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General discussion

Hard Drives

Apr 25, 2006 12:20PM PDT

I have an MSI KT6V Mainboard with 1GB Ram. The MB has two Serial ATA 133 connectors and two IDE connectors. My original configuration had two 120 GB SATA Hard Drives. I upgraded my C Drive (operating system) to a 250 GB Hitachi SATA. (The other 120 MG disk is used for backup.)
I now have an extra 120 GB drive which I would like to use for additional backup. But with only 2 SATA connectors on the MB it looks like I am stuck. Is there such thing as a SATA "Y" cable? Can I use my SATA drive through an IDE connector on the mother board? Is there a coversion cable IDE-SATA? Are any Bios changes needed?
Both my current SATA drives have NTFS formats, each with a single partition.

Discussion is locked

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two options
Apr 25, 2006 3:56PM PDT

Let's confirm what is on that motherboard.
- Two SATA slots SATA/150
- Two PATA slots ATA/133 (your IDE connectors)

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=511
Sound right?

PROBLEM: 3 SATA HD and only 2 SATA ports.

SOLUTION #1: Attach 3rd SATA HD to an IDE port with adapter.
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812156011&CMP=OTC-Froogle&ATT=SABRENT+SBT-STDB+IDE+Ultra+ATA-100/133+to+Serial+ATA+Port+Mini+Converter
Careful: don't get a SATA to IDE adapter; get IDE to SATA

SOLUTION #2: Add a SATA HDD controller card to a PCI slot. Some models are less expensive than solution #1

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Hard Drives
Apr 26, 2006 12:26AM PDT

Thanks for solutions. Great response. I think I will take the easy way out and get an external housing with USB connection.

Best Wishes, RHSMITH

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(NT) (NT) happy to help!
Apr 26, 2006 12:35AM PDT
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another option
Apr 25, 2006 6:45PM PDT

There are external enclosures for SATA drives. They connect using your choice of USB2.0, Firewire, or external SATA.