Win 7 SLOOOOOW boot up

I am a lucky guy. Because I have YOU....and because I found a desktop computer, Dell Dimension 8400, with 4 Gig memory, and guess what? After couple days I found a Monitor 16:9 working perfectly. So, I have a bunch of extra drives, added a first 250 g SATA and I love it. But the machine has room for 4 drives. I could NOT add a second SATA drive, (I just bought a 1Tera drive, doesn't see it), tried several. Nope! So I went the way I did before: replace the two CD/DVD drives with two old IATA drives. You know what? It works!
But.
But when I start Windows 7, I am stuck with the "Starting Windows" message for SEVEN minutes.
I have been reading about the Raid thing but prefer to stay away, too confusing. Why I cannot add a second SATA? Why Windows i taking so long to load?
Heeelp.

 

The slow load could well be that windows is having trouble detecting the other HD's. You say you cant add another Sata ... are you using the 'SATA' connector on the mobo not the 'Raid' connector, they are normally colour coded. Have you tried adding the 1Tib with the 250gig WITHOUT the Pata drives connected ?? and I assume you have looked in the bios on boot to see if the 1Tib is recognised. Check the power cable and if need be change and make sure they are a 'TIGHT' fit as a slightly loose one could cause this slow boot. My bet is your Pata drives are causing this.

 

I have an extra room, whenever you want to move in.....
Yes, as a matter of fact, I disconnected the two PATA, and with the master drive only, Window was ready in about 20 seconds. After this I stated trying another SATA 250g as a second drive, in different ways, with the RED cable that came with the 1Tera drive and with the blue cable that was in the computer. (I don't need RAID, How do I setup the old way?) Bios gives me four possibilities for Raid: autodetect AHCI, autodetect IATA, RAID ON, Combination. I don't see a 'RAID OFF'.
Dell's manual says computer can have TWO Sata and two PATA (either drives or CD/DVD, I understand.
Toke thank you for your help and your time.

 

Hi Toke, I was doubting the new 1tera drive, so, I removed a working 250 g from my other computer and installed it. Well system does not see it.
Then it is a problem with the BIOS setup, isnt'it?
:-o

 

Found this information on the Specs of your computer The Dimension 8400 includes two Serial ATA drives but has ports and 3.5-inch drive bays for up to four SATA drives -- and a maximum of 1.6 terabytes
So with 4 ports 2 will be for a 'Raid' setup and 2 for SATA setup, as I said ealrlier make sure you have the sata cables connected to the ''SATA '' ports and not the ''RAID'' ports it should be written on the motherboard itself. I would be inclined to reset the CMOS using the Jumper moving from pins 1 & 2 to 2 & 3 then reverse putting the jumper back to 1 & 2. you can find this cmos jumper next to the battery if in doubt pull the battery and leave for a period and also press the Sart button on your case to rid any power that maybe hanging around. Unhitch any HD's whilst you do this and on completion hook up again 1 drive to your Number 1 (very important) SATA port. Boot and go back into Bios and change date time etc. and look to see if HD is showing as SATA 0.

 

Autodetect ATA should treat the SATA as normal drives - no RAID, tried that?

 

All set, Toke, thank You very much.
Master on Position 0, Slave on position 2. I was running most of the time the autodetect ATA.
Suddenly the Pata dvd players are recognized.
The 1T new drive is defective, and that was complicating matters.
Appreciate your time and your effort.:wave

 

Glad to hear you have sorted it and thanx for replying.