Disk controller failure

[rwerbeck]

I've got an old Compaq mobo I'm trying to resurrect, but when I power on it comes up with a Disk Controller Failure, error 601. Can I bypass the mobo controller with a PCI card or will the error prevent the PCI card from beign read?

[Bryce W]

I googled (http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/compaq/faq/comppost.htm) to see what error 601 meant so we could get some more information (http://www.tmqg.com/101/101-t-2002-001.htm) other than "Disk Controller Failure". It appears to be a "Diskette Failure" meaning a floppy drive.
Is there a floppy drive in the machine? if so, make sure the cables are the right way (on the old machines you could plug it in both ways, but would only work one way).

If there isnt a floppy drive, try disabling the Floppy drive in BIOS so that the computer doesnt look for one and then freak out when it cant find it. Also disable other floppy features in BIOS such as "seek floppy on boot" and make sure it isnt part of the boot order (eg. A, C, CDRom).

If it IS a floppy problem, a PCI card wont help you (i havent heard of floppy pci cards?). If you have checked/replaced cables & disabled the floppy its most likely a problem with the motherboard itself.