Laptop HD in Desktop System unrecognized

[kmplenge]

I have bought the adapters and jumpers needed to install a laptop hard drive on a desktop system. I have used full size hard drives jumpered as slaves in the same position on the cable, so I know the cable is not the issue.

I have a Fujitsu laptop drive and two IBM laptop drives which I am trying to access. The laptops they came out of have all croaked, and I am trying to retrieve the data off them. At the time the laptops croaked, all three drives were functioning properly.

The Fujitsu self-identifies correctly when jumpered as a slave and appears in the Setup screen, but I cannot access the data on it. I suspect this drive may be history, but I have no way to tell that because of the laptop it came out of is also being history.

Both of the IBM drives fail to self-identify when jumpered as slaves and do not appear in the Setup screen. I am just wondering if there is anyone out there who has successfully done this before who could tell me if there is some little trick I am missing. It is not impossible that both these drives are history, but I would be suspicious that they both croaked simultaneously. Again, I have no way to verify this since the laptops are toast.

 

[wolluf]

The adapters I use to connect laptop drives to desktop are single laptop drive only (ie, they take up one IDE slot). They always work (with viable drives) - so I can't comment on whatever type adapter you're using (though I know some laptop drives don't actually have a 'slave' jumper setting).

So I'd suggest either trying a different adapter, or buying a laptop drive enclosure so you can connect them as externals via usb. Or make them sole masters using adapter you have.

 

[kmplenge]

I believe the adapters I am using are probably the same as the ones you're describing. They look like this one:

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=906&sku=17705

They only use one drive at a time, but I have tried all three drives on the adapter.

I considered trying them as masters, but wouldn't they fail to boot due to all the hardware and drivers being different?

 

[wolluf]

Hang on - you shouldn't be trying to get them to boot. Put them on secondary IDE - disconnect optical drives - and boot the PC's normal operating system with the laptop drives as second drives which you should be able to then read in windows.

 

[kmplenge]

OK, thanks!

 

[cdogg]

That is the same adapter I use. The trick is to make sure that the slave drive is always using the "middle" connector on the cable. I'm guessing that you're are using the end connector to get the most reach since the drive is probably sitting outside the case. Some drives just won't work right when positioned like that.

Like Wolluf said, give the drive its own IDE channel jumpered as master as a last resort if you can't get it to work as a slave.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[kmplenge]

A belated thanks for the final reply above also.

I know this is a dumb question, but I want to be sure - does there have to be a master on the secondary IDE for a slave to work? Just trying to test all my options before I give up.

Thanks!

 

[wolluf]

No, there doesn't have to be a master for slave to work - presume that means you're not having any joy with laptop drives as masters?

 

[kmplenge]

Haven't had any success using them as masters or slaves on the secondary cable. I know the cable is OK because a regular HD worked OK on it. Unless they are all 3 dead, which is not impossible, the only thing I can think of that is left is the laptop HD adapter.

 

[wolluf]

Is the adapter ok though - have you a definitely working laptop drive to check it. Adapter's I use include the cable - they connect to mobo, with other connector made to fit laptop drive and with power connector too (ie, they're different to yours). If working laptop drive ok with your adapter, I'd suggest other 3 drives are dead. If not, get another adapter or enclosure.

 

[kmplenge]

Unfortunately, I don't have a known good drive to try.

Where did you get your adapter that connects directly to the board?

 

[wolluf]

From Maplins - I'm in the UK. But its only another type of adapter (ie, like any piece of hardware can be defective) - so you'd have the same problem if all drives still appear dead! You need to verify whatever you're using.

 

[vacunita]

This might be a dumb suggestion, but are you plugging the drives in correctly to the adapter.

The side of the adapter with the power plug, should be opposite the side where the jumper pins in the drive are.

Make sure they are plugged in right.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[cdogg]

Right, and another basic thing to check is that the power connector coming out of the adapter is properly seated and connected to an open connector on the power supply in the case. Also make sure that it hasn't come loose where it connects to the adapter.

Is the cable you're trying to use a 40-wire or 80-wire IDE cable? If it's a 40-wire, change it to a newer 80-wire. I'm assuming you've also already tried changing positions on the cable per my last post...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[kmplenge]

The cable is an 80-pin, and I did try moving the drives to different connectors, and also jumpering them both ways.

I'm really out of options. I'm going to hall out the laptops these came out of and see if they will at least work long enough to help me tell if the drives are working, but that's going to be a little involved.