Hi:

I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard drive
and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another exact
WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it before
with no problems.

In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not to
disconnect the cloned drive.

Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does not
appear there either where I can make this selection.

I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails. I
tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
restore but it also fails.

So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.

If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most appreciative.
If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect it
upon clone shutdown in the future.

Thanks,

ColTom2

ColTom2 wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard drive
> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another exact
> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it before
> with no problems.
>
> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not to
> disconnect the cloned drive.
>
> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does not
> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>
> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails. I
> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
> restore but it also fails.
>
> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>
> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most appreciative.
> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect it
> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>
>


If the drive is seen by the bios
but does not appear in disk management it is apparently defective

try another drive

That was my spare HD that I used as a backup and nothing was wrong with it
until I screwed up by not disconnecting it after clone.

Sure hate to wipe one out like that....

ColTom2


"philo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:hhrb1d$fdc$(E-Mail Removed)...
ColTom2 wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
> drive
> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
> exact
> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
> before
> with no problems.
>
> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
> to
> disconnect the cloned drive.
>
> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
> not
> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>
> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
> I
> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
> restore but it also fails.
>
> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>
> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most
> appreciative.
> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
> it
> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>
>


If the drive is seen by the bios
but does not appear in disk management it is apparently defective

try another drive

ColTom2 wrote:
> That was my spare HD that I used as a backup and nothing was wrong with it
> until I screwed up by not disconnecting it after clone.
>
> Sure hate to wipe one out like that....
>
> ColTom2
>
>

That should not have destroyed the drive




> "philo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:hhrb1d$fdc$(E-Mail Removed)...
> ColTom2 wrote:
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
>> drive
>> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
>> exact
>> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
>> before
>> with no problems.
>>
>> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
>> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
>> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
>> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
>> to
>> disconnect the cloned drive.
>>
>> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
>> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
>> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
>> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
>> not
>> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>>
>> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
>> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
>> I
>> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
>> restore but it also fails.
>>
>> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
>> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>>
>> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most
>> appreciative.
>> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
>> it
>> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> ColTom2
>>
>>
>
>
> If the drive is seen by the bios
> but does not appear in disk management it is apparently defective
>
> try another drive
>
>

That's what I thought, but something unknown to me has happened. That is
the reason that I am searching for an answer.

Thanks,

ColTom2


"philo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:hhrdpe$9ih$(E-Mail Removed)...
ColTom2 wrote:
> That was my spare HD that I used as a backup and nothing was wrong with it
> until I screwed up by not disconnecting it after clone.
>
> Sure hate to wipe one out like that....
>
> ColTom2
>
>

That should not have destroyed the drive




> "philo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:hhrb1d$fdc$(E-Mail Removed)...
> ColTom2 wrote:
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
>> drive
>> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
>> exact
>> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
>> before
>> with no problems.
>>
>> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
>> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
>> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
>> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
>> to
>> disconnect the cloned drive.
>>
>> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD.
>> I
>> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
>> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management
>> to
>> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
>> not
>> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>>
>> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
>> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
>> I
>> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
>> restore but it also fails.
>>
>> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but
>> have
>> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>>
>> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most
>> appreciative.
>> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
>> it
>> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> ColTom2
>>
>>
>
>
> If the drive is seen by the bios
> but does not appear in disk management it is apparently defective
>
> try another drive
>
>

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
> drive
> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
> exact
> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
> before
> with no problems.
>
> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
> to
> disconnect the cloned drive.
>
> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
> not
> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>
> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
> I
> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
> restore but it also fails.
>
> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>
> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most appreciative.
> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
> it
> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2


Col...
1. First of all, we'll assume that there's no problem with your "source"
HDD, i.e., it boots without incident and functions without any problems.
That's right, yes?

2. You mention that during the disk-cloning process you "got a sector error
or some sort...". But I take it that the disk-cloning process wasn't aborted
as a result of that message, i.e., the process presumably completed. Is that
correct?

3. You infer that the problem you're now experiencing, i.e., the
non-recognition of your secondary HDD, was possibly due to booting to your
system with the cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
operation. It's hard to imagine that had any effect on your current
non-recognition problem involving that secondary-connected HDD. While you
are correct that with most disk-cloning programs a boot problem involving
the newly-cloned HDD *may* occur when the user boots to his/her source HDD
with the newly-cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
operation, that situation (should it occur) should have no effect on the
system detecting that drive when it's connected as a secondary HDD in the
system.

