Install 2 hard drives on the laptop. Ways to connect a second hard drive to a computer

We live in amazing times. Technological innovations propel humanity forward, forcing more and more people to think about the future. The computer industry has long crossed all possible thresholds and now its development can hardly be stopped or redirected to another direction. But, as often happens, development undergoes a period of uneven distribution of efforts - the speed of development of certain areas leaves much to be desired.
One example of this phenomenon is computer memory. Every year programs and games for desktop machines become more resource-intensive, and if video adapters, controllers and monitors are actively modernized, then read-only memory is still represented by the hard disk, invented more than 50 years ago. Many users ask in advance the question "How"

How to connect a second hard drive to your computer

Before a user who wants to increase the available space for storing new data, sooner or later the question will arise: what to do next? Of course, you can buy a solid state drive SSD, but their active life is still less than 5 years, so the best solution would be to connect a second hard drive to your computer. How to do this, we explain in detail in Russian in this article.

Before starting installation

Before you start upgrading your computer, it will be useful to figure out how the latter is ready for it. If a new hard drive has already been purchased, or at least a specific model has been selected, then it is necessary to clarify which connector should be used to connect to the computer's motherboard.
Among a number of interfaces for connecting hard drives to a computer, the main ones can be distinguished:

IDE - at the moment the connector is outdated and hardly used. At one time, it allowed connecting two drives at once through one loop.
SATA is the most popular connector found in most computers. Its distinctive feature is the serial data transfer between the carrier and the receiving device (computer).
FireWire (IEEE 1394) is one of the options for how to connect 2 hard drives to your computer. It is most often used to connect to external storage media and is designed for a maximum data transfer rate of about 300 Mbps.

Next, you need to find out which interfaces are supported by the computer's motherboard. In order to do this, you need to open the "Device Manager", copy the motherboard model and search for the copied phrase on the Internet. Among the characteristics will be the line we need - "Interface for connecting information carriers." If everything is in order, then you can proceed to the next step. If there is a discrepancy between the interface of the board and the disk itself, then you should take care of buying an adapter in a specialized store.

Installing a hard drive

It is worth starting with the computer by preparing all the necessary tools and replacement parts. We need:

Small Phillips screwdriver (often included with new drives)
Wires for motherboard and power supply
The drive itself, freed from the factory packaging
If necessary, an adapter purchased in the previous step.

First you need to remove the case cover of the system unit and familiarize yourself with the location of the first hard drive. Practice shows that it is most convenient to install elements of the same purpose next to each other, so it's good if there is a free slot next to an already installed disk.
When the place for installing the drive is selected, you need to try on the connecting wires - they must not be allowed to be too short to prevent the device from disconnecting during operation and loss of data. Such foresight is fully justified, because losing data in case of a sudden power outage is as easy as shelling pears.

The next step is to mount the drive to the computer case. It is done using the screws provided with the hard drive and a small Phillips screwdriver. It is necessary to carefully monitor that during the installation process, none of those wires that are already inside the case are pinched between the wall of the system unit and the hard drive case. After the second drive is screwed on, you need to connect the new connecting wires first to it, and then to the motherboard and power supply. After that, you can assemble the wires together using an electrical clamp - this eliminates the possibility of damage and getting into the fan blades when the computer is running. The final stage will be the assembly of the computer. This step is usually straightforward, even for novice users.

Checking the second hard drive

Experts in working with computer equipment advise to write and read data from a disk immediately after installing a new media. "This allows us to identify factory defects and forgeries," they say. Therefore, after turning on the computer with the second hard drive installed, it is advisable to visit the website of the manufacturer of this equipment and find on it special software for working with the purchased model or series of models.
The interface of such software solutions is most often not abundant in functions, but nevertheless, they are able to provide basic data, such as the real capacity of the medium, the speed of reading and writing to the disk. If the actual data transfer rate differs greatly from the one declared by the manufacturer, then you need to check the quality of the connecting wires and the contact between the drive itself and the wire leading to the motherboard.

conclusions

It's not difficult, just follow the short instructions. When working inside your computer, always unplug it from the electrical outlet to avoid electric shock. In addition, when working with magnetic disks, you should exclude the influence of powerful electromagnetic fields on the computer case, and also ensure that static electricity is removed from the drive itself.

