WindowsME not detecting 2nd harddisk

[blom0344]

Hello,

I have a dual boot PC with Windows2000 and Windows ME installed on seperate partitions, with a third partition as data partition on disk 1. I recently added a new harddisk (Maxtor 20Gb) and created 2 partitions, one as FAT32 , the other as NTFS. WindowsME does not 'see'the FAT32 partition. I can work under W2000 with both partitions, no problem. After consulting a collegue, I deleted the FAT32 partition and recreated it as an extended partition instead of primary. Still no succes.

The NTFS partition is still a primary partition, with stuff installed on it. Do I have to recreate it as an extended partition as well before WindowsME recognizes the FAT 32 partition?

In the BIOS the second harddisk is seen as a unknown device, but with everything working smoothly under W2000 , this is a bit strange.

Suggestions?
T. Blom
Information analist
Shimano Europe
tbl@shimano-eu.com

 

[wolluf]

You need to get the bios to recognise disk (is it set to auto detect?) before ME will be able to see it. 2000 ignores the bios, detects the drive itself. Bit puzzled as to why your bios doesn't recognise it though. Are jumpers set correctly on it?

 

[blom0344]

Hello Wolluf,

I tried to set it to AUTO in the BIOS , but it does not accept the change, it stays as unknown device. Can you elaborate about those jumpers? I'm no tech guy. T. Blom
Information analist
Shimano Europe
tbl@shimano-eu.com

 

[wolluf]

There are jumpers on disk which need to be set to tell bios whether its a master or slave device. If your new disk is attached to same IDE cable as original, normally original would be master and new one slave. The disks documentation should tell you how to set for each (its usually also printed on the disk). Couple of notes. There's also a setting called cable select (where drive takes its master or slave role from which connector its attached to on IDE cable. On new ATA66/100 cables, end connector is master, middle is slave - which reminds me - what type of IDE cable are you using? If the new drive is ATA66+, it will need a new type IDE cable. If the old one is only ATA33 or slower, it probably has old style cable - so you might need new ATA66/100 cable - old drive will work happily on it too). Also, some drives have 2 master settings - one for when there's no slave present, one for when there is.
Hope this makes sense.