disappearing hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry D
  • Start date Start date
L

Larry D

Hi - here's a problem I've run into on a new computer, but
the spooky part is I've encountered this problem on an
older PC, I'm hoping I'm not the only one in the world
with this problem (I've been searching the knowledge base
with no luck). Basically, my (wife's) computer, using
Windows XP, after working fine, suddenly on a boot up
doesn't see the primary master and slave, i.e., the hard
drive "disappears", and so it doesn't boot and gives a
message that it doesn't see the hard drive, this also
shows up if you go into bios. I think this suggests
something wrong with the IDE or the bios? What I found
with our old computer was that if I unplugged the cable
for the prim. master and then replugged it, the computer
would see the hard drive again. I can't try that this time
cause it will void the warranty! Any ideas would be
appreciated.
 
Larry, even though it's a new computer the IDE ribbon cable could be
defective or not fully connected on the MB or
Hard Drive. You could try going into the Bios and setting it to Optimal or
Default.
 
Hi

Try boot into BIOS and check if the BIOS can see both drives.
If they cannot be seen in BIOS, either the IDE cable or power cables are losen or both Hdds died at the same time(very unlikely)

If it is a new PC and within the warranty period, I would suggest you to call the vendor to fix it

Pete


----- Larry D wrote: ----

Hi - here's a problem I've run into on a new computer, but
the spooky part is I've encountered this problem on an
older PC, I'm hoping I'm not the only one in the world
with this problem (I've been searching the knowledge base
with no luck). Basically, my (wife's) computer, using
Windows XP, after working fine, suddenly on a boot up
doesn't see the primary master and slave, i.e., the hard
drive "disappears", and so it doesn't boot and gives a
message that it doesn't see the hard drive, this also
shows up if you go into bios. I think this suggests
something wrong with the IDE or the bios? What I found
with our old computer was that if I unplugged the cable
for the prim. master and then replugged it, the computer
would see the hard drive again. I can't try that this time
cause it will void the warranty! Any ideas would be
appreciated
 
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