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Thread ID: 95614	2008-12-12 03:43:00	Is this new hd a dud?	Strommer (42)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
728035	2008-12-12 03:43:00	The new hard drive is a Seagate 500 Gb [ST3500320AS] I ordered it because I was having trouble with the old hd, a Seagate 120 Gb. See my other thread here: pressf1.co.nz Although the old hd would no longer boot, I somehow managed to get the prompt for Return to Last Good Configuration (or Safe Mode or Windows as normal). Even though the old hd now works, it would be nice to use the new 500 Gb hd. With the new hd, I tried to install WinXP but after partitioning it (leaving 40 Gb for WinXP), the WinXP Setup would not install on the partition; I could not get WinXP to do anything on the new hd. Tried to get an Acronis image on the hd but no go. As per Speedy's suggestion, I made a bootable cd with The Ultimate Boot Disk utilities on it. I have tried various programs on the UBDCD: One "erase all data" program progressed about 10% with an error message; another program deleted the partition and did a very quick erase. Finally I found a Seagate program on the UBDCD: SeaTools; with this I managed to erase LBA's (whatever they are) which only took a few seconds but the Short Test came with "Errors detected - do the Long Test", but the Long Test stopped before getting to 1% done. The new hd is SATA-2. My PC has an ASUS P4P800 mobo (SATA-1) but I did not remove the tiny plastic jumper on the new hd so it should work OK. So what to do? Send it back to Ascent?	Strommer (42)
728036	2008-12-12 03:48:00	Send it back it's really knackered. :(	wratterus (105)
728037	2008-12-12 03:55:00	Wow - Seagate's are normally so reliable straight out of the box?? Good to hear you bought it from a reputable company too; nothing worse than trying to get an RMA from a dodgy outfit!! :thumbs:	nofam (9009)
728038	2008-12-12 03:57:00	FWIW: I somehow managed to get the prompt for Return to Last Good Configuration (or Safe Mode or Windows as normal) F8 does not get the pc into Safe Mode. I did buy a new keyboard since the F8 key on the old keyboard did not work during WinXP's "Setup" where you have to press F8 to "Agree" to the terms and conditions. All F8 does is to bring up the Boot Priority Sequence selector page. F10 gets it into Safe Mode, or maybe it was F11 (I tried both). Googling this topic it seems a few others have had the same problem.	Strommer (42)
728039	2008-12-12 04:01:00	On that mobo (and others, inc the one I'm using now), F8 brings up the boot selection screen and safe mode. (You have to select the boot disk first, then hold F8 down to get the screen for safe mode) Pressing / holding F5 down will also bring up the screen to select safe mode (after you reboot) So the BIOS detects the SATA 2 right? If it does, does it detect the whole hdd? Is it in IDE or ACHI mode in the BIOS?? If its ACHI it'll probably need the SATA drivers, before XP installs at all. Did you use SATA drivers for the old hdd?? I didnt say to use UBCD. You should be able to put the XP cd in boot from it, then hopefully, once you get to the setup screen, partition it, if you want to. Then install XP on it	Speedy Gonzales (78)
728040	2008-12-12 04:03:00	Wow - Seagate's are normally so reliable straight out of the box?? Yeah right... :rolleyes: As I am sure some other PF1ers can appreciate, I have felt several times over the last two days like :badpc: pushing the pc off a cliff! Even the PF1 experts gave up (on my other thread). Its been a bad case of gremlins, glitches that make no sense. Who knows though, maybe there is a magic tech wand that I can try...	Strommer (42)
728041	2008-12-12 04:11:00	On that mobo (and others, inc the one I'm using now), F8 brings up the boot selection screen and safe mode. (You have to select the boot disk first, then hold F8 down to get the screen for safe mode) Pressing / holding F5 down will also bring up the screen to select safe mode (after you reboot) So the BIOS detects the SATA 2 right? Is it in IDE or ACHI mode in the BIOS?? If its ACHI it'll probably need the SATA drivers, before XP installs at all I didnt say to use UBCD. You should be able to put the XP cd in boot from it, then hopefully, once you get to the setup screen, partition it, if you want to. Then install XP on it OK, I'll try holding the F8 and also F5 keys down but not sure exactly what is meant... you mean simply pressing F8 will not work but it needs to be held down for a few seconds? The BIOS detects the new hd but I do not know how to determine the rest of your question: " Is it in IDE or ACHI mode in the BIOS?? " or if the BIOS sees it as a SATA-2 hd. If it needs new drivers how could I install them when nothing can access the hd (do anything useful on the hd)? Sorry, it was someone else who recommended using UBCD (wainuitech).	Strommer (42)
728042	2008-12-12 04:17:00	Press / hold F5 down after you reboot. You only have to hold it down once If you press F8, you'll have to hold F8 down twice (once for the boot menu) then again to get to the screen to select safe mode (pretty fast, or else it'll boot into windows) Just as long as the BIOS detects it (and shows the full capacity, it should work). However if that jumper on it is meant to be off (it probably wont detect and wont work, if taking the jumper off, is for SATA 2 systems). The BIOS probably wont even see the hdd. If its in ACHI mode (its an option in the BIOS go thru it). If its enabled / disable it. otherwise, you'll have to get the SATA drivers and install them during the install of XP. You'll also have to have a floppy to do this.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
728043	2008-12-12 04:39:00	If the old hdd works now, does windows detect the new hdd, and see it in disk management?? As unallocated?? If you've tried this?	Speedy Gonzales (78)
728044	2008-12-12 04:49:00	Just as long as the BIOS detects it (and shows the full capacity, it should work) . Yes, the BIOS shows full capacity: 500 . 1 Gb . However if that jumper on it is meant to be off (it probably wont detect and wont work, if taking the jumper off, is for SATA 2 systems) . The BIOS probably wont even see the hdd . According to the sticker on the hd, the jumper should be removed to get the faster speed . However sometime over the last two days I did remove it - and the BIOS still detected it . The jumper is back on now . If its in ACHI mode (its an option in the BIOS go thru it) . If its enabled / disable it . otherwise, you'll have to get the SATA drivers and install them during the install of XP . You'll also have to have a floppy to do this . In the "Fourth IDE Master" page I see: PIO and DMA Mode [Auto] LBA Mode - supported 32 Bit Data Transfer [Disabled] . . . and a few other things like SMART Monitoring supported, but nothing about ACHI	Strommer (42)
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