How to install 2nd hard drive in a P6-2026

[pbosela]

Bought a new P6-2026 and want to install my old hard drive as a 2nd drive.  HP how to says it can be done, but

I don't see any way to mount it.  My old PC had a cage which held up to 2 hard drives, and the P7 layout it

basically the same.  However, the P6 is different, and I don't see any way to mount the 2nd drive, even though

the instructions say there is.  Any suggestions?

[banhien]

Hi,

Have you read this:

  http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03030603.pdf

Very compact and to be honest I can not see where to add the second HDD. On another link, it shows we can upgarde CPU, RAM but nowhere to say we can add one more HDD.

Regards.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

See your other post.

[pbosela]

There is no room to mount it next to or behind the existing hardrive.  I did not see a special mounting bracket available, but I'll look again, maybe I missed it.  Otherwise using the optical bay might be my best options.

Thanks.

[twelveforty]

Hi there, wondering how you managed to sort this out, since I'm exactly in the same situation? It doesn't look like there's an obvious spare 5.25 bay that can be used. Ideally, I'd like to add 2 extra HDDs, there would indeed be enough room to fit them both.

[Big_Dave]

Hi twelveforty,

The motherboard for the P6-2026 has four sata ports so it is possible to connect up two more hard drives.  The trick to to find a spot to mount the drives as space is a real problem.  You probably have these options:

1. Remove the CD/DVD drive and replace it with an external USB CD/DVD drive.  Then use a 5.25" optical bay bracket that will hold (2) 2.5" hard drives. You will need a sata Y power cable adapter.

2. Perhaps use a dual 2.5" mounting bracket  or this bracket and rest the bracket on the bottom the PC.  You could use some velrco to keep it from sliding around if PC movement is an issue.

3. Extend the two open sata ports to the rear (esata I/O bracket) and use external eSATA hard drives.

4. Buy a PCI-E eSATA add-in card and use external eSATA hard drives.

If you decide on going externally but still want motherboard sata support or PCI-E add-in card support then this docking station might be an option.