Harddrive Delima

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron
  • Start date Start date
R

Ron

Rather than write a page of action taken, I will list:

Have a 20 GB HD installed.
Bought a new 160 GB Seagate Hurricane
Installed per Segate Manual.
BIOS wouldn't recognize any drives.
Reconfigured for many hrs.
Called Segate.
Said disconnect CD & DVD drive ribbon cable.
They said plug the Segate drive into the MB where the CD/DVD was.
Computer recognizes everything well.
Segate said there is a conflict somewhere with other hardware.
Said buy an ATA card and plug into a PCI slot.

Old 20GB drive still set as master.
Segate has no jumpers so it is a slave.
ATA card had two pins with a jumper on each.
Directions only said "make sure you have jumpers set properly"?????
Left them on.
BIOS/CMOS still doesn't recognize new Seagate.
Device Mgr says it's connected and working properly.
Installed Win XP.
Moved files to the new drive.
Segate is an Ultra 100 ATA Drive.
Hardware Mgr lists it as a SCSI Drive??
I want to make the Segate the bootable drive and the 20 GB as slave.
Everything seems to work well even though BIOS doesn't recognize it.
No hardware conflicts reported.
Win XP on 20 GB drive is really slow in booting now.

Since each drive is on it's own ribbon cable connected to the MB, what
do I have to do to make the Segate the bootable drive and the 20 GB as
slave? Remember, BIOS doesn't even recognize it's there. Should I
anticipate problems? All suggestions will be appreciated - This is my
first HD installation. I won't be able to read your answers until
tomorrow, Thursday.

Thanks
 
If the BIOS is incapable of recognizing the drive, IT CAN'T be the boot
drive. You should consider updating BIOS for recognizing modern drives,
or replace the motherboard.
 
Thanks to you and Bob for your help. The computer is a 2.6 GHz, 1 GB
memory, about 2yrs old. I am running Windows XP Home. It's an ATA 100 ,
homebuilt. I guess I'll have to look into this BIOS upgrade thing though
I thought mine was new enough. The instructions said to configure the
Segate as a slave (no jumpers)until files could be transferred to new
drive. Then to reconfigure as a master.

Thanks to all
 
PC that new BOIS should not be an issue, I would go back to checking the
BIOS setup, proper cabling(use 80 conductor ones) and jumper block on
the drives. If only one drive on a cable, set it as master(with no
slave), if two drives on cable, Master may need jumper changed compared
to no slave drive. Also specs say to put Master on end of cable and
slave in middle connection.
 
Wish I had gotten your msg earlier, I just ordered a new BIOS ($69.95).
I am using the proper cabling but the old 20 GB drive is master and is
bootable; if I jumper the Segate as master then I would have two
masters. Also, the Segate isn't recognized by the BIOS so I can't make
it bootable. The master is at the end and middle is slave as you say but
BIOS won't recognize it. Plugged directly into the MB with it's own
cable won't recognize it either; I don't know how Segate got me to test
it to ensure it is recognized.
 
Ron

If your 20Gb drive is a Western Digital, it has jumpers settings for
standalone, dual master, dual slave, and cable select.. if you are pairing
the Seagate up with a WD drive, ensure that the WD jumper is set for Dual
Master..
 
(And still later...)
Wish I had gotten your (Bob's) msg earlier, I just ordered a new BIOS
($69.95).
I am using the proper cabling but the old 20 GB drive is master and is
bootable; if I jumper the Segate as master then I would have two
masters. Also, the Segate isn't recognized by the BIOS so I can't make
it bootable. The master is at the end and middle is slave as you say but
BIOS won't recognize it. Plugged directly into the MB with it's own
cable won't recognize it either; I don't know how Segate got me to test
it to ensure it is recognized.


Ron:
1. We're going to assume your Seagate HD is non-defective. BTW, you said
it's a Seagate "Hurricane". I never heard of a Seagate model by this name.
We're assuming it's a PATA drive.

2. Now you did partition & format that drive before installing it, yes? You
do understand that a new drive must be partitioned/formatted before the
system will recognize it, right? Tell us precisely how you partitioned &
formatted that drive, if indeed you did so. Then we can go on from there,
OK?

3. You mentioned something about an "ATA card". What's that all about?
You've connected the Seagate to a controller card?

4.. If & when you respond, also indicate the make & model of your
motherboard and its age if you know it. You purchased a BIOS upgrade for
$69.95? From whom?
Anna
 
Ron said:
Rather than write a page of action taken, I will list:

Have a 20 GB HD installed.
Bought a new 160 GB Seagate Hurricane
Installed per Segate Manual.
BIOS wouldn't recognize any drives.
Reconfigured for many hrs.
Called Segate.
Said disconnect CD & DVD drive ribbon cable.
They said plug the Segate drive into the MB where the CD/DVD was.
Computer recognizes everything well.
Segate said there is a conflict somewhere with other hardware.
Said buy an ATA card and plug into a PCI slot.

