[Ham-Computers] BIOS Hard Drive On-Off Switch

[Jim Hill]

I'm attempting to connect a second SATA hard drive to my "new" used 
Dell Optiplex GX620 running XP Pro, and Windows Explorer didn't 
recognize it.  I went to BIOS and discovered there were provisions 
for four hard drives.  I checked the motherboard, and there are four 
SATA data connectors (though the cage only has space for two).  I 
used the data connector nearest the one in use, and turned "on" SATA 
1.  Still no recognition.  The Dell User Manual isn't much help, just 
saying to pick a port and saying nothing about the BIOS settings.

Could I turn on all four ports and have the computer operate 
properly?  If so, is there an advantage having the unused ports turned off?

The drive is new, a Western digital WD3200AAKS.  I had just finished 
setting it up in another computer using the WD setup CD, and 
connected it as the secondary drive when the computer had problems - 
didn't say No Drive but nothing more but a blank dos screen was seen, 
so I'm not sure the initial setup was finished.

Thanks, Jim w6ivw