HDD upgrade options???

[gauravakaasid]

I have a 160gb PATA disk and a 20gb PATA disk which is setup as master.
I want to buy a SATA disk>200gb, and convert the 20gb disk to an external one. Can i setup the SATA as master? is this wise, like keeping both SATA+PATA hdds in the system? also, i dont have a floppy drive, how do i install the SATA drivers that i had got with my mobo? is there any workaround for this.

[drvarunmehta]

SATA disks don't have the system of master and slave. All SATA HDD's are master.

Yes, you can keep both SATA and PATA HDD's in the system.

You don't need a floppy drive to install SATA drivers. Windows setup will install them on it's own. A floppy would be needed for a RAID setup though.

For the SATA HDD that you want to buy, I suggest the Seagate 250 GB 7200.10. I purchased this very recently for Rs. 3800.

[Kniwor]

whether or not u require a folppy to load win depends on your sata controller and you windows install CD, if the CD contains the drivers well and good.

what is your motherboard

[gauravakaasid]

my mobo is msi 482 and ill b installing Vista 1st(just wanna chek it out) and then windows xp sp2

[drvarunmehta]

I have a MSI 480 which is pracically the same as the 482 and I didn't need the drivers.

[nishant_nms]

will be able to do so and u will need driver floppy for XP but for Vista nothing will be required

[gauravakaasid]

but isnt there any workaround for the floppy thing????

[drvarunmehta]

You won't need a floppy for your particular mobo, trust me.

[nishant_nms]

but isnt there any workaround for the floppy thing????
U can create a Slipstream Windows XP installation disk with the SATA driver of ur mobo. Use nlite for creating the CD

[assasin]

U'll require a FDD only if u create a RAID setup.

[janitha]

For installing SATA why should anybody need Floppy which is already obsolete? (or extinct)
Xp has built in drivers for SATA and some of the chipset drivers with the Mobo CD also has it.
Of course for Raid you will need it.
I have been without floppy drive for more than two years.

[gauravakaasid]

Thnx everyone for ur help........have bought a 160gig SATA, and an external USB case for my 20gig HDD. my, its way costly.....cost me 650 buks!!! couldnt got for a 200gig one :-( with new year around the corner, budget stretch nahin kar paya :-)
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@nishant_nms...am plannin to create an all in one win xp sp2 dvd with all the drivers and required apps. will be following the guide from http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/ and those at nlite forums. lets c how far i can do it. are the SATA and RAID drivers generic ones or are they for specific mobos? if you have links to better guides, tuts, kindly leme know

[Ram Agarwal]

my motherboard is intel 845gl
processor-2.4 ghz celeron

currently have 40gb harddisk
want to upgrade to maximum
whats the maximum size my computer support