Old 20GB drive still set as master.
Segate has no jumpers so it is a slave.
ATA card had two pins with a jumper on each.
Directions only said "make sure you have jumpers set properly"?????
Left them on.
BIOS/CMOS still doesn't recognize new Seagate.
Device Mgr says it's connected and working properly.
Installed Win XP.
Moved files to the new drive.
Segate is an Ultra 100 ATA Drive.
Hardware Mgr lists it as a SCSI Drive??
I want to make the Segate the bootable drive and the 20 GB as slave.
Everything seems to work well even though BIOS doesn't recognize it.
No hardware conflicts reported.
Win XP on 20 GB drive is really slow in booting now.

Since each drive is on it's own ribbon cable connected to the MB, what do
I have to do to make the Segate the bootable drive and the 20 GB as slave?
Remember, BIOS doesn't even recognize it's there. Should I anticipate
problems? All suggestions will be appreciated - This is my first HD
installation. I won't be able to read your answers until tomorrow,
Thursday.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Just plug the drive in on the second IDE channel, behind the CD drive if
that's on that channel.
 
Anna said:
(And still later...)
Wish I had gotten your (Bob's) msg earlier, I just ordered a new BIOS
($69.95).
I am using the proper cabling but the old 20 GB drive is master and is
bootable; if I jumper the Segate as master then I would have two
masters. Also, the Segate isn't recognized by the BIOS so I can't make
it bootable. The master is at the end and middle is slave as you say but
BIOS won't recognize it. Plugged directly into the MB with it's own
cable won't recognize it either; I don't know how Segate got me to test
it to ensure it is recognized.


Ron:
1. We're going to assume your Seagate HD is non-defective. BTW, you said
it's a Seagate "Hurricane". I never heard of a Seagate model by this name.
We're assuming it's a PATA drive.
Click to expand...

The Segate works. When I install only the Segate it boots and works fine
but then the Maxtor isn't recgonized (Segate is jumpered master and old
Maxtor is slave). I am unfamiliar with the PATA term.
2. Now you did partition & format that drive before installing it, yes? You
do understand that a new drive must be partitioned/formatted before the
system will recognize it, right? Tell us precisely how you partitioned &
formatted that drive, if indeed you did so. Then we can go on from there,
OK?
Click to expand...
I installed the Segate only, inserted the Win XP CDROM, and it led me
through the process and formated it. I chose not to partition it.
3. You mentioned something about an "ATA card". What's that all about?
You've connected the Seagate to a controller card?
Click to expand...

Segate told me there is something in my computer that is incompatible
with the drive (but when is's installed alone it works fine). They said
my only hope was to add an ATA controller card in a PCI slot and run the
Segate through there. Bought and installed the card but no luck. There
were no instructions for the two jumpers on the ATA card. However, it
doesn't matter nothing works from the ATA card.
4.. If & when you respond, also indicate the make & model of your
motherboard and its age if you know it. You purchased a BIOS upgrade for
$69.95? From whom?
Anna
Click to expand...

I see no visible name on the board, only that the chipset is VIA. Approx
two years old, 2.6 GHz.
 
Ron responds...
The Segate works. When I install only the Segate it boots and works fine
but then the Maxtor isn't recgonized (Segate is jumpered master and old
Maxtor is slave). I am unfamiliar with the PATA term.
Click to expand...

Ron responds...
I installed the Segate only, inserted the Win XP CDROM, and it led me
through the process and formated it. I chose not to partition it.
Click to expand...

Ron responds...
Segate told me there is something in my computer that is incompatible with
the drive (but when is's installed alone it works fine). They said my only
hope was to add an ATA controller card in a PCI slot and run the Segate
through there. Bought and installed the card but no luck. There were no
instructions for the two jumpers on the ATA card. However, it doesn't
matter nothing works from the ATA card.
Click to expand...

Ron responds...
I see no visible name on the board, only that the chipset is VIA. Approx
two years old, 2.6 GHz.
Click to expand...

Ron:
You indicated that you installed XP (presumably) on the new Seagate drive.
Is that right? Then it was a successful install? So what was the problem?
After the install the drive didn't boot? How were you able to install XP if
the BIOS didn't recognize the drive? And what do you mean when you say you
"Moved files to the new drive". How did you do this?

You say the "Hardware Mgr" shows the Seagate drive as a SCSI device. What
"Hardware Mgr" are you talking about?

