Dell Dimension 8200 (Hard drive mounting box missing ... how to attach drives?)

[unclet]

My neighbor placed a working Dell Dimension 8200 computer (2.0+ Ghz) out in the garbage since they got a new laptop.  I snatched the computer up pretty darn quickly and looked it over.  Everything seemed to be there except for the metal mounting hard drive cage.  Basically, I believe there is a metal box (for lack of a better word) which can hold two IDE hard drives.  Once the hard drives are mounted into this box then the metal box can be slid into the case housing which secures the box appropriately.   I neighbor told me they took the hard drive out and threw it away ..... they just did not want to keep their hard drive in the computer they threw out ...... 

Anyway, the computer is fine but I just do not know what the best way is to attach a couple of IDE hard drives into it now without the proper mounted metal box thing.

Does anyone sell a Dell Dimension 8200 hard drive metal box?     If not, then does anyone have any recommendations of how to attach two hard drives into this computer now?  I was thinking of simply using some zipties to secure the hard drive in place, but I doubt the bottom of the hard drive should be touching the metal surface of the computer case.  Having the correct metal mounting box most likely allows for the hard drives to be mounted from the sides which lifts the hard drives off the metal bottom.

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas on how to attach a couple of hard drives it would be helpful.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Little squares of foam tape will work.
That will secure it, and keep it from touching the bottom.

[ChadTower]

Velcro is great for hard drives.  I've used it many times.  You don't really want something "permanent" because odds are eventually you'll reuse the drive or have to do some diagnostics on it.

[brock.sampson]

I have not seen an 8200 personally mostly just business class stuff at work.  I'm not so sure you can remove the cage for the drives.  Are you seeing the cage in the attached picture?  If so you are most likely missing the green rails that slide into the cage that get screwed to the drive.  I can grab a couple sets of those and mail them to you if that's what you are missing.

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ChadTower
Velcro seems like a good idea because I will most likely be moving hard drives around eventually .... also do.

brock.sampson
Thanks for the offer.  Let me go home tonight and get a picture of exactly what I have then perhaps it might be more clear as to what I am missing.  Your picture does make me believe that there is no extra "cage" now ..... Hmmmm.    I know there are a couple of green rails in there as well.  I bet these are extra green rails which are included in case a second hard drive wants to be installed.  I bet my neighbor through out one set of green rails which were still attached to the hard drive itself.   Let me go home tonight and see whether the green rails which are in there can be used to attach the hard drive.  If they do, then I probably need an extra set of green rails perhaps to attach my second hard drive ..... I will let you know later.   Are all green rails standard for all computers or are they only standard for "Dell" computers only?

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Yes, I am an idiot, I just needed to use the two green rail things and the hard drive fits perfectly, although I am missing the second set of 6" green rails which could be used for the second hard drive. 

brock.sampson .... I sent you a PM for the green rails you offered .... I appreciate it.

[protokatie]

Good to hear you got that sorted out, but I have a cute story involving where to put HD's in a computer I had a few years ago...

I bought an El-cheapo walmart Compaq like 4 years ago, and wanted to put the HD from my old system into it for more storage. So, I open the case and see that there is the standard 2 connection daisy chain IDE cable for the CD/DVD bays, but only a single connector cable (and mounting bracket) for HD's. Now I COULD have gone out and bought another cable with the two connectors on it as well as a cage to add the extra HD, But I am a cheapskate, so I took some toilet paper, bundled it up and stuck it into the free optical drive bay. Then hooked the HD to the free IDE plug on the optical cable and shoved the HD into the optical bay on top of the toilet paper.

Worked great for the entire time I had that compy! 

[unclet]

Never thought of using toilet paper ..... 

[Neilyboy]

all else fails get yourself a strip of 1/16" aluminum 1/2" wide and cut off about 4, 4" pieces. then drill two holes in each piece one at one end and one about half-way up. Fold each piece (at the end where you drilled the whole) making an L. and then attach each piece to the bottom of the case with a screw then screw in the hard-drive to the other 4 holes which you drilled halfway up.. hope thats not too confusing (if so i can draw a pic) but it works surprisingly well.

Neil

[brock.sampson]

I'll drop those rails in the mail today.

[unclet]

Terrific .... thanks for everything .... 

[MadGamer]

It is just attached with the green rails so you should be all set. I checked on the 8200 i have.

[unclet]

Yes, thanks for confirming this