additional 3.5 hard drive for the pavillion gaming desktop 790-0020

[compuwiz0026]

Can you please tell me how to add a 3.5" hard drive to this machine?  I have called support and chat and they can not.  There are bays in the machine, but it looks like maybe an adapter is needed since there is no way to secure the 3.5 hard drive..  There is no documentation and support is saying to use an external.  This simple addition has become a headache. Your assistance is appreciated. 

Drive bay with hard drive

[Red5_1]

The specifications page for that PC says that it only has one 3.5" drive bay.Many HP computers us a system of nubs on the hard drives or DVD drives that are attached to the sides and then slid into rails in the case. IT can make adding new drives a bit challenging when you don't have extra nubs (which they usually do not include). That's what your pictures look like.

The page doesn't say much about the power supply, but assuming that you do have a power connection available, your only choice would be to try and jury-rig something that keeps the drive secure.

The system comes with a 300 GB hard drive. If you are still running that drive, instead of adding I would suggest upgrading by transferring the old system to a new and larger drive. It does take a bit on know how, but it isn't too bad if you are already tech savy. Otherwise, most any PC servicing outlet could do it for you. I would say that 2 TB drives are about the best value currently.

[compuwiz0026]

Thanks for your reply.  The specification page is for a different system.  HP Pavilion 790-0020 Gaming Desktop PC  This pc comes with a  m2 NVME drive. and has capacity in the chasis for additional 3.5 drives.   However No on at HP believes it is possible to add any, though the chasis for the additional drive is stamped HDD.  There is no mention of any addtional equipment needed, though there is something on the bottom that looks like it would clip into it.   This is not supposed to be difficult.   Any other case or manufacturer would show this.  I am blown away by this.   Hard drives    

256 GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 Solid State

• Size: 256 GB
• Interface: M.2
• Type: TLC Solid State

No included hard drive

There is no included hard drive with this model.

[DGroves · Accepted solution]

looking at your pictures it's obvious that the bottom Drive  bay uses a "carrier" which holds the drive, this drive/carrier slots into the bottom drive tray and then the SATA data and power cables are attached,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-HP-640983-001-3-5-Drive-Caddy-For-Z210-Z220-Z230-Z420-BUY-in-BULK-S...

or the drive may use the hard to find BLUE screw/washer mounts

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-20-Blue-HP-3-5-Desktop-Hard-Drive-Screws-Grommets-DC7800-7900-8000-8...

the top tray is diffrent, it appears to have a pre installed power jack/sata data  and may be for a addin DVD/Blueray laptop style drive that is accesed from the front of the system

last, i would look at the higher end 790 systems and see if one of those came with optional HD's

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06017031

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06013151

[Red5_1]

Compuwiz, I am sorry about that. I don't know how I got to that spec page for the wrong system.

DGroves advice is very good. For only a few bucks I bet one of those would work...but my money is on the screw/washer mounts. The pictures you provided do not show signs of a plastic caddy.

[wb2001]

@compuwiz0026,

What you have is the Berks motherboard.  There are 2 separate and very distinct power headers for drives. The top bay mounts the DVD drive, and a single Hard drive.  All power leads provide 2 drive connectors.  The top power header has 8 pins, the lower SATA power only has 6, and only supports hard drives.  You need what is called HP Isolation "blue screws" to mount any device. Theses allow the drive slide into the bay.

So, you have the get the 4 HP blue screws, a SATA data cable (standard availability), and the choice of hard drive. Adding a second hard drive would require the use of the lower hard drive bay, and the 6 pin cable.  That strange cable costs 52-56 EURO, and is found in the UK, GR, and FR.

@Red5_1,

The 800 series units use "Fillister screws".  Is this what you meant by "nub"?   

[Red5_1]

@wb2001:  I was referring to the screw/washer mounts that DGroves mentioned. I have come across those on a number of machines and the pics provided by the OP look like that type of setup.

[DGroves]

most consumer HP systems use the screw/gromet type of HD mounting

the plastic rail systems are usually used in higher end workstation models

[wb2001]

@DGroves,

The BERKS motherboard uses the HP Isolation "blue screws". See here.

It is complete with nice pictures of the screws and a hard drive sliding into the bay.

[compuwiz0026]

Thank you everyone for your responses.  The "blue screws" worked.  I don't understand why HP has this no where documented, and thus this has to be a hunting trip for the correct answer.  It is specialties  like this which always push me away from ever recommending a branded pc like dell or hp.  I learned something new.