AAAAAARGH installing a new HDD

Amba_Gambla

yeah, a bit thick really..... I need to get myself a big multi cd wallet thing to put all my photo cds in.....

i really should have learnt after I lost all my final year uni photos last time.....

computer was bought in 2003ish from a computer fair, so had been built by some random dealer bloke..... I'm going to go and try the suggested stuff now!!

cheers for all your help

AG

Amba_Gambla

AAAARRRRRRRGH!

get over one hurdle and meet another......

the drive is now showing up as my primary slave when i switch it on, which is good.... but then it says 'Primary Slave Hard drive fail'

aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(there's also some random letter showing up under secondary slave.... dunno what those are about....)

DVB_3

It looks like that the drive is too big. Still, try to access BIOS and make sure it's properly detected. Also, check that the correct translation is on.

wolfman

If Windows was booting previously (but freezing on load) then it shouldn't be your jumper configuration. If it was wrongly set you'd get like you posted above, a boot fail message. In fact do manufacturers set it to cable select by default??? Can't remember.

It depends how old your computer is but I wouldn't think it is the BIOS, or at least not because it can't handle the size of disk. It won't be formatted, so boot up into Safe Mode, see what Windows thinks of the drive then. If all looks ok format the drive from within Windows. Do any BIOS updates too just incase.

DVB_3

Actually, just had a thought - the drive could be unpartitioned as well.

Amba_Gambla

DVB wrote:

Actually, just had a thought - the drive could be unpartitioned as well.

uh oh ...... what does that mean then?????

do u have to format it before it'll work ok???

I'm on the verge of giving up and taking it to the computer shop and asking them to install it for me........

someone promised they'd help me install this, now they've turned round and told me i'd be fine doing it on my own..... grrrrrrr

DVB_3

Yes, the disk has to be partitioned and formatted before it can be used. Go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management. All the drive-related functions can be accessed from there. However, be very careful, as you can inflict irrecoverable damage easily if this tool is misused.

You will need to create a partition on the drive (if not present already), and than format it. It's not that cryptic, but do use help if you get stuck. Alternatively, do post here.

Amba_Gambla

Thanks for your help everyone!!

Managed to get is sorted after almost 2 days working on it!!!

You'd have thought that the company (M**co) would have included some instructions on how to install the damn thing - worked out that it was working fine all the time, but I had to go in through the device manager in windows to sort it out..... took many phone calls to the company (Mis**) to work that one out!!!

oh well!!! Also worked out that one of my IDEs was bust - cost me £7 at the local computer shop for a replacement!!! That's what you get for living in the back !!!!!! of beyond I suppose!!

culpepper

I know youve sorted it but if anyone else needs to set their jumpers there is usually a little tiny diagram on the hard drive that tells you where the jumper pin should be for master/slave or cable select.
Most people have the bootable drive as master on one ide cable and a cd drive as slave , then the other hard drive as master on the second ide and if they have another cd drive it can be slave. Mine however was not working well like that and preferred me to put both hard drives (bootable and non bootable ) on ide0 and both cd drives on ide1 .Sometimes its just trial and error!

lipidicman

Amba_Gambla wrote:

You'd have thought that the company (M**co) would have included some instructions on how to install the damn thing

You bought an OEM pack - you can buy HDs retail (with instructions, cables and screws) but you pay a fortune for these.

Misco cant write instructions for all eventualities. What you need is a Book. I recommend Scott Muellers UPGRADING AND REPAIRING PCS (although it does get very technical, so you might prefer a gentler introduction)