boot disk failure

[ARCITS]

When PC boots HDD is not recognised at all by BIOS.
IDE is found and CD-ROM on other IDE controller is found.
I've tried swapping IDE cables and controller and also power supply feed from CD-ROM to eliminate all of these, which I have.
HDD is only 2 months old - Maxtor Fireball 3 30Gb.
Result after startup is 'BOOT DISK FAILURE' since HDD is not recognised by system.
System boots okay from floppy disk no problem.
Need I investigate further or would I be correct in assuming the HDD is dead!
Is there anything else it could be?

Regards

 

[wpfaff]

Has this HDD ever been able to be used? If it hasn't then you need to update your bios or use the disk management software that came with the harddrive. Have you tried to manually enter the HDD parameters into bios? You need to know the number of cylinders,heads,and sectors. In the bios there is a harddrive section with a number of configurations and a user entry where you can enter these parameters. I have done this for a number of computers and it usually works. If it doesn't then the bios update from the computer or motherboard manufacturer usually works. Very rarely have I needed to replace the bios.

http://www.mrbios.com

is one place you may be able to find a bios replacement if you need to go this route.

 

[ARCITS]

Thanks for your prompt response.
I tried your BIOS suggestion (which was also suggested on the MAxtor website) but to no avail.
The other thing I notice is that the HDD is permanently on from power up.
Fionally I tried the HDD in my own PC (the problem PC is a friends) and it's still dead!
So I've pretty much concluded the drive is caput - do you agree?


Thanks

 

[hastinbe]

Before considering it dead, you might want to do a unconditional format on the drive and repartition. Beau Hastings

http://www.ibm.com/us/

 

[dirkfour4]

Read with interest your HHD dilemma. Think you did all you could do. My bottom line question is: How much additional time is it worth?

With today's HHD prices and the fact that it won't work in another PC, sounds like time for a new drive and getting on with life

Now all I have to do is follow my on advice!

Happy Holidays!

Doug

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy"

QUOTE: HDD is only 2 months old - Maxtor Fireball 3 30Gb.

Based on what you have said thus far, I would be getting an RMA from Maxtor and having them replace the HDD.

Murray

 

[wpfaff]

If the drive light is on constantly then that would indicate that the cable may be oriented wrong. If the cable was oriented wrong then you could have damaged the drive (not likly but a possibility). What is the ata speed and is it supported on the computers that you have tried this in. Some IDE controllers won't recognize a higher speed HDD. Such as a controller that has an ATA speed of 66 or 100 and the HDD has an ATA of 133. Otherwise I would be returning this to whomever you purchasedthis from or from Maxtor for waeewnty replacement.
Hope this helps