second hard drive question.

[pcdummy7]

Hey guys I have been having problems with a new hard drive I installed a couple of days ago. It is a maxtor 40g drive. I set my primary hd as the master and the new hd as slave but when I go to my computer, I dont see my new drive. I have read a couple of threads in here regarding the same issues and have already tried to change the BIOS settings and still no luck. In BIOS I can see the second hd and also if I check my system information but it will not show up in "my computer". Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

I am currently using an HP a410e system
AMD 2700

[eksf81]

i think u should reinstall the window, mybe the window do not detect this drive, after u reinstall it i think you will see it. just insert the window cd into cd rom and run it. if does not function by this way, i think u need to format this two drive. hope this can help u...

[ja83]

First: Is the new HDD formatted?

Second: Does it have power to it?

Third: Do you have an IDE cable to it?

If you anwsered yes to all the questions, then try different IDE cables. If that still doesn't work, then try setting the HDD jumpers to cable select and try it that way.

[pcdummy7]

I cannot re-install windows because my pc came with Windows ME already installed and no cd. I am not too sure how to format the drive. Please explain and I will try it. Thanks for your input.

[ja83]

Make sure you only have the second HDD plugged into master, because you might accidentally mess up your original HDD. I don't know if Windows ME has the option like XP to format a HDD. I don't think it does.

You can do it using a Windows start up disk, which has a utility called "fdisk". You have to create one, or download one from searching the internet. You go into BIOS and set the first boot device to floppy drive. Save and exit BIOS. The PC will restart, insert the Windows start floppy disk. It should boot from it. I haven't done it in while, but I think it stops at a command prompt line. You have to type a:/fdisk or something like that.
Fdisk will start and probably detect no partitions, you will have to create a partition. Create a primary partition. I think it asks you to name the drive letter. I'm not sure if it formats it for you, or you have to type #:/format on the fdisk command prompt(# stands for the new partiton drive letter you just created). After it formats, you can exit. Restart back into BIOS and set first boot device to your normal HDD(you have to plug it back in if you took it out, and set it back to master and the second HDD to slave). You should boot into windows and it should show the second HDD ready to store data onto.

[pcdummy7]

cool thanx guys, I will try what you suggested and will get back to you with the results. I will have to search the web for the fdisk file so I can use it.

[eksf81]

ya... i think format the new harddisk also one of reason you can detect the drive, because for new harddisk, you must format it before using it.

so u must boot up ur computer, since u dnt have a window cd, then i suggest u create a start up floppy disk to boot ur pc up. by go to 'control panel', click 'add or remove' after this u will see there is three choise, click the ' create start up disk' before click this make sure u insert a blank floppy inside ur floppy rom. after the disk finish created, turn off ur pc, let the start up disk inside ur floppy rom, unplug the primary harddisk, set that one new harddisk into master and plug in into primary IDE slot. and start up ur pc, see whether the ' A:\> ' will come out or not, if come out then just type ' format c: '. just follow the instruction, then after finish format, the ' A:\> ' will come out again and then just turn off ur pc. and plug it back to previously like ur setup. ( the old harddisk set to master and the new harddisk set to secondary and plug into slave). reject ur floppy out. and start ur pc.

if u cant get the ' A:\> ' form beginning, tell me.

[pcdummy7]

here's what happened. I shut down my pc and installed the start up diskette. The A:/ did show up but when I typed in "format c" it gave me an error. I went to fdisk in order to set up the drive and here is what happened.
on the first screen that came up I had 4 choices:
1. create DOS partition or logical DOS drive.
2. set active partition.
3. delete partition or logical DOS drive.
4. display partition information.

when I chose from 1-3, the second screen came up and then i had these 3 options.
1. create primary Dos partition.
2. create extended Dos partition.
3. create logical DOS drives in the extended DOS partition.

But if I chose any of these options it kept giving me an error, I didnt write the error down.
Sorry for my ignorance when it comes to pc's, but thats why I decided to ask you guys for help.

[ja83]

Make sure you only have your new Maxtor HDD connected. Try choosing option 4. display partition information, and tell us what it says. If this is a new drive, there shouldn't be any partitions on it.

[glc]

1. Boot it into Windows and open a command prompt.

2. Type FDISK

3. If asked, choose YES to the large drive option.

4. You should have an option 5 - change fixed drive. The original drive should be drive 0 and the new one drive 1. Choose the new drive. Choose 4 to display partition information, verify that it's not partitioned and has about 37 gigs available. Escape.

5. Choose 1 - create partition.

6. Choose 1 - create primary DOS partition. Choose 100%.

7. Exit FDISK.

8. Restart the computer.

9. Open My Computer, you should now see the drive. Right click on it, select Format.

[pcdummy7]

GLC: I followed the steps you suggested and it seems to work but when I exit DOS it gives me "error writing fixed disk" and the changes dont take effect.

ja83: It did have a partition in it but I deleted it in order to create a new partition. This is a 60gig drive I was using on a previous pc. It has WindowsXP but the drive crashed on me when I was trying to connect another drive.

[glc]

If you get that error, make sure you don't have the virus protection turned on in the BIOS.

If this hard drive you are trying to use has EVER been installed and used in a computer, it may be wise to zero fill/low level format it before reinstalling it. Maxtor's Powermax can do this if it's a Maxtor drive, and it's a free download. Other drive manufacturers offer similar utilities.

[pcdummy7]

Thanks glc I will try Powermax. Sorry for the delay in replying but my work schedule is very hectic, 6pm-6am 3x3 schedule, you know how it is.

[pcdummy7]

Wow, thanx guys. The combination of Powermax and fdisk did the trick. I first formatted the drive using Powermax, then I used fdisk to partition it and it worked. Thanx again.

Althogh this worked, I now have the D drive for storage but I no longer see my other drives that come with the HP a410e series computer. Im talking about the drives where you put your storage memory from a digital camera etc.....Whats up with that?

[glc]

Go into Disk Management and change the drive letter of the new drive and see if the card readers come back.

[pcdummy7]

I will try that tomorrow morning when I get home from work. Working that crazy schedule at the moment.

[pcdummy7]

When I got home this morning and turned on my pc all my card readers were back. Hmmm.

Thanxs to everyone who helped me out with my little problem, you guys are awsome!!!!