BIOS question for ep-61BXA-M motherboard.

[69Z28]

I want to get an older computer that has been home built with the ep-61BXA-M motherboard to recognize a larger HDD I want to install. It's a Western Digital WD800JB, 80GBs HDD. This will be the only HDD in the computer, and I am not sure how the jumper should be set. According to the diagram there should be no jumper if I use it as master. It came set with jumper in CABLE SELECT SETTINGS. I do have a CD ROM that is jumpered for slave on the the same Primary IDE and a DVD drive on the Secondary IDE jumpered to master. For some reason I cannot get my computer to see this HDD.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

[patio]

MB=================================Slave========Master.

[69Z28]

Not sure that I follow your meaning.

MB=================================Slave========Master.

[patio]

Thats the cabling diagram...
If the HDD is the only device on that cable hook it to the end connector...and yes most HDD's if master need no jumper.
You may want to consider the chance that the HDD has failed...

Let us know.

[69Z28]

I'm not exactly sure if the HDD is good or bad. That is what I'm trying to figure out. The HDD is connected to the primary IDE 1 and is the only HDD in the computer. If I keep the jumper at the factory setting which is cable select setting or take the jumper out to make the HDD master I still get...Detecting Primary etc,etc ...[Press F4 to skip].

The bootup screen doesn't go any further. I downloaded the Diagnostic Utility from Western Digital but I can't diagnose if the computer won't recognize the HDD.

I remember doing this with an old Dell laptop. I faintly recall something about updating BIOS, something about LBA, and maybe something about the chipset, but it was a few years back and my memory is not so hot these days.

Not sure what I should do next. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Thats the cabling diagram...
If the HDD is the only device on that cable hook it to the end connector...and yes most HDD's if master need no jumper.
You may want to consider the chance that the HDD has failed...

Let us know.

[Computer_Commando]

Cable Select (CS) only works with an 80-conductor cable.
http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/howto_connect_ide_hd.html

[69Z28]

Hello C_C.

     I read the info from the link you provided. Very interesting. I downloaded a .PDF file on the ep-61BXA-M EPoX motherboard for further reading.

As I look at the IDE 1 and IDE 2 connections on the board I notice that there are no pins missing. I only have the big wire 40 pin ribbon with the black connectors at each end, with the keyways that a Western Digital MDL# AC313000-00RT HDD is connected to, which was how it was set up when it was given to me.  This is the only HDD on the PRIMARY IDE or the IDE1 as it is noted on the motherboard and the manual I downloaded.

I am working on getting my floppy connect right now, but I will be back to ask more questions if you don't mind. If I get the info right from a human I seem to understand and retain the info more than reading from the link you sent me for instance.

Thanks,
Gary

Cable Select (CS) only works with an 80-conductor cable.
http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/howto_connect_ide_hd.html

[69Z28]

 C_C     After doing some reading from the link you provided and info from other sites you are correct that I need an 80 wire 40 pin connector. I also need to leave everything set to auto in TYPE and MODE columns in the CMOS setup. I don't think I'll have any issues when I change the ribbon. The only thing I keep thinking about is updating the North and South Bridge. Is this something I need to do? I did a BIOS update already.


Anything else for me to look into>

Thanks