can't access slave fat32 on xp ntfs system

[~A_Sammy]

Hi,

This has me stumped. I have a Maxtor 3.5 gig drive with data on it that's
FAT32 installed as a slave. First on the primary channel, and then when I
couldn't access it, I put it on the secondary channel as a slave to a cdrom
where it is now keeping its data all to itself.
The abit mobo sees it during POST as a second drive, and XP sees it in the
storage maintenance window but didn't assign a drive letter.
In maintenace storage it reports it as Disk 1, basic, online, Storage, Fat
32 and says it is healthy (Active),
the XP drive is Disk 0, basic, online, and has system written on it with a
drive letter assigned: C

So, any ideas why it didn't get a drive letter assigned? Or, better yet,
how to assign one?

TIA

Sammy

 

[Deep Phee]

You question is a bit ambiguous but I'll try to answer for you.

Sounds like your mobo has two IDE sockets; a primary and secondary. Devices
such as hard drives, cdroms, zip drives, etc. are all setup using one of two
methods; Primary/Slave or Cable Select.

1. If you're using the Primary/Slave configuration your Primary Master hard
drive has it's jumpers set to master (this drive typically the one you boot
from containing your OS), the second drive with it's jumpers set to slave,
and the ribbon cable connecting both going into the Primary IDE socket or
the on the mobo. The same jumper configuration should exist for multiple
devices connected to the Secondary IDE port on the mobo. If you only have 40
pin IDE cables this is the only method you can use.

2. The Cable Select method uses an 80pin IDE cable with the jumpers on the
devices set to CS (Cable Select). You specify Primary or Slave by the
connector on the IDE cable. Typically the 80pin IDE cables will have a
connector labeled Primary or Master (which connects to your boot drive),
another connector labeled Secondary or Slave (which connects to something
other than your boot drive). Obviously the third connector is inserted into
the mobo. Some cables aren't labeled and you end up swapping ends on the
cable to get it right.

I think you've got a mix of methods 1 and 2 going on. Since you're able to
boot successfully I suggest you look at the jumpers on the drive that
contains your OS; the one you're booting with. If it's set to CS then you're
going with Cable Select (see option 2 above). If it's set as a Master then
you're dealing with a Primary Slave configuration(see option 1 above).

When I work on a computer with this problem I first see if the IDE cable has
80pins; which means it will support the Cable Select method. If it does I
start looking at jumpers. If they're set to Master or Slave I move them to
Cable Select, check the what connector is connected to what device, and give
it a go.

The preferred method is using Cable Select with an 80pin cable. Using a
Master/Slave configuration with an 80pin cable doesn't utilized the
potential of the cable (using only 40 of the 80) pins available. It'll work
but the method is considered "dated".

Good Luck

 

[Norm]

Try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307844&Product=winxp

 

[~A_Sammy]

to Deep Phee: I tried every combination, Slave, master, CS, etc., on both
channels. Same problem. used both 40 and 80 pin cables per your
suggestion.

to Norm: That's the utility I used to obtain the info I reported. The
problem is, until you have a drive letter assigned, you can't invoke the
change routine. Everything is grayed out except for remove the partiton.

Thanks for taking the time to help me.
Sammy

 

[Parish]

to Deep Phee: I tried every combination, Slave, master, CS, etc., on both
channels. Same problem. used both 40 and 80 pin cables per your
suggestion.

to Norm: That's the utility I used to obtain the info I reported. The
problem is, until you have a drive letter assigned, you can't invoke the
change routine. Everything is grayed out except for remove the partiton.

You haven't used TweakUI (from the XP Power Toys) to disabled any drive
letters have you?

In TweakUI, My Computer->Drives there is a list of drive letter A-Z each
with a checkbox next to them. I just tried unchecking D: and my CD drive
disappeared from Explorer.

Even if you haven't used this, you could d/l TweakUI and use it to check
that (originally) unused drive letters haven't been disabled.

http://tinyurl.com/2qe99

HTH

Regards,

Parish

 

[~A_Sammy]

Hi Parish,

No tweak UI. This is a clean install of XP.
I deleted the partition and reformatted it.
Now it has a drive letter, but I lost all the data files.

Sammy

 

[Alex Nichol]

This has me stumped. I have a Maxtor 3.5 gig drive with data on it that's
FAT32 installed as a slave. First on the primary channel, and then when I
couldn't access it, I put it on the secondary channel as a slave to a cdrom
where it is now keeping its data all to itself.

If you put a hard drive on the same cable as a CD you should make the
Hard drive the master and the CD the slave

Another point - has a drive letter been allocated if you look at the
graphic of the drive in Disk Management? If so, it may be just that the
letter is hidden from Explorer - you can fix that with TweakUI - My
Computer; Drives page