A hardware question

[docwebster]

I'm running three hard drives and a DVD drive on the new XP machine. Would it hork if I hooked up a fourth, external drive?

Comments

[midnightmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm running four internal drives on a XP machine with a CDRW and DVDRW drive, AND I have an external drive and it's all fine. Go nuts.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_duncan/]

I've seen no interface that tries to extend the (E)IDE busses outside the case so the external would be on firewire, USB or Ethernet. Different hardware, drivers generally written for scalability. No problem expected.

If it's SCSI just make sure both ends of the chain are terminated and that the on-card termination is not being used. A bit more likely to flake out, but still likely to work.

I've NOT had good luck with external drives connected to the parallel port... but it doesn't sound like anything you'd have attached to this machine would be of that generation.

[shadowduchess.livejournal.com]

My only concern would be with your power supply how much are you working with and how much can it handle don't forget that all things plugged in do require a certain amount of power so it's good to know where your gauge is.
I've seen people blow power supplies easily with too much hardware and not enough juice.

mo hotta mo flakey

[http://users.livejournal.com/_duncan/]

Who'd a thunk the kollidg edjumakated electronics engineer would have forgotten about the power supply. Thanks!

Re: mo hotta mo flakey

[shadowduchess.livejournal.com]

*laughs ass off*
From what I'm seeing most externals don't need to sap off the power supply but it was the first concern in my head with so many peripherals.
Thank you for the giggle with that response!

[bunyip.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't but this is XP ;)

[ex-flexible.livejournal.com]

If the external drive has its own power supply (and just about all of them do) then you're clear. You can use a USB hub or a firewire daisy chain to hook up a dozen of 'em.

[foxsynergy.livejournal.com]

Since the external drive would have its own built-in controller and (usually) its own power supply, it should be a snap.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

I dunno, but with all that hardware, you've got yourself a room heater there as well.

[lubedpumpkin.livejournal.com]

Agrees with the power supply issues - and make sure all the jumpers are set on cable select so the computer can figure out what to do with everything. Helps solve lots o'problems. :)