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I am having a problem installing a new 40 GB Western Digital hard drive. The hard drive is actually a few months old and I have used it in another computer. I am installing it with no other drives in the computer, ( primary). When I start up the computer it isn't detected. I have tried several different jumper arrangements, and replaced the IDE cable and of course tried to auto detect it in the BIOS. I know there is power going to it and everything seems to be right but I can't get anywhere with it. I used the disk that came with it to try and detect it also but that didn't work either. The drive was working fine two days ago, and the computer was also, I'm running out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Ian
Is there another pc you could try the hard drive in? At least then you'd know if it's a BIOS/mainboard problem vs. a hard drive problem. It sounds like it's dead. Was this drive exposed to any situation that could cause this?
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I just tried it another comnputer and it works fine. I detects it right off and no problems. There is no OS or anything on it.
Anyway, still won't work in the other computer.
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a) have you tried a different hdd in the pc that your problematic hdd does not work in?
If that to does not work:-
b) was the ide cable you changed known to be good?
c) check the the pins in the ide connectors on the mobo and hdd, in case one is bent.
d) due to the capacity of the hdd, you may need a disc manager program frojm the hdd makers website.
e) double check your bios. Sometimes more than one setting requires changing, before an hdd is recognised.
Good luck - keep us posted.
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I double checked the cable, jumper settings, pins on the Motherboard and HD and everything is good. I tried using the disk that came with the hard drive to install it but it won't detect the drive either. I checked western digital's site and got another disk but it didn't make any difference. I checked some settings in the BIOS but there didn't seem to be anything to change in there that would help me.
Anyways, just an update. still stuck.
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Is it possible that the problem hdd, requires a special interface and/or ide cable?
I believe there are now some that have an enhanced ide connections. e.g. still 40 pin, but 80 wires.Good luck - keep us posted.
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I'll try another cable (the one that came with the drive) and see if it makes any difference. As for the jumper settings, I've tried it many times without any jumper and with the alternate jumper settings for master HD. I'll keep you posted.
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You need to update your BIOS to be able to detect more modern hard drives. You have a PII 300mhz. So your motherboard, I assume, was manufactured back when 10gigs was about the largest hard drives available.
Find your motherboard's manufacturer's webpage and get the latest BIOS. That ~should~ take care of it. (As long as the motherboard is not toast. ;)
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Ok, I found a BIOS update on the manufacturers web site and I downloaded it. My only problem now is what to do with it. After I unzipped the file I found two files, AWDFLASH.exe and another file with the extension .24c . I've never flashed a BIOS before so I'm a little lost as to what to do next. I can't find any instructions for it either. Any help would be great. Thanks
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Go back to your motherboard manufacturer's
webpage. They should have had a page
describing their flashing process.
If not this should work:
Format a floppy disk and make it bootable
Copy those two files to that disk
(Write down the EXACT name of the .24C
file)
Reboot to your newly created floppy disk disk
At the command prompt type "AWDFLASH.EXE"
Answer YES when it asks if you want to
backup the old BIOS
Type in the EXACT name of the .24C file
when it asks for it.
Note: Sometimes they require you to
specify the file name to flash in the
command prompt so you may have to type
"AWDFLASH.EXE FILENAME.24C" at the command
prompt.
This may vary by the motherboard
manufacturer so be SURE to check there webpages
first!
***WARNING*** Be VERY careful when
flashing your BIOS. You can toast it and
computer won't be bootable till you buy a
new BIOS ROM. ($25 tp $35)
Good Luck! ;)
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I would strongly suggest you do not attepmt to flash your bios except as a last resort, as this can create more problems.
The way to go if you have a problem recognising the total capacity, as I previoulsy advised, is with a drive manager program from the hdd maker.
First I would expect your bios see the hdd, and some if not all of the hdd capacity. If it only sees some, you us the drive manager program.
Good luck - keep us posted.
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Ok, I flashed the BIOS, no problems, but it still won't detect the HD. I'm stumped..........................
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Listen to Huw Williams...remove the jumper completely on Western Digitals when they're alone on an ide channel.
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