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100432
January 3rd, 2015 08:00
Installing a second HDD (slave drive) in an Inspiron 3646
Can I add a second HDD (a slave drive) to an Inspiron 3646? This is a new I 3646, the one it replaced burned up. I managed to save the hard drive and I'd like to install it as a backup drive/extra storage.
I can't find any technical information on the Dell website, no schematics or FAQs.
There are two "open" bays on the rear of the case. Can these be used to install the drive?
There is no cage attached to these bays or inside the case. Workaround is to make it an external drive and hook it up by usb, but I'd rather install it inside the case.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
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shesagordie
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September 6th, 2015 16:00
sdxm
Yes, you could.
There are both 5.25" x 3.5' and 5.25" x 2.5" bay convertors available, probably the 2.5" HD would be the better fit, but you need to find a 5.25" blank for the front bezel. [see page 34].
Bev.
shesagordie
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January 3rd, 2015 12:00
RinkRat13
The Inspiron 3646 Small Desktop does not support a second 3.5" internal SATA HD, the motherboard has only two SATA connectors, [ Support for 1 x HD and 1 x Optical Drive]. See page 11 of the Owners Manual.
Best to use a USB SATA external enclosure to install the second hard drive in.
http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-3646-small-desktop_Owner%27s%20Manual_en-us.pdf
Bev.
sdxm
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September 6th, 2015 13:00
Is it possible to remove the optical drive and replace it with a second hard drive? Would any additional hardware be required to do this? Would it support a 3.5 or 2.5" hard drive using this method?
larry381
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September 13th, 2015 15:00
Apparently adding an additional HDD to a Dell Inspirin 3847 is a state secret. I've been trying for two weeks to find the answer to this rather mundane technical problem. Finally out of frustration I hired a (self-described computer expert to solve the problem- He was up my house for nearly three years and still couldn't solved this dilemma. Come on Guys, this is not a secret process for turning lead to gold-can't anyone in East Asia come up with a correct answer.
sdxm
2 Posts
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September 14th, 2015 01:00
Yes you can remove the disc drive and install a second hard drive where the disc drive was. I just did it on Friday based on what I read here, with no experience doing this sort of thing (I've had MacBooks/iBooks/Mac Minis my entire life to this point). I'll describe in as much detail the steps I took, but it's pretty self explanatory once you get in there.
Materials:
1. Remove the panel of the PC
2. Remove the front bezel
3. Perform all the steps listed in ‘Remove the drive cage’
4. Remove the disc drive from the drive cage by unscrewing the screws that are holding the disc drive in and sliding it out.
5. Attach the bay converter to your hard drive after eyeballing the bay converter, hard drive, and drive cage can all fit together can all fit together so that the hard drive will sit towards the back of the drive cage just like the disc drive did.
6. Attach the bay converter (which now has a hard drive attached) to the drive cage.
7. Plug the data cable and power cage that you removed from the disc drive in step 4 or 5 into the new hard drive. They only fit one way so there’s no real way of screwing this up.
8. Plug the original hard drive back in in the same manner.
9. Screw the drive bay back in.
10. Replace the front bezel.
11. Replace the panel of PC
12. Format drive if necessary
13. Profit?
shesagordie
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September 14th, 2015 07:00
Larry Reilly
Dell has not published the procedures for installing an additional SATA hard drive, the Inspiron 3847 has a second 3.5" bay, for the second hard drive next to the primary hard drive, there should be a set of rails located in the bay, two 6-32X1/4, phillips head screws are needed, to attach the rails.
The procedures on pages 26 to 28 of the owners manual should give you an idea of what is required for the installation.
http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-3847-desktop_Owner%27s%20Manual_en-us.pdf
You will need another SATA data cable there should be a spare SATA power connector inside the case.
After installing the drive, enter the system setup and check that the hard drive is 'enabled' [on] and recognized.
For Windows to recognize the second hard drive, it must be partitioned and formatted.
Go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management, right click new drive, select format, then you can assign a drive letter.
Bev.