[G4] sata drives

[Luke Rademacher]

All you need is an Open PCI slot. Install SATA PCI Card, Mount SATA  
HD into drive carrier, Hook up SATA HD to PCI Controller Card, Hook  
up SATA HD via SATA Power convertor Cord to Std 4pin Molex Power  
adapter.

Boot Computer as normal. Run Disk Utility, Format new HD as you want  
it to be... if the new HD will be a Boot Drive, make sure you install  
Boot OS onto newly formatted HD or Perform Cloning of current Boot HD  
using app such as Super Duper or Carbon Copy Cloner.

The MDD has two drive carriers. The drive carrier in the front, which  
is under where the Optical Drives sit, attach normally to the  
computer via one of the 2 channels of ATA-66. The Drive carrier in  
the Rear is mounted Vertically and is where the 2 channels of ATA-100  
would normally sit.

My experience... leave the Current OS Boot Drive where it is in your  
computer. Install Card, then Install new HD in front Drive Carrier.  
Attach cables.
Boot up computer as normal. Format new HD, then either Clone OS from  
existing Boot Drive to new SATA drive or Install fresh OS copy onto  
new SATA drive.
Once you are satisfied, Reboot computer, Pressing Shift Key during  
the Bootup which forces Computer to show you the Available Boot  
Options. If everything is set it show you Two different Drives to  
Boot from: the Original and the New SATA. Choose the New SATA and  
continue booting. Once started then reformat previous HD for use as a  
Data Drive or Backup Drive of some sort.

The MDD's can physically support and power 4 HD's via the standard  
PATA Controllers, the 2 ATA-100 in rear and the 2 ATA-66 in front.

With a SATA Controller Card they normally have Ports for 2 SATA  
devices. Your new SATA HD will also need a SATA Power Adapter which  
if you don't have can be picked up at most any computer parts  
store... 4pin Molex to SATA Power.

About the only Tools you will need are a Philips Head screwdriver and  
an Anti-static strap.\
\
Peace,

Luke Rademacher
Liquid Zone Graphics
Mac mini 2.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3GB RAM, 80GB HD, Combo DVD/CDRW,  
Mac OSX Leopard 10.5.5, ext NewerTech miniStack w/ 320GB HD.
MDD Dual 1.25Ghz G4, 2GB RAM, 250GB/120GB/80GB HD's, 16x DL DVD±R/RW  
Superdrive, Mac OSX Tiger 10.4.11, Classic Mac OS 9.2.2.
External 1TB HD FireWire 400
Intel Celeron 2GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, Ubuntu Linux 8.04
5.5th gen 80GB Enhanced Video iPod
Canon CanoScan 8400F
Canon Pixma iP4500

On Dec 23, 2008, at 10:54 PM, hecowan wrote:

> hello,
>
> i am hoping for help from the group's wisdom.
>
> my g4 is a mdd dp 867.  one of my christmas gifts is a seagate sata  
> drive (7650 mb i think) with an adapter card. it will become the  
> master drive.
>
> as a computer novice, is this a drive that i can install myself?  
> does is need to go in the bay of the existing drive?  do i need to  
> anything about settings?
>
> thank you for all your help and ideas.
>
> best of the season.
> hec
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