4. While I understand that you've indicated prior use of the problem drive
with no problems experienced, it really would be wise to check out the disk
with the WD HDD diagnostic utility.

5. Assuming the disk is non-defective, (and I'm assuming it's a PATA HDD)
have you tried connecting the drive to your secondary IDE channel, either as
Master or Slave on that channel? And, of course, you're certain the jumper
is correctly set.

6. Any chance of installing the drive in another PC? Or do you have a USB
external enclosure which you could use with the disk?
Anna

Hi Anna:

I am so delighted to see you answering my question, as you were the one
back in Feb 2008 that answered my original questions when I purchased this
HDD. Your reply then was the most informative and provided me with the much
needed info. In fact, it was you who alerted me about it being imperative to
shutdown immediately after completion of clone and remove backup HDD. I
still have a lot to learn about HDD's as you can probably tell.

1. My current system boots fine and I ran an analysis last night with
Spinrite and no problems were detected. I have it connected to the end of
IDE cable with jumper in the no 4 and 6 position..

2. Yes the disk cloning process completed with no problems even though I
did get some kind of sector problem notice. Using Acronis it shutdown the
computer upon completion of clone. The cloned drive was detected as Drive
"F" which was my next available letter. However, I forgot to remove the HDD
as you advised me to do so.

3. I just assume that the problem that I currently have was caused by not
removing the HDD upon completion of clone, as I have cloned it previously
with no problems using both WD and Acronis software.

4. I tried to use Spinrite to check this HDD, but could not get Spinrite to
work even though it's a bootable CD, as you probably know. As I recall
Spinrite did identify the HDD in BIOS, but the HDD did not show up otherwise
where I could select it to run a repair or analysis. As I mentioned in my
original post the HDD does not show up in Disk Management.

5. I have tried connecting it using cable select method as Primary Slave
with the jumpers in position 1 and 2 on both HD's. Also tried connecting it
as Primary Master with jumper in 4 and 6 position. I don't know what a PATA
HDD is, but as I recall it's a SATA HDD.

6. My other two computers are laptops so I do not have a source to connect
this HDD. However, I do have an adapter kit for connecting USB 2.0 to
SATA/IDE cable and plan to do so later today. I will reply back to you the
results, as I now wonder if I am getting power to this HDD.

I am hoping that I can find a solution and I am most delighted to have you
back assisting me. I know if anyone can resolve this you can.

Thanks,

Tom





"Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
> drive
> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
> exact
> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
> before
> with no problems.
>
> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
> to
> disconnect the cloned drive.
>
> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management to
> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
> not
> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>
> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
> I
> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
> restore but it also fails.
>
> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>
> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most appreciative.
> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
> it
> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2


Col...
1. First of all, we'll assume that there's no problem with your "source"
HDD, i.e., it boots without incident and functions without any problems.
That's right, yes?

2. You mention that during the disk-cloning process you "got a sector error
or some sort...". But I take it that the disk-cloning process wasn't aborted
as a result of that message, i.e., the process presumably completed. Is that
correct?

3. You infer that the problem you're now experiencing, i.e., the
non-recognition of your secondary HDD, was possibly due to booting to your
system with the cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
operation. It's hard to imagine that had any effect on your current
non-recognition problem involving that secondary-connected HDD. While you
are correct that with most disk-cloning programs a boot problem involving
the newly-cloned HDD *may* occur when the user boots to his/her source HDD
with the newly-cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
operation, that situation (should it occur) should have no effect on the
system detecting that drive when it's connected as a secondary HDD in the
system.

4. While I understand that you've indicated prior use of the problem drive
with no problems experienced, it really would be wise to check out the disk
with the WD HDD diagnostic utility.

5. Assuming the disk is non-defective, (and I'm assuming it's a PATA HDD)
have you tried connecting the drive to your secondary IDE channel, either as
Master or Slave on that channel? And, of course, you're certain the jumper
is correctly set.

