Primary slave drive fails

[LuisLonso]

When I booted my computer this morning I got a BIOS error message saying:
Detecting primary master ... (my first HD)
Detecting primary slave ... (my second HD)
Detecting secondary master ... (my CD-ROM drive)
Detecting secondary slave ... (my CD-writer)
Primary slave drive fails.
Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter SETUP

I have 2 HDs in my computer, both on the primary IDE controller. The first one is the primary master, the second the primary slave.

As you can see the 2nd HD is detected but it does not work properly.

I also have a CD-ROM drive and a CD-writer, which are both connected to secondary IDE-controller.

I use an ASUS P3B-F motherboard. The hard drives are both Seagate drives (the first with 28GB, the second is a ST330630A with 30GB.

What did I try?
I disconnected the CD rom drives from the second IDE controller and connected there both hard drives. But this did not help.
BIOS message:
Detecting primary master ... none
Detecting primary slave ... none
Detecting secondary master ... (my first HD)
Detecting secondary slave ... (my second HD)
Secondary slave drive fails.

Again the 2nd HD is detected but booting not possible.

I have WinXP installed on my computer.

Who knows what this BIOS error message means?
Thanks.

 

[chaps]

Try placing the primary (C:\) hard drive on IDE one (0) as master and then install the Secondary hard drive on IDE two (1) as master, or slave- see what happens. Also check your bios settings, what are your IDE options and are they enabled or disabled, try default settings. You might be experiencing a controller, problem, or hard drive problem.

Mike

 

[LuisLonso]

The problem is the hard disk itself. I get a SMART error with some diagnostic tools.

To save the data on the disk I use a KNOPPIX-CD because Knoppix can read the data.

Does anybody know whether the HD is unusable in the future or will it work with new formatting it?

Thanks for your help.

 

[sonaralarma]

Ok Alonso the BIOS detect Phisically the HDs but not logically, because the mother board doesnot support that kind of configuration, just disconect all other CD drives and boot again. I the error appears again use secondary master to second HD.and forget the one CD.

 

[bcastner]

LuisLonso,

You can go to the web site of the drive manufacturer and download their diagnostic software. Some, Maxtor comes to mind, will offer a non-destuctive certification test that will attempt the repair the drive and reset the SMART database.

I have had only very short term luck doing this. Use it to get at the drive and backup critical files. Then do an RMA return.

When you run the diagnostic routine it likely will issue some error codes. Write them down and use them when you make the RMA request.

One, again short term, workaround is to disable SMART drive support in your computer BIOS. This will eliminate the startup errors, but does not eliminate the underlying problem.