GB2372872A - Computer hard drive rack - Google Patents

Abstract

The locating of hard drive disk type devices so one or more may be easily selected to make up a computer system, thus enabling different Operating Systems to be available, in isolation, on one computer at different times, or for different persons to have their own system. Control, by a manual or BIOS switch, of the power to the device readily selects the configuration required. In a simple layout, the switch 5 controls four hard disks 6, 7, 8 and 9, giving power to only one. All four disks are connected to the same EIDE ribbon cable 3.

Description

COMPUTER HARD DRIVE RACK This invention relates to storage on Computers.

Hard drives, usually contain an Operating System along with working files and data files. Other Operating Systems etc. can be added, but a fault, or a virus, in any one can destroy the whole lot. On Personal Computers the hard drive is Drive C:, with Drives A: and B: being floppy drives. Hard Drives exist on Hard Disks. If more memory is needed then a second hard disk can be fitted. It is usually called Drive D: but must have switches set to show that it is slave to Drive C: as they share the same information bus, an EIDE ribbon cable connected to an EIDE controller.

With Hard Disk prices falling, capacities increasing and new Operating Systems and programs demanding more storage space, a second big disk is usually chosen. Different people or members of a family use the computer for different things. Some for Internet use and some for private matters they do not want on the Internet. A BIOS chip boots the computer, normally checking out the hard drives and other hardware before handing control over to the current C: drive. Main Frame, Macs, Office and Mobile computers operate in a similar manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a rack to hold hard disks and similar devices, any of which can be selected by a manual switch or by a program in the BIOS to have power supplied to it, so only they are used and the others lie dormant and untouchable.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows a small internal rack with manual control.

Figure 2 shows a typical splitter cable to enable a slave disk.

Figure 3 shows an external midi disk with BIOS control.

The Small rack, shown in Fig 1, is to fit inside many existing computer boxes.

The housing for the floppy drive A: 1 usually has the hard drive next to it, a two disk rack in fact. This rack is added to with one for three hard disks 2.

An EIDE ribbon cable 3 with four AT-Bus connectors 4 can reach these hard disks. A manual switch 5, mounted on the front of the case, can send power to one of the disks. In use slot one 6 may have a 30GB disk and be used for Windows 98SE. Slot two 7 may have a 3.6Gb disk and a DOS Operating System. Slot three 8 may have a 8GB disk and be used for Linux.

Slot four 9 a 13GB disk and be used for Windows NT.

Manual switching, while running, may considerable confuse the RAM so the reset button could be incorporated in the switch. Physically changing a hard disk allows a new Operating System to be tried out without destroying the old system, while keeping other Operating Systems readily available. So the Windows NT disk could be replaced by a new disk for OS/2.

Fig 2 shows a power splitter connection that enables a disk to use a second disk as a slave. Typically slot 2's 3.6GB disk is replaced by a 60GB disk and used as a second disk to slot 1's 40GB Windows ME system in Video Editing, which requires vast storage.

In Fig 3 (an exploded and cutaway view) a midi rack 31 bolts on top of the computer which has a slot cut to pass the EIDE ribbon cable and other cables through. The ribbon cable connects to another 32 which feeds ten hard disks. A power switch 33 with eight outputs is controlled by a cable 34 from the BIOS which controls which one to use when booting up. This requires a special BIOS but means control must go back to BIOS to change to a different Operating System or configuration, and can enable a password to be used. Power splitters enable slave disks to be used.

For larger racks the BIOS switch has sixteen or thirty-two or more outputs with corresponding master disks and slaves. A rack case may have three rows of twelve disks. By using password protection in BIOS a disk can be kept private. The BIOS can select a system of disks with one master, several slaves and include or exclude the CD-RW or CD-ROM. The three and a half inch disk is common but some five and a quarter inch disk slots could be provided and horizontally with an open front be used for CD-RW, DVD or Sound System outputs. PCI cards might be included.

Different configurations would be possible. Each parent, grandparent, uncle aunt or child having their own disk and no access to the others. Business details and Payroll kept confidential. Some end disk slots may have snap fasteners so as to quickly swap hard disks. With newer motherboards two, or more, separate EIDE ribbons are available. A virus is restricted to the one system that let it in, while communication between Operating Systems is via a floppy or CD-RW.

The Hard Rack stretches the capabilities of the computer. So a Financial Servicing Company could have all its Accounts and Payroll programs on one disk which is permanently powered while the data for companies are kept on separate company disks, only one in use at a time.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1 The arranging of hard drive disks type devices from which one or more can be selected at start up to be part of the computer system while the others are disabled.
2. 2 An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a switch, that at some point prior to the booting up checking the hard drives, selects which devices to provide power to, so they are included in the functioning computer system and other devices are excluded.
3. 3 An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the BIOS operates that switch.
4. 4 An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a manual switch is used but operates the computer reset whenever it is used.