Installing a hard drive on a computer is not difficult and there is nothing to be afraid if you have to do it yourself, even if you have never seen your computer open. I'll explain everything to you now, and everything will work out for you.

Installing a hard drive on a computer will be required if you are going to update your device, build a computer from scratch, or want a second HDD. This guide will help you in the first two cases. But in the case of replacing the HDD, I will not tell you how to remove the old one, I think there will be no problems with this, but I will only show you how to install the new one correctly. But I'll tell you about the connection of the second hard some other time.

Installing a new hard drive begins by screwing it to the case. This is done with bolts. There are threaded holes in the hard case, there are grooves in the computer case. It is screwed through them.

Make sure that the installed device does not interfere with ventilation inside the system unit, and also that all wires and cables can easily reach it without stretching.

Only on the service https://doctorsmm.com/ there are discounts on the sale of views on Instagram for a limited period of time. Hurry up to have time to purchase a resource with the most convenient speed mode for video or broadcast, and experienced managers will help you sort out any issue.

Connecting the hard drive to the motherboard

The bolts are fixed, and we move on to the wires and loops. Connect with which the HDD will communicate with it.

Depending on the type of HDD, they will differ - ATA (IDE) and SATA. The first are older, the second are new, but both are still on sale.

Connecting an IDE hard drive to the motherboard is carried out using a ribbon cable, which has a large number of contacts, pins, and therefore is wide. The loop has a lock that prevents it from being connected incorrectly. Therefore, it is impossible to make a mistake. Connect the IDE cable between the HDD and the motherboard.

A SATA hard drive is connected using a narrow ribbon cable. It will be impossible to mix up the connection sockets on the motherboard, since SATA will fit only in the correct connector. Use a SATA cable to connect the HDD to the motherboard.

Connecting the hard drive to power

Power cables are also different for IDE and SATA hard drives. Most for one and the other type or there are special adapters.

To connect IDE hard drives, use a 4-pin Peripheral Power Connector. SATA hard drives require a SATA Power Connector. In both cases, you cannot mix up the connections, so do not be afraid that you will do something wrong.

Differences between connecting IDE and SATA hard drives

It would seem that the connection procedure is the same, but in fact IDE differs slightly from SATA in that it requires setting the position of the jumper, the so-called jumper.

The motherboard is usually supplied with a pair of connectors for IDE devices, and each can be connected to two devices. Each pair can have one master and one slave, and it is impossible that there are two identical. The hard disk must be in master position if Windows boots from it. The second device in the same connection branch must be slave.

If all this is difficult to understand, then just put a jumper on master if your computer has only one hard disk.

You can find the jumper connection card on the hard drive case itself.

There are no such problems with SATA. Master and slave positions are set via BIOS. When connecting a SATA hard drive, you will need to configure it as bootable if an operating system is installed on it.

When the first computers appeared, all programs, games and other files practically did not take up disk space. Now things are quite different, and it is often necessary to install an additional storage medium. Therefore, every user should know how to connect a second hard drive to a computer. In fact, it is not difficult to do this, you just need to follow simple instructions.

The device must first be purchased from a store. Please note that the hard disk has several connection interfaces. After purchasing the purchase, you can proceed with the installation of the device.

Preparing for installation

How many hard drives are already connected to the motherboard? Most often, the computer has only one hard drive, so installing a second drive is not difficult. In most cases, the HDD is located directly under the DVD-ROM, so it won't be difficult to find it;
Is there extra space for installing a second hard drive? In the event that it is not possible to install a second or third drive, then you will have to purchase a USB drive;
What type of cable is used to connect the hard drive to the computer? If the purchased device does not have the same interface as on a PC, it will be difficult to install.

Please note that you need a 3.5-inch hard drive. You don't need to buy small drives designed for laptops.

Physical disk connection

If the system unit has not yet been disassembled, disassemble it. It is now recommended to get rid of static electricity. This is done by any means known to you. If you wish, you can purchase a special grounding strap in the store.

After small manipulations, the hard drive will be fixed in the case, now all that remains is to connect the hard drive. Before plugging in the power cable and ribbon cable, please note that the procedure is slightly different for IDE and SATA interfaces.

IDE interface

When connecting a disk with an IDE interface, it is recommended to pay attention to such a nuance as setting the operating mode:

Master (main).
Slave (slave).