6. Any chance of installing the drive in another PC? Or do you have a USB
external enclosure which you could use with the disk?
Anna

> "ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
>> drive
>> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
>> exact
>> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
>> before
>> with no problems.
>>
>> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
>> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
>> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
>> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
>> to
>> disconnect the cloned drive.
>>
>> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
>> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
>> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management
>> to
>> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
>> not
>> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>>
>> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
>> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
>> I
>> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
>> restore but it also fails.
>>
>> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
>> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>>
>> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most
>> appreciative.
>> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
>> it
>> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> ColTom2


> "Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Col...
> 1. First of all, we'll assume that there's no problem with your "source"
> HDD, i.e., it boots without incident and functions without any problems.
> That's right, yes?
>
> 2. You mention that during the disk-cloning process you "got a sector
> error
> or some sort...". But I take it that the disk-cloning process wasn't
> aborted
> as a result of that message, i.e., the process presumably completed. Is
> that
> correct?
>
> 3. You infer that the problem you're now experiencing, i.e., the
> non-recognition of your secondary HDD, was possibly due to booting to your
> system with the cloned HDD connected immediately following the
> disk-cloning
> operation. It's hard to imagine that had any effect on your current
> non-recognition problem involving that secondary-connected HDD. While you
> are correct that with most disk-cloning programs a boot problem involving
> the newly-cloned HDD *may* occur when the user boots to his/her source HDD
> with the newly-cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
> operation, that situation (should it occur) should have no effect on the
> system detecting that drive when it's connected as a secondary HDD in the
> system.
>
> 4. While I understand that you've indicated prior use of the problem drive
> with no problems experienced, it really would be wise to check out the
> disk
> with the WD HDD diagnostic utility.
>
> 5. Assuming the disk is non-defective, (and I'm assuming it's a PATA HDD)
> have you tried connecting the drive to your secondary IDE channel, either
> as
> Master or Slave on that channel? And, of course, you're certain the jumper
> is correctly set.
>
> 6. Any chance of installing the drive in another PC? Or do you have a USB
> external enclosure which you could use with the disk?
> Anna


"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eZ$%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Anna:
>
> I am so delighted to see you answering my question, as you were the one
> back in Feb 2008 that answered my original questions when I purchased this
> HDD. Your reply then was the most informative and provided me with the
> much
> needed info. In fact, it was you who alerted me about it being imperative
> to
> shutdown immediately after completion of clone and remove backup HDD. I
> still have a lot to learn about HDD's as you can probably tell.
>
> 1. My current system boots fine and I ran an analysis last night with
> Spinrite and no problems were detected. I have it connected to the end of
> IDE cable with jumper in the no 4 and 6 position..
>
> 2. Yes the disk cloning process completed with no problems even though I
> did get some kind of sector problem notice. Using Acronis it shutdown the
> computer upon completion of clone. The cloned drive was detected as Drive
> "F" which was my next available letter. However, I forgot to remove the
> HDD
> as you advised me to do so.
>
> 3. I just assume that the problem that I currently have was caused by not
> removing the HDD upon completion of clone, as I have cloned it previously
> with no problems using both WD and Acronis software.
>
> 4. I tried to use Spinrite to check this HDD, but could not get Spinrite
> to
> work even though it's a bootable CD, as you probably know. As I recall
> Spinrite did identify the HDD in BIOS, but the HDD did not show up
> otherwise
> where I could select it to run a repair or analysis. As I mentioned in my
> original post the HDD does not show up in Disk Management.
>
> 5. I have tried connecting it using cable select method as Primary Slave
> with the jumpers in position 1 and 2 on both HD's. Also tried connecting
> it
> as Primary Master with jumper in 4 and 6 position. I don't know what a
> PATA
> HDD is, but as I recall it's a SATA HDD.
>
> 6. My other two computers are laptops so I do not have a source to connect
> this HDD. However, I do have an adapter kit for connecting USB 2.0 to
> SATA/IDE cable and plan to do so later today. I will reply back to you the
> results, as I now wonder if I am getting power to this HDD.
>
> I am hoping that I can find a solution and I am most delighted to have
> you
> back assisting me. I know if anyone can resolve this you can.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom


Tom:
1. For the reasons I previously stated, I really don't think a disk-cloning
operation that went awry for one reason or another would have any effect on
the "destination" HDD not being detected when the latter is connected as a
secondary HDD and there's no problem with the "source" HDD in that it boots
& functions without any problems. It seems to me something else is amiss
here.

