Some people install a second drive and dedicate it for images, video, music, and other
multimedia files.
To see if your PC is a good candidate for a second hard disk, shut it down and open it up.
Many computers have tool-free cases that you can open easily; other PCs require a small
screwdriver to remove the side of the case. In either case, once the PC is open, check to see if
there??™s a spare bay to mount the hard disk. You can mount it in one of the drive bays or, perhaps,
on the bottom or side of the case, where there are some mounts for exactly that purpose. If
there??™s somewhere to put a hard disk, it??™s easy to install yourself.
If you don??™t want to mess around inside your PC, you can add an external hard disk
instead. These days, USB 2 and FireWire (also known as i.Link or IEEE1394) hard
disks are fast, inexpensive, and install in just minutes by doing nothing more than
plugging in a cable. I highly recommend these sorts of external drives.
Once you??™ve found somewhere to put the drive, follow these basic steps:
1. Ensure the PC is turned off and you are fully grounded before proceeding. You can
purchase a static grounding mat or a strap that attaches to your wrist at any local
computer shop. Alternately, you can ground yourself by touching the metal cage
surrounding the computer??™s power supply as long as the computer is plugged into the
wall outlet.
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