Optiplex 755 adding 2nd hard drive

Hi,

My DELL Optiplex came with 3 SATA devices: 200 GB hard drive, a DVD-ROM,
drive and a DVD-RW drive. I am running Windows XP SP3. Since DELL sold
the machines configured with 2 hard drives and 2 optical devices, I
bought the 2nd 500 GB Seagate "assuming" there was a 4th SATA connector
ont he motherboard. There is a 4th connector but is labeled for e-SATA.
What is weird is the BIOS lists SATA-0, SATA-1, SATA-2, SATA-3 and
e-SATA. When I tried enabling SATA-3 the drive was NOT found. I
"chatted" with DELL support and was told to enable the e-SATA connector
int eh BIOS. The system sees the drive BUT it hangs for 25+ seconds on
the DELL screen (where you can press F2 or F12) before booting windows.
When I disable the e-SATA connector the system flies by the DELL
screen in 5 seconds.

I checked the POST behavior in the the BIOS and fast boot is ON.

I guess I am wonder if it is ok to have the internal hard drive
connected to the e-SATA connector, is there some sort of adapter for the
e-SATA connector that would allow the system to go through the POST faster.

Should I move one of the optical drives to the e-SATA connector?

Once the system is up it seems fine. I got the drive to hold the music
collection I was moving from another system.

Marilyn

assuming you have a full tower and not a small one.

there is a 4th sata connector
its probably is in the back hidden from view near the power supply and
memory chips.

however you can connect to the esata also without a problem.
but then turn off the sata3, and turn on esata.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1050681


happycard wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My DELL Optiplex came with 3 SATA devices: 200 GB hard drive, a DVD-ROM,
> drive and a DVD-RW drive. I am running Windows XP SP3. Since DELL sold
> the machines configured with 2 hard drives and 2 optical devices, I
> bought the 2nd 500 GB Seagate "assuming" there was a 4th SATA connector
> ont he motherboard. There is a 4th connector but is labeled for e-SATA.
> What is weird is the BIOS lists SATA-0, SATA-1, SATA-2, SATA-3 and
> e-SATA. When I tried enabling SATA-3 the drive was NOT found. I
> "chatted" with DELL support and was told to enable the e-SATA connector
> int eh BIOS. The system sees the drive BUT it hangs for 25+ seconds on
> the DELL screen (where you can press F2 or F12) before booting windows.
> When I disable the e-SATA connector the system flies by the DELL screen
> in 5 seconds.
>
> I checked the POST behavior in the the BIOS and fast boot is ON.
>
> I guess I am wonder if it is ok to have the internal hard drive
> connected to the e-SATA connector, is there some sort of adapter for the
> e-SATA connector that would allow the system to go through the POST faster.
>
> Should I move one of the optical drives to the e-SATA connector?
>
> Once the system is up it seems fine. I got the drive to hold the music
> collection I was moving from another system.
>
> Marilyn

Jay B wrote:
> assuming you have a full tower and not a small one.
>
> there is a 4th sata connector
> its probably is in the back hidden from view near the power supply and
> memory chips.
>
> however you can connect to the esata also without a problem.
> but then turn off the sata3, and turn on esata.
>
> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1050681
>
>
>
> happycard wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> My DELL Optiplex came with 3 SATA devices: 200 GB hard drive, a
>> DVD-ROM, drive and a DVD-RW drive. I am running Windows XP SP3.
>> Since DELL sold the machines configured with 2 hard drives and 2
>> optical devices, I bought the 2nd 500 GB Seagate "assuming" there was
>> a 4th SATA connector ont he motherboard. There is a 4th connector but
>> is labeled for e-SATA. What is weird is the BIOS lists SATA-0,
>> SATA-1, SATA-2, SATA-3 and e-SATA. When I tried enabling SATA-3 the
>> drive was NOT found. I "chatted" with DELL support and was told to
>> enable the e-SATA connector int eh BIOS. The system sees the drive
>> BUT it hangs for 25+ seconds on the DELL screen (where you can press
>> F2 or F12) before booting windows. When I disable the e-SATA
>> connector the system flies by the DELL screen in 5 seconds.
>>
>> I checked the POST behavior in the the BIOS and fast boot is ON.
>>
>> I guess I am wonder if it is ok to have the internal hard drive
>> connected to the e-SATA connector, is there some sort of adapter for
>> the e-SATA connector that would allow the system to go through the
>> POST faster.
>>
>> Should I move one of the optical drives to the e-SATA connector?
>>
>> Once the system is up it seems fine. I got the drive to hold the
>> music collection I was moving from another system.
>>
>> Marilyn
Yes, it is the mini-tower (the larger of the 2 towers). Thank you for
the link to the manual. We actually had the book open but when it did
not work the first time (not recognized on SATA-3) may have gotten the
wrong MB picture.