If an additional hard disk is installed, then you must enable the Slave mode. To do this, you need to use a jumper (jumper), which is installed in the second place. The first row turns on the Master mode. It is important to note that on modern computers, the jumper can be removed completely. The system will automatically detect which hard master.

At the next step, you need to connect the second or third hard disk to the "mother". For this, the IDE interface is connected to a ribbon cable (wide, thin wire). The other end of the cable is connected to the IDE 1 Secondary socket (the main drive is connected to the zero connector).

The final stage of connection is power supply. To do this, a white chip with four wires is connected to the corresponding connector. The wires go directly from the power supply (box with wires and fan).

SATA interface

Unlike IDE, a SATA drive has two L-shaped connectors. One is for power connection and the other is for data cable. It should be noted that such a hard drive lacks a jumper.

The data cable plugs into a narrow connector. The other end connects to a special connector. Most often there are 4 such ports on the motherboard, but there are only 2 ports with an exception. One of the slots can be occupied by a DVD drive.

There are times when a disk with a SATA interface was purchased, but no such connectors were found on the motherboard. In this case, it is recommended to additionally purchase a SATA controller, which is installed in the PCI slot.

The next step is to connect the power. The L-shaped wide cable is connected to the corresponding connector. If the drive has an additional power connector (IDE interface), just use one of the connectors. This completes the physical connection of the hard drive.

BIOS setup

When all manipulations with the hard drive are completed, turn on the computer, and then enter the BIOS. It is important to note that the launch of BIOS on each computer is carried out in its own way. To do this, use the key:

Delete;

After entering the BIOS, you need to go to the configuration setting. It is important to assign boot from the disk on which the operating system is installed. If the priority is set incorrectly, the system simply will not boot.

In the event that one of the disks is not displayed in the BIOS, it means that the hard drive was connected incorrectly or the ribbon cable was damaged. It is recommended to inspect all wires and reconnect (remember to turn off your computer).

As soon as the BIOS setup is completed, you can boot with the operating system. After that, all that remains is to assign a letter to the drive.

The final stage

Since connecting a hard drive to a computer is not enough, you need to make the final settings directly from under Windows. On some computers, this procedure is performed automatically. To check this, you should open "My Computer" and then see if a new disk appears.

If nothing happened, you need to start the control panel. Then select "Administration". Once a new window opens, you will need to select "Computer Management". In the left column, you need to find the "Disk Management" tab (on some computers "Disk Manager").

Select disk 1 at the bottom of the window (if more than 2 hard drives are connected, select the disk with the highest number). This will be the new hard drive;
You must assign a letter to the logical volume. To do this, right-click on the disk, and then select "Assign letter";
As soon as a new drive letter is assigned, it needs to be formatted. The procedure can take a long time, it all depends on the size of the hard drive. It is important to choose the NTFS file system when formatting.

When the formatting process is complete, a new disk will appear in the root directory "My Computer". If for some reason it is not possible to connect the HDD using the built-in manager, it is recommended to use third-party programs.

Partition Manager is an excellent tool for working with hard drives. In addition, such a utility allows you to partition a disk into several logical volumes.

Conclusion

Attaching a hard drive takes less than 15 minutes. If you follow the instructions, difficulties should not arise. Modern computers do not need additional BIOS setup, of course, if the disks are not installed in a completely new computer. Also, do not forget that the operating system depends on how large the plug-in hard drive can be.

Video review: connecting a hard drive

User question

Hello.

Tell me how you can connect another drive to the laptop (or is it impossible)? It's just that my 500 GB disk is no longer enough, now I'm thinking about increasing the space ...

Svetlana.

Good day!

Yes, such questions are not uncommon. In general, in recent years, laptops have gained great popularity and are slowly replacing ordinary PCs. Laptops have many advantages, but upgrading is difficult. Add another disk or change memory - in some cases it is completely impossible ...

It is a pity that the author of the question did not describe more specifically the essence of the problem. In this article, I will consider several ways how you can connect another drive to a laptop (in some cases, you may become so that there will be 3 of them at once!). Many people connect another disk not only to increase the space, but to increase the speed of the system (they put an SSD drive and transfer Windows from the HDD to it).

