Hard Drive Install

[titilucky]

  I'm installed a Hard IDE Disk Drive for the first time and I get the following:

(First it shows the CPU, Memory Test, etc.)  Once it goes to the detecting it reads:

Detecting IDE Primary Slave .... None
Detecting IDE Secondary Slave.... None
Detecting IDE Secondary Master.. HITACHI DVD ROM GD-2500
Detecting IDE Secondary Slave.... None

After, it reads:
Press DEL to enter SETUP

I entered BIOS info as the new drive suggests that I do.  Then I save and try to boot from the Installation Boot Disk but nothing happens.  What should my next step be or what am I doing wrong?  I'm doing this for the first time so am a little bit apprehensive.  Can anyone help?  Thanks.

[Computer_Commando]

Drive is not being detected by BIOS.
Start with this:  http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000102.htm

[titilucky]

 
I changed jumpers and now it says:

Detecting IDE Primary Master...[Press F4 to skip]


After that the only thing I see is the instructions on how to enter SETUP.  It does not boot either.  

[Computer_Commando]

I changed jumpers and now it says:

Detecting IDE Primary Master...[Press F4 to skip]
...

It's not "auto-detecting".  Need more info on hard drive and computer.

[titilucky]

 
Award Modular BIOS v4.51 PG
P6Set-ML ver PROMISE_1.2a  09/27/1999
Intel Celeron CPU @ 500MHz
Memory 589824K
Award Plug and Play BIOS extension v 1.0A
13. 6G IDE 5400RPM  WD136AA
6X.DVD HITACHI GD-2500BX
OS MS WINSE

WESTERN DIGITAL HARD DRIVE 7200 RPM 40GIGABYTES

will this help?

[Computer_Commando]

Award Modular BIOS v4.51 PG
P6Set-ML ver PROMISE_1.2a  09/27/1999
Intel Celeron CPU @ 500MHz
Memory 589824K
Award Plug and Play BIOS extension v 1.0A
13. 6G IDE 5400RPM  WD136AA
6X.DVD HITACHI GD-2500BX
OS MS WINSE

WESTERN DIGITAL HARD DRIVE 7200 RPM 40GIGABYTES

will this help?

I know the problem.  It's the Award BIOS v4.51PG.  I have the same one on this computer and a bug in that version limits hard drives to 32GB.  See my signature below.  After flashing BIOS, it works with 80GB WD drive.  You'll have to search the internet for a BIOS upgrade.  It must exactly match the motherboard or you will kill the computer.  You need to decode numbers at bottom of BIOS screen.  They tell you the m'board manufacturer and will point you to the correct BIOS upgrade.

I'll try to find some links and will post them here.
http://www.wimsbios.com/
If you don't have the old hard drive, you can't boot and run this utility which tells all you need to know.
http://www.unicore.com/bioswiz/index2.html
You probably need create a DOS boot disk and then run a DOS diagnostic tool.
DOS Boot disk:  http://www.bootdisk.com/
http://www.esupport.com/
DOS BIOS agents at bottom:
http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/feedback.html

[titilucky]

 
Thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.  That's how we learn!  I know I have a lot to learn yet.

Yes, as you guessed, I took out the old hard drive but I still have it.  It had problems with some clusters as ScanDisk said.  What do you suggest I do?

As I said, this is the first time I do this.  I wanted to save some money (the shop).

Once again, thanks.

[Computer_Commando]

...Yes, as you guessed, I took out the old hard drive but I still have it.  It had problems with some clusters as ScanDisk said.  What do you suggest I do? ....

I kept the old 8GB WD hard drive as a secondary, slave drive.  I guarantee you can get this machine to work with the WD 40GB.  That BIOS version was on half the world's computers in 1999.  There are hundreds of updates on the internet, you just have to find the right one.  If you're not comfortable using DOS, put the old hard drive in and boot to it.  There are tools for Windows and DOS.  Those tools will tell you exactly what BIOS version to download.  They create a text file with all the info which you can post back here.  You can transfer from one machine to the other via floppy disk.  If you're not familiar with BIOS flashing, read all this:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000236.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/help/bios.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/comp/award.htm


BIOS ID looks something like this:
BIOS ID:   04/12/1999-i440BX-W977-2A69KL1AC-00

The important part is:  2A69KL1AC

The first 5 characters identify the chipset
2A69K Intel 440BX/ZX chipset (Pentium II/III based chipset)
The sixth & seventh character identify the manufacturer
L1 - Lucky Star
The 8th character (most of the times, not always!) identifies the model
AC
The -00 at the end doesn't mean much

[titilucky]

 
I believe I got the BIOS ID.  When I start, at the bottom, it says

08/04/1999-SIS-628-P6SET-MLC-00

Is this it?  Thanks.
:-/

This procedure is most interesting!  Thanks so very much!

