Hard Drive not found question

[DanF]

I have this question for you guys and gals.

I have this computer which I've changed the hard drive of, because it was doing very loud noises. The original HDD was 40GB, and it's IDE. My client has bought a new 320GB HDD.

The problem was that the Windows setup couldn't find any HDDs, so at first I thought I did a mistake when I've told the client to get a 320GB cause the system might be too old to handle a 320GB. I've checked the motherboard manual and found out that the IDE cables are not installed correctly, I mean, the HDD IDE cable was inserted in IDE2 and vice versa. So actually, the optical drive and hdd where connected to the wrong cable, but the system was previously working fine. At this point in time, I've corrected the cables and rebooted, and the setup recognized the HDD just fine.

Now, apart from that I'm happy hehe, how come the 40GB worked without any problems and it had problems recognizing the 320GB one?

 

[NYJimbo]

I have this question for you guys and gals.

I have this computer which I've changed the hard drive of, because it was doing very loud noises. The original HDD was 40GB, and it's IDE. My client has bought a new 320GB HDD.

The problem was that the Windows setup couldn't find any HDDs, so at first I thought I did a mistake when I've told the client to get a 320GB cause the system might be too old to handle a 320GB. I've checked the motherboard manual and found out that the IDE cables are not installed correctly, I mean, the HDD IDE cable was inserted in IDE2 and vice versa. So actually, the optical drive and hdd where connected to the wrong cable, but the system was previously working fine. At this point in time, I've corrected the cables and rebooted, and the setup recognized the HDD just fine.

Now, apart from that I'm happy hehe, how come the 40GB worked without any problems and it had problems recognizing the 320GB one?

Didnt you just resolve that problem ?

 

[DanF]

Nope! I think you're talking about another one.

EDIT: Just in case... it's not a 'problem', it's just a question. The mentioned system is working properly.

 

[K007]

I would just call it "Microsoft Magic" and move on with my life.
I would keep an eye open to anything similar, who knows, maybe one day I may find an answer to it.

 

[iptech]

Now, apart from that I'm happy hehe, how come the 40GB worked without any problems and it had problems recognizing the 320GB one?

My guess: a 40Gb HDD will work via a 40pin cable whereas a 320Gb won't. "hehe." Don't blame Microsoft because their software doesn't operate at BIOS level.

 

[NYJimbo]

Nope! I think you're talking about another one.

EDIT: Just in case... it's not a 'problem', it's just a question. The mentioned system is working properly.

Was the old drive set to "cable select" ?

 

[Alan22]

Who knows what may have happened to the system over the years. Most likely the original drive was connected properly, but through self repairs & upgrades the cables may have been disconnected & reconnected improperly. Upon the next boot the drive was recognized as the boot device and remained that way.

 

[DanF]

Yes.

Was the old drive set to "cable select" ?

(text filler......)

 

[DanF]

I've never blamed Microsoft

However, the pin cable makes sense... cause I've changed it from 40 to an 80-pin, just to make sure it's not the cable. I didn't know it could stop the system from booting.

My guess: a 40Gb HDD will work via a 40pin cable whereas a 320Gb won't. "hehe." Don't blame Microsoft because their software doesn't operate at BIOS level.

 

[iptech]

I've never blamed Microsoft

However, the pin cable makes sense... cause I've changed it from 40 to an 80-pin, just to make sure it's not the cable. I didn't know it could stop the system from booting.

If the BIOS does not see the hard drive it cannot pass its parameters to the operating system thus the computer will not boot from that hard drive. If you changed it from a 40 pin to 80 pin cable then that'll be what the problem was. 40 pin cables are OK for slower I/O drives such as CD/DVD drives, but should never be used for modern IDE hard disks. For the computer to boot it won't make any difference which channel the hard disk is connected to as long as the BIOS is pointed to boot from that channel/drive. Usually it is the norm to connect the primary boot drive to IDE 1 as this is the one that the BIOS will scan first, connecting to channel 2 will simply add a microsecond or two to the boot time.

"Don't blame Microsoft" was in response to K007's comment. I'm sure he said it in jest, but there are many 'techs' who, the moment they encounter a boot problem, will reach for the reinstall disks and when that doesn't work they will blame the software.

 

[DanF]

iptech... Thanks for taking your time to explain

 

[kagman]

Computers are just crazy if you ask me..lol..... As you know the ribbon cable on the old 40gb drive was a 40pin connector... the newer drives needed the 80pin connector.