Assuming you've correctly installed XP to your new drive and you've
connected/configured it as Primary Master and you're sure your IDE cable is
secure on both ends and you've disconnected your 20 GB drive -- what happens
when you try to boot up with the new drive?

And I'm still curious about that $69.95 BIOS upgrade...
Anna
 
There can be only ONE master on each IDE cable. You MUST have a MASTER
on EACH cable. The ONLY drive on the CABLE cannot be jumpered as SLAVE.
You may not put two masters on one cable. Please review the
documentation carefully as you seem to still be a bit confused as to
MASTER/SLAVE relationship for the connections. Also check the BIOS
settings for the IDE ports. Normally Auto is the setting for Primary and
Secondary IDE channels.
 
Anna said:
Ron responds...



Ron responds...



Ron responds...



Ron responds...



Ron:
You indicated that you installed XP (presumably) on the new Seagate drive.
Is that right? Then it was a successful install? So what was the problem?
After the install the drive didn't boot? How were you able to install XP if
the BIOS didn't recognize the drive? And what do you mean when you say you
"Moved files to the new drive". How did you do this?

You say the "Hardware Mgr" shows the Seagate drive as a SCSI device. What
"Hardware Mgr" are you talking about?

Assuming you've correctly installed XP to your new drive and you've
connected/configured it as Primary Master and you're sure your IDE cable is
secure on both ends and you've disconnected your 20 GB drive -- what happens
when you try to boot up with the new drive?

And I'm still curious about that $69.95 BIOS upgrade...
Anna
Click to expand...
This is why I'm going to all this trouble. I've tried to answer twice
but the computer locks up totally. Microsoft can't fix it and a week on
the newsgroups couldn't help. Anyway, I unhooked the old Maxtor, CD, DVD
and made the Segate Master. (BIOS found it). Booted from the XP CD,
clean install of Windows. Installed the Maxtor again along with the
Segate (BIOS won't recognize the Segate but it still appears everywhere
else on the computer) Went into Windows Explorer and did a Drag & Drop
of My Documents folder to the Segate (huge file) and everything went fine.

SCSI is OK. Reread the instructions for the Segate and it said that is
the way it would be listed.

With both drives installed:

Old 20GB drive still set as master.
Segate has no jumpers so it is a slave (per Segate Instructions).
ATA card had two pins with a jumper on each.(Segate said I had to buy an
ATA card to avoid the conflict).
Directions only said "make sure you have jumpers set properly"?????
Left them on.
BIOS/CMOS still doesn't recognize new Seagate.
Device Mgr says it's connected and working properly.
Installed Win XP.
Moved files to the new drive.
Segate is an Ultra 100 ATA Drive.
I want to make the Segate the bootable drive and the 20 GB as slave.
Everything seems to work well even though BIOS doesn't recognize it.
No hardware conflicts reported.
Win XP on 20 GB drive is really slow in booting now.


Went to Phoenix-Award BIOS website to check for updates. When you click
download, they send you to a page http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/
Thats where I got the upgrade.
 
Bob:
While this probably has no relevance to the OP's "Delima", it is not
necessarily true that a HD cannot be connected/configured as a Slave while
it's the only device on an IDE cable. With nearly every modern motherboard
the BIOS will happily boot to a bootable HD even if it is the only device
connected on the IDE cable and is jumpered as a Slave. And it usually (but
not always) makes no difference whether the drive is connected on the
Primary or Secondary IDE channel. Of course in virtually every "normal"
situation the booting drive is connected/configured as Primary Master but
there are situations where a user might need to have a booting drive
connected as Slave.
Anna
 
I disconnected CD and DVD cables and ran it to Segate. Configured both
drives (on seperate cables) as master. BIOS recgonizes both perfectly;
however, now I have no place to hook up CD/DVD drives since I an using
that connection for the Segate. Nothing works off the ATA Controller
card (probably because of jumpers) (two are present but instructions
only mention be sure you get them right, but doesn't tell you what is
right). Called the manuf, said leave both jumpers on. Can you run a CD
and DVD off a controller card?
 
Ron

You have to change the jumper on the back of the CD drive to slave now..
remember, one master and one slave per cable..
 
Thanks Anna

See my answer to Bob. The only way to operate both drives on the same
computer appears to be give each a separate cable and operate as
Master's. It will not recognize a drive jumpered as a Slave. The company
is mailing my BIOS to me on a bootable CD but I have no where to connect
it. It's only when I go inside the computer and manually remove jumpers
and ribbon cables that I can use the CD or DVD; then one or the other
Master drives won't work. I am probably still doing something wrong so
please don't give up on me guys; I'm still open to suggestions.
 
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