[Computer_Commando]

...08/04/1999-SIS-628-P6SET-MLC-00...Is this it? ...

Doesn't look quite right.  Double-check...then triple-check...then check again.

08/04/1999-SIS-628-P6SET-MLC-00

This part "...P6SET-MLC..." doesn't match anything.

I gave you the links to the utilities...use them.

[titilucky]

 
I found the Mainboard User's Manual and all it says is

Mainboard (P6SET-ML)

BIOS and CPU Features Setup Option displays

ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (P6SET-ML)
BIOS & CPU Features Setup
Award Software, Inc.

The thing with the old hard drive is, I'm going through the setup and it shows me all installed devices but identifies the Master Drive as 528MB.  I know that's what we're trying to correct.

Now, it goes (at the end) with:

Verifying pool data.... Update success

Then it goes to boot up but won't accept any of the bootup disks I try.  Displays:  Disk Boot Failure, Insert system disk and press enter.  I really don't know what to do.

Then, when I go to the BIOS upgrade, it has to be done with the PC in question.  How can I do that if I cannot boot.  My other PC has Windows XP and a different setup.

Please advise... again.  Thanks so very much.

[Computer_Commando]

...

1)  Mainboard (P6SET-ML)

2)  ...the old hard drive is, I'm going through the setup and it shows me all installed devices but identifies the Master Drive as 528MB.

3)...Then it goes to boot up but won't accept any of the bootup disks I try....

4)...when I go to the BIOS upgrade, it has to be done with the PC in question.  How can I do that if I cannot boot.  

1)  Motherboard is ECS.  Did you run BIOSAgent?

2)  Is the old hard drive actually 528MB or is that was the BIOS says?

3)  Did you set the Boot Sequence in the BIOS.  There are 3 choices:
1.  A, C, SCSI
2.  C, CD, A
3.  CD, C, A
Set to #1

4)  No hard drive required for BIOS flashing.  Set boot order and boot to FD ("A" drive).  

[Computer_Commando]

This is your motherboard?
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/p6set_ml.html

Does it look like this?
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/consumer/P6SET-ML/P6SET-ML.htm

[titilucky]

 
I'm trying to find out the capacity of the old drive, I really don't know it.  A technician put in and I don't know what he did.  The 528MB is what the BIOS for Primary Master says

LBA Mode 0 528MB

The boot sequence in the BIOS shows

A, C, SCSI

------------------------

I've tried booting from the BIOSAgent diskette to no avail.

"Non-system disk or disk error
Replace and strike any ke when ready"

--------------------------

I'm at a lost!  

[titilucky]

Pardon me, I should've said "I'm at a loss."


Anyway, the fujitsi-siemens link shows my exact motherboard except that mine is 500MHz.

[Computer_Commando]

...I'm trying to find out the capacity of the old drive, I really don't know it.  A technician put in and I don't know what he did...

Open case and look at old drive.


Read Reply#5 above.  I guess you don't understand what a "boot disk is".  Study info at this website.  If you're not comfortable about doing it yourself, you better find someone to do it for you.  You must create a bootable floppy disk and copy the BIOS update program to it and execute it from the boot disk.  BIOSAgent runs from Windows and will probably say:  08/04/1999-SIS-628-P6SET-MLC-00, which we already know.  I gave you the BIOS upgrade link.  I've done all the work for you except for flashing the BIOS.

You've got the computer, you have to do it, or pay someone to do it for you.

[titilucky]

My old hard drive capacity is 2.16 Gbyte, it's a Samsung WU32165A.

[titilucky]

I did make a bootdisk for BIOSAgent and tried it, but it won't boot.  I made a Bootdisk for DOS, for Windows 98SE, for Data Life (which is the installation disk for the master drive) and one for the BIOS Wizard.  None will work.  I get:  Non-system disk or disk error.  Replace disk and strike any key when ready.  I see that I cannot do it, after all.  I thank you so much, once again, for all your work and help.  Not many people will do help like that for free.  Thanks a million!    

[Computer_Commando]

... I see that I cannot do it, after all.  I thank you so much, once again, for all your work and help.  Not many people will do help like that for free.  Thanks a million!...

The pay is lousy, but we accept the challenge and all learn something.  At least you gave it a good try.  Don't throw it out, you may figure out what you're doing wrong.  It will come to you when you least expect it.

It's probably something simple, boot floppy disks are relatively straightforward.  There were no hard drives when PC's were introduced.  There were only boot floppy disks.  That part has changed little, except for the disk media (size and type).

[justin]

how did u get so much memory Memory 589824K

[titilucky]

   I added two memory sticks.  That I did myself and it was simple.

Once again, and I mean it, thanks so much.  I really appreciate it.  

[Raptor]

The pay is lousy

You get paid?