Ways to connect 2 drives to a laptop

Option number 1: install the disk in the second slot in the laptop

Some laptops have two slots for hard drives (though I want to say right away that the configuration of such laptops is quite rare). Basically, these laptops belong to the category of gaming and are quite expensive.

To find out how many slots you have, just look at those. characteristics of the laptop (if you do not have documents for the device, you can look on the Internet), or simply remove the protective cover from the back of the laptop and take a look yourself (Important! Do not open the lid if the laptop is under warranty - this may be the reason for the denial of warranty service).

Because the chance that you have two slots is small, I am not focusing on this option. An example of such a device, by the way, is in the photo below.

Toshiba Satellite X205-SLi3 - inside view (2 hard drives installed)

If you want to buy a laptop drive, but do not know where to stop, then I recommend that you read this article:

Option number 2: install the SSD in the spec. connector (M.2)

If you have a new modern laptop, it is possible that you have an M.2 connector (SSD connector, present in many new products (usually in those that are more expensive ☺)). Designed as a replacement for mSATA. Allows you to get the maximum performance from installing an SSD drive.

To find out if you have such a connector, you can:

knowing the laptop model (about), look at its tech. characteristics (the Internet is full of sites with all models of mobile devices ☺);
you can simply open the back cover of the laptop and personally look for the desired connector.

Important!

By the way, this M.2 connector is quite "tricky" (even many experienced users get confused) ... The point is that it has quite a few varieties. Therefore, even if you have a similar connector, before ordering a new disc, read this article here:

Option number 3: connect the external HDD / SSD to the USB port

An external hard drive can significantly expand the space. It looks like a small box, the size of a regular phone. Connects to a regular USB port. Such a disk, on average today, is able to accommodate about 1000-4000 GB (i.e. 1-4 TB).

If you are considering models with additional power (the adapter usually comes with some drives), then the capacity can reach up to 8 TB! I think that over time it will be even higher.

Note! You can buy cheaper external hard drives than in a regular store on AliExpress. - .

There is truth in this version, certain disadvantages: extra wires on the table, lower speed of interaction with the disk (if HDD - then on average up to 60 MB / s via USB 3.0), and the inconvenience of carrying a laptop (it's one thing to take a laptop in one hand and go, and another is to additionally fiddle with an external drive ...).

True, there are undeniable advantages: such a disk can be connected to any laptop or PC, it can be used to transfer information from one PC to another (it will not take much space in your pocket), you can buy several such disks and use them one by one.

Option # 4: install another disc instead of the CD / DVD drive

Well, the most popular option is to remove the CD / DVD drive from the laptop (available in the vast majority of models) and instead insert a special adapter (some call it a "pocket") with another disk (HDD or SSD). I will paint this option in more detail ...

What adapter do you need? Determining ...

First you need to find and choose this adapter correctly. In our ordinary computer stores, it is rare (you need to order in some Chinese online store, for example, in AliExpress -).

Note: in English, such an adapter is called "caddy for laptop" (this is how you enter a query in the search bar of stores).

Universal adapter for installing a second disk in a laptop instead of a CD-ROM drive (2nd HDD Caddy 12.7 mm 2.5 SATA 3.0)

There are 2 important points:

adapters are of different thicknesses! Actually, just like discs and CD / DVD drives. The most common are 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. Those. before buying an adapter - you need to measure the thickness of the CD / DVD drive(best with a pair of compasses, at worst with a ruler)!
disks and CD / DVD drive can come with different ports (SATA, IDE). Those. it is necessary, again, to look at the installed CD / DVD drive live. Most often, modern laptops are equipped with drives that support SATA (they are most popular in Chinese stores).

How to remove a CD / DVD drive from a laptop

In general, of course, a lot depends on the design of your laptop. The most common case: there is a special protective cover on the back of the laptop, removing which you can see the fastening screw that fixes the drive in the laptop slot. Accordingly, by unscrewing this screw, you can freely remove the drive.

Some laptop models do not have a protective cover - and in order to get to the insides, you need to completely disassemble the device.

Note: before removing the protective cover (and indeed, carrying out any manipulations with the laptop), unplug it from the mains and remove the battery.

Most often, the drive is fixed with one screw (see photo below). To remove it, in most cases, you will need a Phillips screwdriver.

After the screw is removed, it is enough to slightly pull on the drive tray - it should "come out" from the tray with a little effort (see photo below).