2. Again, I really do think it would be prudent for you to check out the
problem disk with the HDD diagnostic utility that's freely available from
Western Digital's site. Here are the links for the files to create both the
floppy disk & CD versions of the WD diagnostic utility...
Floppy -
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...&sid=2&lang=en
CD - http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...sid=30&lang=en

3. The HDD in question is a PATA (IDE) drive, not a SATA drive. I'm assuming
you've correctly jumpered your HDDs. Again, it would be wise to connect the
problem disk on your secondary IDE channel just to determine if the problem
lies with the primary slave position on the primary IDE channel. I'm
assuming, of course, that your motherboard is equipped with two IDE
channels.

Anyway, let's see how it goes after you use your USB adapter to determine if
the drive is recognized through that means. BTW, our experience with a
fairly wide variety of those type of devices has been quite negative - to
the point where we generally do not recommend them to users. We've found
them most erratic with a high incidence of failure either initially or at
some future point in their use. On the other hand a number of users have
indicated they're quite satisfied with them.
Anna

Hi Anna:

I used my USB to SATA/IDE cable Adapter kit and connected it to my Toshiba
laptop, as I have done in the past with no problems using this kit.

I felt somewhat elated when I booted the laptop in that the power light
went on with the kit and I could here the HHD running. At least I knew that
I did not have a power failure of some sort with the HDD.

Next I got the "Add Hardware" pop up indicating USB Mass Storage Device
which made me even feel better.

However, when I opened My Computer to see where it was located "Nothing"
was there. No USB Device, No Device, again nothing.

I opened Device Manager and it appears under Disk Drives as "USB Device".
It even appears in Local Disk (C Properties as USB Device Type Disk Drive.
However, the Location showed "0" if that means anything to you.

In the past as I recall when I opened My Computer using the kit with a
HDD it has always appeared in My Computer and I could recover files etc if
need be, but not this time. Again....nothing, which really blows my mind.

You mentioned in your reply in paragraph 2 about using the WD Diagnostic
Utility, but if I cannot find the HDD how could I ever use it? It would in
my mind, as I mentioned previously, be like my trying to use Spinrite which
is a bootable CD and it could not find the HHD. Spinrite not only can find a
HHD problem, but most of the time repair or resolve it.

Again I am at a total loss, but my knowledge of HHD's is certainly limited.
I have just never encountered or even heard of a problem like this and
hopefully some of you experts can advise me further. Could not removing the
HHD after cloning caused some sort of internal problem with the HHD?

Again I was so glad to see you reply to my posting, as in my mind I
thought, how would I ever find you again!

Thanks for all your past and present support! Got any more "Rabbits" in your
hat? Hope so....

Tom




"Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...

> "ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer with a WD2500BB 250GB hard
>> drive
>> and used Acronis True Image Home Ver 11.0 to clone internally another
>> exact
>> WD2500BB 250 GB hard drive. Windows MCE(2005) SP3 OS. I have used it
>> before
>> with no problems.
>>
>> In the cloning process I got a sector error or some sort and when the
>> process was through it shut down. At this point I know to disconnect the
>> cloned drive, as failure to do so will mean the clone will not work as a
>> boot disk. I suppose I had my mind on the sector error that caused me not
>> to
>> disconnect the cloned drive.
>>
>> Anyway now I have been unable to get my computer to recognize this HD. I
>> had it connected as cable select Primary Slave and it shows this in the
>> BIOS, but no drive letter is recognized. So I next used Disk Management
>> to
>> try and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths from the menu, but it does
>> not
>> appear there either where I can make this selection.
>>
>> I next thought that maybe by reformatting it with my Sony Recovery DVD
>> that I would put this HD back to its original state, but this also fails.
>> I
>> tried the option of not using the restore partition and doing a complete
>> restore but it also fails.
>>
>> So I have a HD that is recognized in the BIOS as Primary Slave, but have
>> not been able to get Windows OS to recognize it.
>>
>> If anyone knows how I can resolve this issue I will be most
>> appreciative.
>> If I ever get it back you can rest assured I will immediately disconnect
>> it
>> upon clone shutdown in the future.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> ColTom2


