Computer hard drive

[Teeling611]

Is it difficult to install a computer hard drive on a desktop such as a Dell or HP. I don’t own a computer and have been looking at refurbished for a BI install. Many of the reasonably priced units I’ve found come with only a small SSD, no hard drive or a smaller drive than necessary for recording. Many also with no operating systems. New hard drives seem a reasonable option but it’s the install that‘s the issue for me. New computers are to expensive. Thanks

 

[ludshed]

A couple of screws and 2 wires.

 

[wittaj]

It is pretty easy.

 

[fenderman]

Is it difficult to install a computer hard drive on a desktop such as a Dell or HP. I don’t own a computer and have been looking at refurbished for a BI install. Many of the reasonably priced units I’ve found come with only a small SSD, no hard drive or a smaller drive than necessary for recording. Many also with no operating systems. New hard drives seem a reasonable option but it’s the install that‘s the issue for me. New computers are to expensive. Thanks

Even though the description says no os, you will be able to install windows using the MS media creation tool in 99.9999 percent of cases and it will activate just fine. Not some sff pc's have limited internal space for drives, there are threads discussing this.

 

[The Automation Guy]

Many also with no operating systems.

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Even though the description says no os, you will be able to install windows using the MS media creation tool in 99.9999 percent of cases and it will activate just fine. Not some sff pc's have limited internal space for drives, there are threads discussing this.​

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Yup.

OEM Windows OS activations keys are tied to the hardware (usually the motherboard) and cannot be easily transferred to another computer. What this means is that if the computer ran Windows previously, the MS servers will automatically activate Windows when it is "re-installed" on a refurbished machine even if the hard drive is different. As Fenderman noted, about 99% of the time, you can purchase a refurbished computer and it will activate Windows without having to buy a new license for it.

Is it difficult to install a computer hard drive on a desktop such as a Dell or HP?

Installing a hard drive into a computer is literally plugging in two cables and securing the drive in the chassis. Two cables with unique connectors that cannot be plugged in wrong. If you are buying a refurbished computer, the correct cables will already be there from where they removed the previous hard drive. Do not let this "unknown" prevent you from buying a refurbished model.

 

[Teeling611]

Thanks just purchased an Optiplex 7040, i7-6700, windows Pro, 8 gb ram, with 500 gb hard drive, $112.00 EBay. Now a Poe switch bigger HD and some cameras and of course BI.

 

[TonyR]

Thanks just purchased an Optiplex 7040, i7-6700, windows Pro, 8 gb ram, with 500 gb hard drive, $112.00 EBay. Now a Poe switch bigger HD and some cameras and of course BI.

All you need now is a good SSD for Windows, BI and BI's "db" folder.

My fav 2.5" SSD ==>> SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA SSD 500GB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive, Upgrade PC or Laptop Memory and Storage for IT Pros, Creators, Everyday Users, MZ-77E500B/AM

But for that SFF you may opt for a NVMe M.2 form factor ==>> SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive w/ V-NAND Technology, Storage and Memory Expansion for Gaming, Graphics w/ Heat Control, Max Speed, MZ-V7S500B/AM

 

[Teeling611]

All you need now is a good SSD for Windows, BI and BI's "db" folder.

My fav 2.5" SSD ==>> SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA SSD 500GB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive, Upgrade PC or Laptop Memory and Storage for IT Pros, Creators, Everyday Users, MZ-77E500B/AM

But for that SFF you may opt for a NVMe M.2 form factor ==>> SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive w/ V-NAND Technology, Storage and Memory Expansion for Gaming, Graphics w/ Heat Control, Max Speed, MZ-V7S500B/AM

This is where I’m going to get confused. All I need in now is a 500GB drive if either type and nothing more for video storage?

 

[wittaj]

That is for the OS. You still need a TB of some size HDD

 

[Mike A.]

I have that same machine as my BI server. It's worked well with 20+ cams at generally higher rates.

As Tony says, the 7040 can has an NVMe slot. Do that instead of an SSD for your boot drive and BI's executables and database. About the same cost, will be a little faster, and saves connectors/space in the drive cage. Even easier to install than a hard drive. Plug it in, one screw, done. Put your video on the 500 or get another larger drive for storage. Two 3.5" drives will not fit.

