HD install failure

[cuzzzzzz]

Hi... the hard drive on my 6 year old PIII-400 (440BX Gigabyte MB) died (I think.. no boot, weird symbols on boot and tries at re-formatting). Tried to replace it with a Seagate 40G HD, and on bootup it hangs at "Detecting Primary IDE Device; Press F4 to Bypass". If I try putting it on IDE2, corrseponding error message appears. I've tried another new Seagate HD, new IDE cables, checked the jumper settings (Master, Cable Select, Slave (with changing it's position on the IDE cable)), etc. Have tried every combination of installing it. The CMOS shows no drives other than the floppies. If I remove all IDE drives, the computer boots fine to the A: drive w. bootup floppy.

Any ideas? Bad IDE on MB? Incompatible HDs for the older MB? Usually this wouldn't make it hang. I've installed dozens of HDs with no problems

Ideas appreciated.

Thank you,
Bruce

[ktkendall]

You original HD may be fine and it very well may be the ide controllers have gone south.

[Ob1]

if you still want to use this pc, you could always get a IDE Controller card that goes into the PCI slot, plug in the drives, load windows onto the drive and your off and running again.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

[cuzzzzzz]

ktkendall.. thanks.. that's what I suspected. Don't think it's worth getting an IDE extension card... if that would work.

[cuzzzzzz]

OB1.. thanks.. that was the idea I just sent as your message appeared. Old PIII 400.. don't think it's worth it, although as a computer for my young grandchildren it might be.

[Ob1]

i would just build a new pc myself, but for some people who dont have the budget to build a new one, thowing and IDE expansion card in for $20-$30 would get them buy.

[glc]

1. Look for a bios update for the motherboard. It may have a 32gb limitation right now.

2. Try using the cylinder limit jumper on the drive to fool the bios into thinking it's a 32gb drive.

[cuzzzzzz]

glc, thanks. I did notice that there is a jumper setting for limiting the drive to 32GB. Will try it (have to disconnect everything and bring it downstairs again. No time for a few days)

Bruce

[cuzzzzzz]

GLC.. Bingo. Set jumper to 32G limit, and it booted perfectly. With only that jumper on, it makes the HD the slave on the first IDE channel, but formatted the drive and loaded Win98SE perfectly.

Can I assume that the IDE controllers are not shot?
OK to skip looking for a BIOS update?

Thanks again, cuzzzzz

[cuzzzzzz]

By the way.. the original HD was 13GB, so only bought a 40GB Hd.. don't mind the 32 GB limitation. Also, if the IDE controllers are OK, now sounds like the original HD probably DID die, right?

[glc]

Yup. You really should make the new drive a master, not a slave. You will need a second jumper to do that, rob one off the old drive or something.

[cuzzzzzz]

GLC... thank you. additional jumper made the drive the master.. working fine, with no need to re-install anything.

Thanks again.