Installing an SSD / HDD disk into an adapter, and an adapter into a laptop

Installing an SSD / HDD disk into an adapter is easy. It is enough to put it in the special. "pocket", then insert it into the internal port and fix it with screws (screws are included with the adapter).

The photo below shows the installed SSD drive in a similar adapter.

If the thickness of the adapter and the disc has been chosen correctly (no more than the thickness of the CD / DVD drive), then you can easily push it into the slot and fix it with a screw (if the adapter has such a mount).

If the thickness of the disc / adapter is selected correctly, but there are problems with insertion into the slot, pay attention to the compensating screws on the adapter: some models are equipped with them (located on the side walls of the adapter). Just take them off (or drown them).

After the adapter with the disk is installed in the slot for the drive, put a neat panel on the adapter so that it looks like a real drive and does not spoil the look of the laptop. Such sockets, as a rule, always come with adapters in the kit (in addition, they can be removed from the removed CD-ROM drive).

Checking if the drive appears in BIOS

After installing the second disk, I recommend that after turning on the laptop, go immediately into the BIOS and see if the disk is detected, if you can see it. Most often, the identified disks can be found in the main menu: main, information and so on (see photo below).

Note!

1) If you don't know how to enter BIOS, I recommend this material:

2) An article on how to transfer Windows from a hard disk drive (HDD) to an SSD drive (without reinstalling the system) may be useful to you -

Results (what is important)

initially, check if you have another hard drive slot in your laptop, or a new M.2 SSD connector;
now there are many external drives on sale that connect to the USB port - perhaps this is the best way to expand free space;
before buying an adapter for installing a disc instead of a CD drive - find out how thick your CD / DVD drive is and what ports are used (the most popular thicknesses are 9.5 and 12.7 mm);
do not open the protective cover if your laptop is under warranty (this may be the reason for the denial of warranty service);
maybe after installing a new disk, your Windows will refuse to boot. In this case, you need to check the BIOS settings (whether a new disk was detected and put it in the correct boot queue), and in some cases you may have to restore the bootloader. About this here:

That's all, for the amendments and additions - I would like to thank you separately.

All the best!

Sometimes it seems that even the largest hard drive will fill up within a short period of time. Perhaps you don't want to delete information from an old drive, or you need a new drive to store certain data on it. However, keep in mind that the interior space of a computer case is not limitless. Here are some methods that you can use to free up space and use an additional hard drive.

Steps

Connecting an external hard drive

Choose a suitable external hard drive. These discs have different dimensions and volumes. Make sure your computer has a free slot that you can plug in an external hard drive.

If you just need to connect and use an external hard drive, buy a drive without additional power.
If you regularly back up your data, look for a disc with special software that allows you to make backups.
Pay attention to the baud rate of the USB interface. The latest USB specification (USB 3.0) allows for faster transfer speeds, but your computer must have an appropriate USB port (remember that USB ports and cables are backward compatible).

Connect an external hard drive. In most cases, external hard drives are connected to a computer using a USB cable, and some using a SATA cable. The connected external drive will be automatically recognized by the system and you can start using it.

Make sure the system recognizes the external hard drive. To do this, open Windows Explorer (or the "Computer" window) and make sure that the external hard drive is in the list of all connected storage media. You can now use an external hard drive.

Network drive usage
1. Consider whether to use a network drive. Such a disk is necessary for storing and exchanging information with other users connected to the same network. Moreover, use a network drive if you want to get remote access to data from any computer.
  
  Connect the disk. The network drive connects to the network, and you can access it anytime while also connected to the network.
  - If the network drive needs additional power, plug the adapter into an electrical outlet.
  - Connect the drive to the network. To use a router or modem and an Ethernet cable or USB cable.
2. Put a letter on the network drive. So when connected to the network, you can easily access the network drive (like any other hard drive). The following procedure is for Windows 10 users and may differ slightly on other versions of that system.
  - Go to "This PC" - "Map Network Drive".
  - Select a drive letter and click Browse.
  - Select a network drive from the list and click OK.
3. Open the network drive. To do this, open Windows Explorer and find the network drive in the list of all connected storage media.
Replacing the optical drive
1. Buy matching adapters. In most cases, the optical drive fits into a 5.25 "bay, which is large for a 3.5" hard drive. So read your optical drive's documentation to find out its size.
  - A bay is a limited space inside a computer case where an optical drive, disk drive, or hard drive can be inserted. To install a hard drive in a larger bay, special adapters or brackets are used.
2. Unplug the power cord from the computer. Before working on computer components, be sure to disconnect power from them.
  