> "Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Col...
> 1. First of all, we'll assume that there's no problem with your "source"
> HDD, i.e., it boots without incident and functions without any problems.
> That's right, yes?
>
> 2. You mention that during the disk-cloning process you "got a sector
> error
> or some sort...". But I take it that the disk-cloning process wasn't
> aborted
> as a result of that message, i.e., the process presumably completed. Is
> that
> correct?
>
> 3. You infer that the problem you're now experiencing, i.e., the
> non-recognition of your secondary HDD, was possibly due to booting to your
> system with the cloned HDD connected immediately following the
> disk-cloning
> operation. It's hard to imagine that had any effect on your current
> non-recognition problem involving that secondary-connected HDD. While you
> are correct that with most disk-cloning programs a boot problem involving
> the newly-cloned HDD *may* occur when the user boots to his/her source HDD
> with the newly-cloned HDD connected immediately following the disk-cloning
> operation, that situation (should it occur) should have no effect on the
> system detecting that drive when it's connected as a secondary HDD in the
> system.
>
> 4. While I understand that you've indicated prior use of the problem drive
> with no problems experienced, it really would be wise to check out the
> disk
> with the WD HDD diagnostic utility.
>
> 5. Assuming the disk is non-defective, (and I'm assuming it's a PATA HDD)
> have you tried connecting the drive to your secondary IDE channel, either
> as
> Master or Slave on that channel? And, of course, you're certain the jumper
> is correctly set.
>
> 6. Any chance of installing the drive in another PC? Or do you have a USB
> external enclosure which you could use with the disk?
> Anna


"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eZ$%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Anna:
>
> I am so delighted to see you answering my question, as you were the one
> back in Feb 2008 that answered my original questions when I purchased this
> HDD. Your reply then was the most informative and provided me with the
> much
> needed info. In fact, it was you who alerted me about it being imperative
> to
> shutdown immediately after completion of clone and remove backup HDD. I
> still have a lot to learn about HDD's as you can probably tell.
>
> 1. My current system boots fine and I ran an analysis last night with
> Spinrite and no problems were detected. I have it connected to the end of
> IDE cable with jumper in the no 4 and 6 position..
>
> 2. Yes the disk cloning process completed with no problems even though I
> did get some kind of sector problem notice. Using Acronis it shutdown the
> computer upon completion of clone. The cloned drive was detected as Drive
> "F" which was my next available letter. However, I forgot to remove the
> HDD
> as you advised me to do so.
>
> 3. I just assume that the problem that I currently have was caused by not
> removing the HDD upon completion of clone, as I have cloned it previously
> with no problems using both WD and Acronis software.
>
> 4. I tried to use Spinrite to check this HDD, but could not get Spinrite
> to
> work even though it's a bootable CD, as you probably know. As I recall
> Spinrite did identify the HDD in BIOS, but the HDD did not show up
> otherwise
> where I could select it to run a repair or analysis. As I mentioned in my
> original post the HDD does not show up in Disk Management.
>
> 5. I have tried connecting it using cable select method as Primary Slave
> with the jumpers in position 1 and 2 on both HD's. Also tried connecting
> it
> as Primary Master with jumper in 4 and 6 position. I don't know what a
> PATA
> HDD is, but as I recall it's a SATA HDD.
>
> 6. My other two computers are laptops so I do not have a source to connect
> this HDD. However, I do have an adapter kit for connecting USB 2.0 to
> SATA/IDE cable and plan to do so later today. I will reply back to you the
> results, as I now wonder if I am getting power to this HDD.
>
> I am hoping that I can find a solution and I am most delighted to have
> you
> back assisting me. I know if anyone can resolve this you can.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom


Tom:
1. For the reasons I previously stated, I really don't think a disk-cloning
operation that went awry for one reason or another would have any effect on
the "destination" HDD not being detected when the latter is connected as a
secondary HDD and there's no problem with the "source" HDD in that it boots
& functions without any problems. It seems to me something else is amiss
here.

2. Again, I really do think it would be prudent for you to check out the
problem disk with the HDD diagnostic utility that's freely available from
Western Digital's site. Here are the links for the files to create both the
floppy disk & CD versions of the WD diagnostic utility...
Floppy -
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...&sid=2&lang=en
CD - http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...sid=30&lang=en

3. The HDD in question is a PATA (IDE) drive, not a SATA drive. I'm assuming
you've correctly jumpered your HDDs. Again, it would be wise to connect the
problem disk on your secondary IDE channel just to determine if the problem
lies with the primary slave position on the primary IDE channel. I'm
assuming, of course, that your motherboard is equipped with two IDE
channels.

