New Hardrive problem

[Fagin]

Firstly, i hope this is the right section for this problem (problems)

I have fitted a new hardrive for some one and installed Windows 98, it took me four attempts to get 98 installed, i had all sorts of problems getting it installed.

Most of these problems have sorted them selves out it would appear, but i am now in the position where, i have the following problem.

When i boot up, i notice that the lights on the CD Writer always flash a couple of times, but the CD ROM only flashes some times -when the CD ROM flashes the boot up goes ok, but when the CD ROM does not flash, the boot process hangs at the following point, giving the following......

Auto detecting Primary master IDE hardisk
Auto detecting Secondary primary slave ATAPI CD ROM
Auto detecting secondary master not detected
Auto detecting secondary slave Press (escape) to abort.

i have tried a new CD ROM, and that does flash at every boot up, but it hangs at the above mentioned point, but with a differant report ie.....

Auto detecting Primary master ...IDE hardisk
Auto detecting Secondary primary ...slave ATAPI CD ROM
Auto detecting secondary master.....not detected
Auto detecting secondary slave ... not detected.

Neither of the CD ROMS when fitted show in my computer, the only drives that show are, C: Floppy and the CD Writer.

Could any one help please tell me what is wrong with this?

Thanks Fagin.

[osprey4]

I would put your optical devices both on the secondary channel, set up as master and slave (unless your system supports cable select). Then, whenever you swap IDE devices around, always boot directly to system setup and make sure devices are properly turned on/off or whatever.

[Fagin]

Thanks for the reply osprey4, are you saying that the CD ROM and CD Witer should be on the Same ribbon cable, one set as master and one set as slave, and the hard drive on a ribbon cable on its own set as master?


Could you tell me how i switch devices off?

Thanks

[osprey4]

Yes.

I can't tell you without knowing what BIOS you have. Just boot to the BIOS and look around.

[Fagin]

OK osprey4, thanks very much indeed.

[Fagin]

I have further problems, i have connected the Hard drive to the pink socket on the motherboard, on a cable by itself, and set as Master.

I have conected the CD ROM, and CD Writer to the Motherboard on the same cable in series, the first CD Writer on the cable is set as master and the second CD ROM, set as slave, but the computer is still hanging on boot up giving the following report......

Auto detecting Primary master IDE hardisk
Auto detecting Secondary primary slave ATAPI CD ROM
Auto detecting secondary master not detected
Auto detecting secondary slave Press (escape) to abort

If i leave the computer for a wile, it then reports that secondary slave is not detected, and then continues to boot up.

I have checked in the BIOS and all drives are set to autodetect, and are switched on.




Any more idea's would be greatfully recieved. Thanks.

[Detritus]

Have you tried swapping cables around? Did you change cables when you installed the drives? I had similar problems when I was using a ultra DMA cable on a DMA device.

[Fagin]

I have swapped the cables around, to connect thedrives as osprey4 said to, but it has not cured the problem.

The drives were orinally connected " motherboard to hard drive, hard drive to Writer, hard rrive as master and writer as slave.

The ROM was on a cable of its own.

They are now connected as i posted above, but the puter will still not boot correctly.

Any other idea's? i am getting severely frustrated.

Thanks.

[osprey4]

What system or motherboard is this?

[Fagin]

Hi again osprey4

I cant identify the Motherboard, there is no name on it at all. All i can tell you is that it is in a Dell Computer. Do they have their own Motherboards by any chance?

Thanks for taking an interest.