  Open the computer case. Use a screwdriver to remove the side panel of the case (some cases can be opened without a screwdriver). The type of screwdriver depends on the model and manufacturer of the case.
  
  Disconnect the cables connected to the optical drive. In the vast majority of cases, two cables are connected to an optical drive: a power cable and a data cable.
  - The power cable has a white plug and black, yellow and red wires.
  - The flat ("ribbon") data cable has a wide plug.
3. Remove the screws or open the latches securing the optical drive. Once done, remove the drive from the housing.
  
  Install bracket or adapter (if needed). Fix the bracket or adapter with screws.
  
  Insert the internal hard drive into the vacated bay. Insert the hard drive into the bay and secure with the screws.
  
  Connect the hard drive to the motherboard. To do this, connect the power cable and data cable to the hard drive.
  
  Connect the power cable to the computer. You must turn on your computer to configure it to use the new hard drive.
4. Enter BIOS. BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) is the software that the processor needs to identify the installed components and hardware, such as an additional hard drive. The method of entering and making changes to the BIOS depends on the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. Read the documentation for your motherboard to find out how to enter the BIOS and open the Hardware section.
  - Turn on the computer and immediately hold down the corresponding key.
  - Once in the BIOS, find the section (or tab) “Hardware”, “Setup”, or similar. Navigation inside the BIOS is done using the keyboard.
  - The installed hard drive should appear in the list. If it is not listed, turn off your computer and check that the appropriate cables are securely connected.
  - Find and activate the "Auto-detect" option.
  - Save your changes and exit BIOS. To do this, you need to press a certain key. The computer will automatically restart.
5. Format your hard drive. Before using the hard drive, you must format it with a file system that is compatible with your operating system. If you plan to install on a Windows hard drive, format it with NTFS, or xFAT or FAT32 for simple data storage. The following procedure is for Windows 10 users, but most likely applies to other versions of this system as well.
  - Press Win + R to open the Run window.
  - Enter diskmgmt.msc and click OK. The disk management utility starts.
  - In the list, right-click on the new hard drive and choose Format from the menu.
  - Select the desired file system and click OK. The process of formatting the disk will take some time (depending on the size of the disk). After the formatting process is complete, you can use the hard drive.
- The IDE cable has two or three plugs. One end of the cable connects to the motherboard and the other to the device (hard drive or optical drive). A maximum of two devices can be connected to one IDE cable. If your motherboard does not have a free IDE connector, install an additional board with an IDE connector. If your motherboard supports Serial ATA (SATA), use hard drives with this interface (data transfer rates will increase significantly). Many motherboard models support up to four SATA hard drives (in the case of an IDE interface, you can only connect two drives), allowing you to create a RAID array.
- Any internal hard drive can be inserted into a special enclosure and used as an external hard drive.
- Be aware that other users are connecting to the network drive, so take steps to protect your data.
- Instead of a 3.5 "hard drive, you can use a 2.5" drive, which is usually found in laptops. In this case, you will have to buy the appropriate adapters or brackets.
- If you want to install an internal hard drive, but cannot lose the hardware installed inside the computer case, consider purchasing a larger case.
Warnings
- Take care of your safety! Disconnect the computer from the power source before opening the case. Also, touch an unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity before handling computer components.
What do you need
- Additional hard drive.
- Screwdriver. To open the computer case and remove the hardware, you will most likely need a screwdriver. The type of screwdriver depends on the model and manufacturer of the case.
- Matching adapters. To install a 3.5-inch hard drive in a 5.25-inch bay (instead of an optical drive), you need an appropriate adapter or bracket. When using a 2.5 ”hard drive, an appropriate container or adapter is required.
- Powerful power supply. Remember that as more hardware is added, the load on the power supply increases. Therefore, read the documentation for your power supply and make sure it can power the additional hard drive.
- Loose power cable and data cable. If you don't have a spare power cable, buy an appropriate power strip.
- BIOS that supports the required number and size of hard drives (unless you intend to create a RAID array).