Anyway, let's see how it goes after you use your USB adapter to determine if
the drive is recognized through that means. BTW, our experience with a
fairly wide variety of those type of devices has been quite negative - to
the point where we generally do not recommend them to users. We've found
them most erratic with a high incidence of failure either initially or at
some future point in their use. On the other hand a number of users have
indicated they're quite satisfied with them.
Anna

> Anna wrote...
> Tom:
> 1. For the reasons I previously stated, I really don't think a
> disk-cloning
> operation that went awry for one reason or another would have any effect
> on
> the "destination" HDD not being detected when the latter is connected as a
> secondary HDD and there's no problem with the "source" HDD in that it
> boots
> & functions without any problems. It seems to me something else is amiss
> here.
>
> 2. Again, I really do think it would be prudent for you to check out the
> problem disk with the HDD diagnostic utility that's freely available from
> Western Digital's site. Here are the links for the files to create both
> the
> floppy disk & CD versions of the WD diagnostic utility...
> Floppy -
> http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...&sid=2&lang=en
> CD -
> http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...sid=30&lang=en
>
> 3. The HDD in question is a PATA (IDE) drive, not a SATA drive. I'm
> assuming
> you've correctly jumpered your HDDs. Again, it would be wise to connect
> the
> problem disk on your secondary IDE channel just to determine if the
> problem
> lies with the primary slave position on the primary IDE channel. I'm
> assuming, of course, that your motherboard is equipped with two IDE
> channels.
>
> Anyway, let's see how it goes after you use your USB adapter to determine
> if
> the drive is recognized through that means. BTW, our experience with a
> fairly wide variety of those type of devices has been quite negative - to
> the point where we generally do not recommend them to users. We've found
> them most erratic with a high incidence of failure either initially or at
> some future point in their use. On the other hand a number of users have
> indicated they're quite satisfied with them.
> Anna


"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Anna:
>
> I used my USB to SATA/IDE cable Adapter kit and connected it to my
> Toshiba
> laptop, as I have done in the past with no problems using this kit.
>
> I felt somewhat elated when I booted the laptop in that the power light
> went on with the kit and I could here the HHD running. At least I knew
> that
> I did not have a power failure of some sort with the HDD.
>
> Next I got the "Add Hardware" pop up indicating USB Mass Storage Device
> which made me even feel better.
>
> However, when I opened My Computer to see where it was located "Nothing"
> was there. No USB Device, No Device, again nothing.
>
> I opened Device Manager and it appears under Disk Drives as "USB
> Device".
> It even appears in Local Disk (C Properties as USB Device Type Disk
> Drive.
> However, the Location showed "0" if that means anything to you.
>
> In the past as I recall when I opened My Computer using the kit with a
> HDD it has always appeared in My Computer and I could recover files etc if
> need be, but not this time. Again....nothing, which really blows my mind.
>
> You mentioned in your reply in paragraph 2 about using the WD Diagnostic
> Utility, but if I cannot find the HDD how could I ever use it? It would in
> my mind, as I mentioned previously, be like my trying to use Spinrite
> which
> is a bootable CD and it could not find the HHD. Spinrite not only can find
> a
> HHD problem, but most of the time repair or resolve it.
>
> Again I am at a total loss, but my knowledge of HHD's is certainly
> limited.
> I have just never encountered or even heard of a problem like this and
> hopefully some of you experts can advise me further. Could not removing
> the
> HHD after cloning caused some sort of internal problem with the HHD?
>
> Again I was so glad to see you reply to my posting, as in my mind I
> thought, how would I ever find you again!
>
> Thanks for all your past and present support! Got any more "Rabbits" in
> your
> hat? Hope so....
>
> Tom


Tom:
The WD links I provided above will allow you to download and create a
*bootable* floppy disk and/or a *bootable* CD on which will be installed the
WD HDD diagnostic utility program. So you'll be using one or the other (I
believe your Sony desktop PC is equipped with a floppy disk drive as well as
an optical drive) to boot to the floppy or CD while your "problem" HDD is
connected in the system. It would be a good idea to temporarily disconnect
your primary HDD (and any other storage device) at this time.

Please understand that this WD diagnostic utility will only report if the
disk is defective. It is *not* designed as a data recovery program. Do the
Quick test and if that checks out OK do the Extended test.

Did you ever try connecting the disk on your secondary IDE channel as I
suggested?
Anna