Repairing C: drive

[Computerguy]

I have been having intermittent freezing problems with my Win2k PC and
thought that my C; drive had died. I bought a new one, formatted it and did
a new Win2k install onto it. The new drive works fine.

Just to be curious, I connected in the old drive as a secondary drive and
can see all my files! So I then reconnected the old drive as the C: drive
but the PC won't boot. I tried to do a Repair from the Win2k CD but I get an
error that it cannot find the drive.

So, how come I can see the drive when it is connected as a secondary drive
but cannot boot from it as primary. Is there a simple solution to this
problem? I don't mind reinstalling Win2k because I really need the data
files but if there were an easier solution I would prefer that.

TIA,
-GB

 

[Sid Knee]

Just to be curious, I connected in the old drive as a secondary drive and
can see all my files! So I then reconnected the old drive as the C: drive
but the PC won't boot. I tried to do a Repair from the Win2k CD but I get an
error that it cannot find the drive.

You did switch the drive select jumpers correctly? Don't forget some
drives have a different master setting depending whether or not its used
in conjunction with a slave.

Failing that, you might want to check the data cable.

So, how come I can see the drive when it is connected as a secondary drive
but cannot boot from it as primary. Is there a simple solution to this
problem? I don't mind reinstalling Win2k because I really need the data
files but if there were an easier solution I would prefer that.

If its just the data files you need, can't you just copy them across
when the old drive is connected as secondary (when you can see it)?

 

[Computerguy]

Hi Sid,

Double checked the drive jumpers and they were OK.

Yes, I can just copy the data files (hopefully I won't miss something in the
process). I was trying to avoid having to install all my applications (plus
their updates etc.)....

Also, if I could retrieve the old drive that would be great, especially
since I can see it when it is secondary.

Strange...

 

[Dave Patrick]

:
|I have been having intermittent freezing problems with my Win2k PC and
| thought that my C; drive had died. I bought a new one, formatted it and
did
| a new Win2k install onto it. The new drive works fine.
*** Was the old drive removed at this point?


| Just to be curious, I connected in the old drive as a secondary drive and
| can see all my files! So I then reconnected the old drive as the C: drive
| but the PC won't boot. I tried to do a Repair from the Win2k CD but I get
an
| error that it cannot find the drive.
*** Was the new drive still connected at this point?


| So, how come I can see the drive when it is connected as a secondary drive
| but cannot boot from it as primary.
*** Something changed as far as hardware configuration changed. Jumpers,
cabling, cmos settings, etc.



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Sid Knee]

Hi Sid,

Double checked the drive jumpers and they were OK.

Yes, I can just copy the data files (hopefully I won't miss something in the
process). I was trying to avoid having to install all my applications (plus
their updates etc.)....

Also, if I could retrieve the old drive that would be great, especially
since I can see it when it is secondary.

That really sounds like a hardware issue.

 

[Computerguy]

Problem seems to be with the HD. It works initially but then fails after
some time - perhaps due to overheating. When it does work I have been able
to retrieve and copy my data files to my new drive.

I'll try reformatting to see whether that helps.

-GB

 

[Sid Knee]

Problem seems to be with the HD. It works initially but then fails after
some time - perhaps due to overheating. When it does work I have been able
to retrieve and copy my data files to my new drive.

I'll try reformatting to see whether that helps.

If you're going to reformat, you could get the HD manufacturer's
diagnostic/test utility and see if that will let you do a low-level
format. And while you are at it, you could run the full diagnostic. That
usually takes quite a while .... long enough for any thermal problems to
show up.