Wednesday I received new WD 500 GB HD. Set it to "SLAVE" and attached it to second hookup on my IDE cable. Rebooted, when BIOS came up said "Secondary IDE device - None". Ok.....it was late so I thought I'd disconnect it and try again over the weekend. I disconnected, rebooted, and "Primary IDE device - None." Uh-oh. Since then I've reconnected and disconnected every which way. Tried 2 different IDE cables. The computer just won't see any HDs connected to mobo.

I tried WD bootdisk floppy to try to format HD and load windows on the new 500 GB drive, and it doesn't see the HD either.

So either both HDs got fried Wednesday night, and are unresponsive, or something is wrong w/ mobo Primary IDE port? Optical and Floppy drives are recognized, and everything else - fans, power et al seem OK. Just won't see HDs on Primary IDE Port.

I'll beg IT at work see if my HDs are dead by hooking them up to a 'puter here. If they're OK, then I guess it's my mobo? Should I get a IDE->USB adaptor on eBay and see if they can be recognized through a USB port? I've also seen a post about IDE drivers. Could they have gotten wiped for the Primary IDE Port?

Suggestions welcome - thanks!


UPDATE:

Took WD HD to IT guy at work. Hooked it up to a machine - dead. Got it at Newegg, so will exhange it. IT guy suggested remove BIOS silver battery from mobo, waiting 5 mins, then re-installing, in an attempt to restore BIOS. Is it possible BIOS for IDE Primary got 'damage' when I itinitally booted w/ drives attached? Will try reset tonight and will report.

UPDATE 2:

Dug out old 14 GB IBM HD from my first Dell. Still works, incredibly. BIOS detects it! So I now know I don't have mobo problems. Still won't read my MASTER Maxtor HD. I think it's fried (will take it to IT guy Monday - fortunately, I did a full backup last Sunday ;^)). And I'm still out of business, because I don't seem to have a boot floppy, so I can't load Windows on it. Will have to do it tomorrow at work onto 6 floppies from MS website. Sigh.

Will report later. Thanks for all replies.

Quote: Originally Posted by zenotal Wednesday I received new WD 500 GB HD. Set it to "SLAVE" and attached it to second hookup on my IDE cable. Rebooted, when BIOS came up said "Secondary IDE device - None". Ok.....it was late so I thought I'd disconnect it and try again over the weekend. I disconnected, rebooted, and "Primary IDE device - None." Uh-oh. Since then I've reconnected and disconnected every which way. Tried 2 different IDE cables. The computer just won't see any HDs connected to mobo. I tried WD bootdisk floppy to try to format HD and load windows on the new 500 GB drive, and it doesn't see the HD either. So either both HDs got fried Wednesday night, and are unresponsive, or something is wrong w/ mobo Primary IDE port? Optical and Floppy drives are recognized, and everything else - fans, power et al seem OK. Just won't see HDs on Primary IDE Port. I'll beg IT at work see if my HDs are dead by hooking them up to a 'puter here. If they're OK, then I guess it's my mobo? Should I get a IDE->USB adaptor on eBay and see if they can be recognized through a USB port? I've also seen a post about IDE drivers. Could they have gotten wiped for the Primary IDE Port? Suggestions welcome - thanks!

I would try setting both hard drives up under cable select and see what BIOS does. Also it will not come up under Secondary drive. It will say Primary Master and Primary Slave.

Thats the first thing I would try. But its likely this is a configuration problem not a problem with the drives.

It could be an issue with the molex connectors. Try swapping the power connector
from another device if you don't have any spares.

It sounds to me like you put the master connector on the drive set as slave. As sk8 said set them to cs and connect them with the first connector on the slave and the end connector on the master.

EDIT: Check out this link.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate It could be an issue with the molex connectors. Try swapping the power connector from another device if you don't have any spares.

Initially that's what I thought too.
Power is ok - I took one from one of my 3 fans.

Quote: Originally Posted by HoJo It sounds to me like you put the master connector on the drive set as slave. As sk8 said set them to cs and connect them with the first connector on the slave and the end connector on the master. EDIT: Check out this link.

Thanks for the link - I learned lots. I now know I have an 80-wire IDE ribbon. But I was just connecting them willy-nilly in an attempt at getting a response. Could this have fried the drive?

Quote: Originally Posted by Sk8forMaple I would try setting both hard drives up under cable select and see what BIOS does. Also it will not come up under Secondary drive. It will say Primary Master and Primary Slave. Thats the first thing I would try. But its likely this is a configuration problem not a problem with the drives.

Ah, I've never heard of 'cable select.' And I will look for "Primary Master & Primary Slave" - very useful. Thank you.