Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 29475 2003-01-22 00:54:00 Detecting IDE Drives Gill (1530) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
115813 2003-01-22 00:54:00 I'm trying to get a friend's computer running.....but got to the stage where I need a bit of help to point me in the right direction.
Its had 2 problems -
1/ Explorer would occasionally give an error message - but I think I solved that by running Ad-aware and finding 300ish bits that needed to be removed!! Had to run it 3 times before it got it all and some were tied up with Explorer, intially and wouldn't delete, but after re starting they were able to be deleted. It appeared to be going OK after this
2/ Now the next problem is the one I need help with because it will not start up ( my friend said this had happened to her - but I have been able to get into it until right now) When I turn it on it tells me "detecting IDE Drives" and waits there for awhile, then it says
Updating ESCD sucess,
verifying DMI Pool Data,
Boot from Atapi CD ROM : Failure,
DISK BOOT FAILURE INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER.

And this is as far as I can get.

I have tried looking in the BIOS (not very confident here) and it tells me

Primary Master: none
Primary slave: none
Secondary Master 12x8x32 9.BC
Secondary slave LTN526S YS09

I have tried to auto detect Primary master but nothing changes, I have tried to reset the bios defaults but this hasn't helped.

I can get an A: prompt but cannot change to any other drive.

I've had a bit of a look inide and pushed all the connections tight, squirted out all the dust etc


She is running Windows ME and about 750Mhz processor (I think) about 128 Ram and 20 gig hard drive (once again, I think this is right - but now that I can't access her harddrive I can't confirm these details)

My friend NOW tells me that she has heard some squeeking noises....

With all the above information, I am thinking that the hard drive has failed and she will need a new one.am I on the right track here?

Can you point me to any websites that would help? I've had a surf through F1 and google but nothing is jumping out at me.

Any ideas

Thanks
Gill (1530)
115814 2003-01-22 00:57:00 Ive had similar experiences a lot.. Its usually known as a HDD failure...

Format for me has been the only that'll fix it, but apparently running the command (From a boot disk):
fdisk /mbr
will sometimes fix it.

However, with it not showing in the BIOS, I would suggest you crack the case open and make sure that all the cables are firmly plugged in!!!
Chilling_Silence (9)
115815 2003-01-22 01:01:00 >
> However, with it not showing in the BIOS, I would
> suggest you crack the case open and make sure that
> all the cables are firmly plugged in!!!

Yep they are all checked - I thought of this too.

So I'm mainly checking the cable from the hard drive ? Any others?
Gill (1530)
115816 2003-01-22 01:04:00 Try removing both CD-ROMS/Writers and see if it picks it up.... Chilling_Silence (9)
115817 2003-01-22 01:58:00 Check that the other end of the cable is firmly in place. :D The motherboard end is usually in a very awkward place to reach, and if you have been moving things inside the case, you can easily loosen that connector. It's harder to get it back. :D

The power connector shouldn't have fallen out, but make sure it is in.

You may be able to see an LED on the front edge of the disk drive when the box is open. Does that one light during the startup?
I would be inclined to disconnect the CDs, too, while testing.
Graham L (2)
115818 2003-01-22 04:38:00 > Check that the other end of the cable is
> firmly in place. :D The motherboard end is usually
> in a very awkward place to reach, and if you
> have been moving things inside the case, you can
> easily loosen that connector. It's harder to get it
> back. :D
>
> The power connector shouldn't have fallen out, but
> make sure it is in.
>
> You may be able to see an LED on the front edge of
> the disk drive when the box is open. Does that one
> light during the startup?
> I would be inclined to disconnect the CDs, too, while
> testing.
Gill (1530)
115819 2003-01-22 04:42:00 Woops sorry about that its tricky posting a reply when you get error messages - here I go again.

> Check that the other end of the cable is
> firmly in place. :D The motherboard end is usually
> in a very awkward place to reach, and if you
> have been moving things inside the case, you can
> easily loosen that connector. It's harder to get it
> back. :D
>
Yep have done this check again - all the ends appear to be firmly in place.

> The power connector shouldn't have fallen out, but
> make sure it is in.

yep its in
>
> You may be able to see an LED on the front edge of
> the disk drive when the box is open. Does that one
> light during the startup?

Can't see any light when it starts up with the case open - no familiar whirring noise either.

> I would be inclined to disconnect the CDs, too, while
> testing.

yes thanks have disconnected them and the only difference is that I get "none" on both primary and secondary master and slave.

Any more ideas????
Gill (1530)
115820 2003-01-22 07:31:00 (1) Check to see that no-one has messed up the Master/Slave jumper settings

(2) Try the drive in another computer if possible
Robin S_ (86)
1