Hard drive not found. 1

[someTimeOnly]

Hard drive not found

I have applied the following options so far

1. Replace the data cable with CD-drive’s (as it’s working
ok with CD-drive)
2. Replace the power cable with CD-drive’s (as it’s
working ok with CD-drive)
3. Take the hard drive to other system. And it’s ok there.

What might have gone wrong then?

 

[Sival]

More information would be helpful. What are you trying to do? Is this drive to be master or slave? Are you trying to load an OS? What hardware are you using? Does the HD show up in the BIOS? What about jumper settings? Is the cable an 80-pin? If you post more info, I'm sure you'll get a fix.

 

[AckNack]

Also:
Did you autodetect in CMOS?
Is there a data cable plugged in backwards or missed a pin?
Did you try a known good power connector?

AckNack

http://www.computer-help-guide.com

 

[caffeinated]

Also, What size is the hard drive? What is the age of the motherboard? Is the other system (3. Take the hard drive to other system. And it’s ok there.) a newer machine?

Caffeinated

 

[someTimeOnly]

<<What are you trying to do?>>
Nothing special. One morning I satarted my PC with this
nasty problem. That is, it was runing ok before that very morning. So,

<<Is there a data cable plugged in backwards or missed a pin?>>
there cant be this sort of possibility.

<<Is this drive to be master or slave?>>
The only drive with cable select option.

<<Are you trying to load an OS?>>
Yes, as usual but couldnt anymore.

<<What hardware are you using?>>
DELL

<<Does the HD show up in the BIOS?>>
Not sure. How to check this thing?

<<What about jumper settings?>>
Cable select, as ever. But, afterward I've tried other as well. But, I found my jumper to be a bit looser i.e., it falls down if you hang HD upside down.

<<Is the cable an 80-pin?>>
Not sure. Will I've to count? Anyhow it used to be ok with whatever pin it is.

<<Did you autodetect in CMOS?>>
I've applied autodetect option as well but of no use.

 

[someTimeOnly]

<<What size is the hard drive?>>
6MB

<<What is the age of the motherboard?>>
I bought a used PC from local market last year. So, not sure about age of MB.

<<Is the other system (3. Take the hard drive to other system. And it’s ok there.) a newer machine?>>
Yes, it is. Intel PIII, 800MHz, 128MB Ram. While this one is 400MHz, 64MB Ram.

 

[caffeinated]

SomeTimeOnly,

Sounds like it may be the IDE bus itself. Try connecting the hard drive (Without the CDROM) to the slave channel. Then check to see if it shows up in the BIOS POST screen or in the BIOS itself.

Caffeinated

 

[someTimeOnly]

caffeinated,
Nop, nothing seems to go ok.

I'm not some technical person. Any how this time, I tried slave option and no cd-rome. But the same message appeared at the very first screen. i.e.,

Primary hard disk drive 0 not found
Primary hard disk drive 1 not found
Secondary hard disk drive 0 not found
Secondary hard disk drive 1 not found
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

where the F1 key brings further msg i.e.,
No boot device available-
strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility

Another time hitting F1 brings the last above msg again.

 

[caffeinated]

someTimeOnly,

<<What size is the hard drive?>>
6MB
You did mean 6 GB, right? Either way, it's likely around a 6 years old, but if it shows up in the other machine....
So, you connected it to the same cable that the CDROM was connected to without moving it in the motherboard and it didn't show up? Try it with in the Secondary IDE bus again, but try the Master, Slave, and the Cable select positions. Use the power connector from the CDROM, since you know that one is working. Do you have a spare hard drive to test in the Primary IDE Bus to see if it is recognized?

I hope this helps,

Caffeinated

 

[Freestone]

But, I found my jumper to be a bit looser i.e., it falls down if you hang HD upside down.

A jumper should never fall off pins no matter the orientation of the drive. Try your tests with a different jumper that fits snugly.

 

[someTimeOnly]

Caffeinated

yeah it's 6 GB.

<<Try it with in the Secondary IDE bus again, but try the
Master, Slave, and the Cable select positions>>

It solved the things straight away. I tried first slave option i.e., with jumper no where, but fruitless. Then master option, with the same looser one jumper, brought the problem to an end.

So, right now, hard drive is connected to motherboard where cd-rom used to be. And vise versa. CD-rom is also working ok.

I tried some this sort of shuffle before but not this one.
Thank you Caffeinated and enjoy a star.