There is a little more involved to partition and format drives after installed but also easy and plenty of guides available.

 

[sdkid]

This is where I’m going to get confused. All I need in now is a 500GB drive if either type and nothing more for video storage?

WD Purple. I have 8 cameras of from 2 to 5 megapixels and get about 10 days on a 4TB drive with continuous recording.

 

[samplenhold]

Here are a couple of old videos on installing an HDD:

How to install a Hard Drive on Dell Desktop (Official Dell Tech Support) - YouTube

How to Install a SATA Hard Drive - YouTube

And here is one on installing an NVMe drive:

How To Install And Setup An M.2 NVMe SSD Into A PC- Full Guide - YouTube

Amazon has a good price on a 10TB WD Purple drive right now:

Amazon.com: Western Digital 10TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101PURP : Electronics

 

[samplenhold]

This is where I’m going to get confused. All I need in now is a 500GB drive if either type and nothing more for video storage?

The SSD or NVMe drive is where the operating system (Windows) would be stored. It is also where you would put the BI database files. It is very fast storage. Since your PC has the ability for an NMVe drive plugged into the motherboard, you will not need to use cables or a drive position.

The HDD is where you would place the video from the cams. Getting an HDD that is rated for surveillance video is important since they are designed to be written to 24/7 and still be able to be read from at the same time. Getting a large drive to start out is smart as cams multiply like rabbits, storage is cheap, and you can never have enough storage. You may not think that you will need more than x amount of storage, but most folks plans change as they get experience with cams.

 

[Flintstone61]

10 TB wow...that is good.
@Teeling611 Hey? Did you buy the Small Form factor or the Mini Tower?

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual_en-us.pdf

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual3_en-us.pdf

 

[TonyR]

The SSD or NVMe drive is where the operating system (Windows) would be stored. It is also where you would put the BI database files.

...and the BI program itself.

 

[Teeling611]

10 TB wow...that is good.
@Teeling611 Hey? Did you buy the Small Form factor or the Mini Tower?

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual_en-us.pdf

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual3_en-us.pdf

I checked the description again and it says SFF, I assume small form factor. Also in another section of the description it says SSD 500GB.

 

[Teeling611]

Here are a couple of old videos on installing an HDD:

How to install a Hard Drive on Dell Desktop (Official Dell Tech Support) - YouTube

How to Install a SATA Hard Drive - YouTube

And here is one on installing an NVMe drive:

How To Install And Setup An M.2 NVMe SSD Into A PC- Full Guide - YouTube

Amazon has a good price on a 10TB WD Purple drive right now:

Amazon.com: Western Digital 10TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101PURP : Electronics

this is wonderful information, 10GB looks nice but to expensive.

 

[Teeling611]

10 TB wow...that is good.
@Teeling611 Hey? Did you buy the Small Form factor or the Mini Tower?

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual_en-us.pdf

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/optiplex-7040-desktop_owners-manual3_en-us.pdf

I’m supposed to read the instructions LOL. Thanks saves me a lot of work searching!

 

[Teeling611]

The SSD or NVMe drive is where the operating system (Windows) would be stored. It is also where you would put the BI database files. It is very fast storage. Since your PC has the ability for an NMVe drive plugged into the motherboard, you will not need to use cables or a drive position.

The HDD is where you would place the video from the cams. Getting an HDD that is rated for surveillance video is important since they are designed to be written to 24/7 and still be able to be read from at the same time. Getting a large drive to start out is smart as cams multiply like rabbits, storage is cheap, and you can never have enough storage. You may not think that you will need more than x amount of storage, but most folks plans change as they get experience with cams.

Would I be better of just betting a tb NVMe vs regular surveillance drive. Appears much cheaper way to go?

 

[TonyR]

Would I be better of just betting a tb NVMe vs regular surveillance drive. Appears much cheaper way to go?

As @samplenhold and others have stated, it's best to use a surveillance-rated HDD (not SSD) for video clips, as it's purpose-built for constant 24/7 writes. Major players are WD Purple and Seagate Skyhawk.

I would not put too much emphasis on "cheaper" when it comes to my dedicated video surveillance PC that's running BI and recording video clips.