Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Hopester Doofus on December 03, 2005, 10:04:01 AM

Title: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Hopester Doofus on December 03, 2005, 10:04:01 AM
I have a new 80GB primary hard drive which I just installed, along with the 40GB secondary drive I've always had. The secondary drive, of course, is jumpered as the slave.

When I first installed the new drive, I jumpered it as the master and installed XP with no apparent problems. But when I booted, I got an error message: BOOT DEVICE ERROR - INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE. After much gnashing of teeth, I finally discovered that the drive would only boot if it was jumpered to Cable Select.

Is this unusual?
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: patio on December 03, 2005, 12:13:42 PM
What drive manuf. ? ?
WD's in my experience need master with slave present or they get wonky...

patio.  8)

The other thing i've seen is don't introduce any new drives after an OS install until you have done at least a 1/2 dozen or so cold boots.
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Hopester Doofus on December 03, 2005, 04:08:08 PM
Quote
What drive manuf. ? ?
WD's in my experience need master with slave present or they get wonky...

patio.  8)

The other thing i've seen is don't introduce any new drives after an OS install until you have done at least a 1/2 dozen or so cold boots.


Primary -  Western Digital 80GB
Slave -  Seagate 40GB

Thanks, patio. The primary drive is the one I replaced; the slave was always there. I installed the OS on the primary and it went fine. But then it wouldn't boot, so I changed the jumpers from Master to Cable Select, and voila. Like you say, perhaps I should have disconnected the secondary and added it later.
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: merlin_2 on December 03, 2005, 04:17:44 PM
Switch ide cables i would advise<Primary -  Western Digital 80GB >
w/d has also the option of a slave drive on it .....on the back of the drive which may.....mean remove the whit plastic jumper.


Your main hard drive is seaching for the o/s system .
of which the new h/d does not have it on.
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Computer_Commando on December 03, 2005, 05:46:21 PM
My computer:

Primary -  Western Digital 80GB
Slave -  Western Digital 40GB  

Works perfectly with 80-conductor cable and drives set to CS.
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Admin_merlin_2 on December 03, 2005, 05:53:21 PM
Does not on dufs pc...........nothing new just like the owner........wally cartoons.........another wind-up by hoplessduf
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Hopester Doofus on December 04, 2005, 12:47:53 AM
Patio, merlin, Commando: Thanks guys. That's good information.
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: Mac on December 04, 2005, 05:42:26 AM
Quote
My computer:
 
Primary -  Western Digital 80GB  
Slave -  Western Digital 40GB  
 
Works perfectly with 80-conductor cable and drives set to CS.


Right!  :)

80-conductor cable is better anyway, as the second set of conductors are there as screens to prevent cross-talk between the other conductor wires, and the material which these wires are made of have less resistance than the older 40 wire cables.

Less resistance = more conductivity and hence the passage of data along the wire is faster so you get an increase in overall performance.

Every little bit helps.  :)
Title: Re: New hard drive - cable select only?
Post by: patio on December 04, 2005, 04:16:52 PM
Quote
Does not on dufs pc...........nothing new just like the owner........wally cartoons.........another wind-up by hoplessduf


HUH ? ?

patio.  8)