddrive?

Did your Acer T180 model come with a SATA harddrive already installed?

There are several different models of the Acer T180.
Some examples: AST180-UA380A, AST180-U381A, AST180-UA380B

Some of these came with a PATA harddrive, and some came with a SATA harddrive. (PATA is also referred to as ATA, IDE, and EIDE)

Why the question? Because when Windows is first installed on a computer, you are asked if you wish the SATA drivers to be installed.

The model version of an ACER T180 that came with a SATA harddrive, has these drivers already installed.

If your Acer did come with a SATA harddrive, and you are installing an additional harddrive for more storage, just plug the SATA data cable into ANY available SATA header on the motherboard.

BIOS will find the harddrive. Just one of the nice features about SATA.

You can use ANY SATA header on the motherboard. {Not shouting}
(A connection on a motherboard is a Header. This is what a SATA header on a motherboard looks like, doesn't matter what color it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

{Top right photo on page)

The SATA data cable, usually has a 90 degree elbow on one end. This end connects to the Harddrive. Doesn't always have a 90 degree elbow, but most of the time it does.

The straight end connects to the motherboard. There are 7 pins used in the connector.
The SATA power cable has 15 pins.

Scroll down the page in the above link, for photos of the end connector for a SATA data cable, and the end connector used for a SATA power cable.

NOTE*
IF, you do not have an unused SATA power cable coming out of your Power Supply, see if you have a 4-pin peripheral power cable that is not being used.

(The connector end is referred to as a 4-pin Molex connector. It is whitish in color)
This shows what a 4-pin peripheral power cable looks like,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

Buy an adapter power cable that connects to the 4-pin Molex connector, and has a 15-pin SATA power cable connector on the other end.

Example: http://www.directron.com/idesatapower.html

thirdjonesbo,
This solution will be rather lengthy. I apologize for the length of it in advance, but feel it is necessary to explain my possible solution.
Please bear with me.
joecoolvette

Inside the external harddrive case is a SATA harddrive.
The SATA harddrive plugs into a small circuit board, via an interface connector, OR small cables.

[Interface Connector.
On the back of a SATA harddrive are metal pins that stick out. The ones to be concerned with are the 15 pins for Power, and the 7 pins for Data. The 15 pins for Power are grouped together, as well as the 7 pins for Data. An Interface is simply a connector that has socket holes in it, that the pins stick into.

If you have never seen a harddrive, much less a SATA harddrive, the above statement will be as clear as mud.
Let me show you the pins on the back of a SATA harddrive, to help clarify this,

http://www.interfacebus.com/SATA_Pinout.html

Under the heading - Serial ATA Signal Assignments, view the illustration.

On the right you will see the Power Cable, headed towards the Power Connector. If you could enlarge this illustration you would see there are 15 pins.

On the left you will see the Signal Cable, headed towards the Signal Connector. Again, if you could enlarge this illustration you would see there are 7 pins. Signal is also Data.

(Data = Information. Information is processed back, and forth to the harddrive through this cable)

An Interface connector is rectangular in shape, and has socket holes to fit these pins.

Or, as stated above, it may have two small cables as shown in the illustration, and they plug into the Power, and Signal (Data) pins.

Either an Interface connector, or two small cables lead up to a small circuit board.

IT MAY BE that you are fortunate, and the circuit board bore the brunt of the overload of voltage, and did not get to the SATA harddrive inside.

My suggestion would be what I would do myself. This suggestion may not be what you would do.

I would open the external harddrive case, and look for obvious signs of electronics failure on the circuit board, and on the harddrive itself.
The harddrive also has a circuit board. It's on the bottom of the harddrive.

If you see obvious signs of damage such as,
1.Black marks on any of the various electronic components, or 2.Electronic components that have melted, swelled up, or look burned,
on the circuit board of the SATA harddrive, then you may want to stop here.

The 'cure' may be more costly, than the information you have saved on this external harddrive.

But,
IF, the circuit board of the SATA harddrive looked good to me, I would risk a small amount of money, to see if I could get the harddrive to work again.
Again, just my personal preference, and not direct advise that this is what you should do.

I would buy an External Enclosure, and install the SATA harddrive in it. The External Enclosure also has a circuit board inside, and uses a USB cable to connect to the computer, just like the External harddrive that you have now.

Average cost for a decent external enclosure for a SATA harddrive is around $30 USD.

Here is an example, (Not an advertisement for the external enclosure manufacturer, or said website),

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

The external enclosures come with info about how to open the enclosure, and install the SATA harddrive.

Should you have gotten this far, thank you for your time.
Regards,
joecoolvette

You need to enter the BIOS and check to see if the sata drives are enable cause if there aren't then you'll always get that response and seems as tho you waste your money.

Also you must have the sata drive on primary.

Get baC @ ME!
KJ