Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: [email protected] on October 06, 2009, 01:45:40 PM

Title: student working on old computer that doesn't read hard drive
Post by: [email protected] on October 06, 2009, 01:45:40 PM
I am currently attending college for IT and have an old Gateway to work on to learn.  At first it wouldn't boot at all.  I went into setup and reset to defaults and now it says it doesn't recognize the hard drive.  I got it to go through all of the POST tests and come up with a screen that has information but I'm not sure what all of it means.  My textobook is no help.  How do I know if my hard drive is bad and what type it is?  I have no documentation or discs to work with.  I need all the help I can get because I really want to learn how to do this.  Any help is appreciated.

Darlene Sage
Title: Re: student working on old computer that doesn't read hard drive
Post by: Geek-9pm on October 06, 2009, 02:06:12 PM
Try and see if the floppy drive will attempt to boot a any floppy.
Title: Re: student working on old computer that doesn't read hard drive
Post by: Computer_Commando on October 06, 2009, 02:31:03 PM
...How do I know if my hard drive is bad and what type it is? ...
Can you hear it spinning when you power up the computer?
Remove it and read the label.  Look it up on the drive manufacturer's website.
As for Setup not recognizing it, that comes later.
Title: Re: student working on old computer that doesn't read hard drive
Post by: JJ 3000 on October 06, 2009, 07:23:49 PM
Check your jumper settings. Try a different IDE ribbon.
Title: Re: student working on old computer that doesn't read hard drive
Post by: JJ 3000 on October 06, 2009, 07:27:44 PM
My textbook is no help. 

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