Hard disk install problem

[Bill Ridgeway]

I have a problem installing a new (300Gb) hard disk to a Dell (Dimension
2400). It's on the second IDE chain with an 80 way cable. There isn't
another IDE device on the chain so there cannot be a conflict with another
IDE device. On going into CMOS I select Auto (detect) and it comes back
with "Unknown Device". I can't see any reason for this. Can you?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

 

[philo]

I have a problem installing a new (300Gb) hard disk to a Dell (Dimension
2400). It's on the second IDE chain with an 80 way cable. There isn't
another IDE device on the chain so there cannot be a conflict with another
IDE device. On going into CMOS I select Auto (detect) and it comes back
with "Unknown Device". I can't see any reason for this. Can you?

Looks like the drive is larger than what the bios can accept.

One solution would be to look for a bios update.
A secind solution would be to add a PCI controller which could "see" the
drive.

A third solution would be to simply set that IDE channel in the bios to NONE


Once you bootup to windows...even though the bios has not detected the
disk...
your operating system will ( a bios call is not needed for any but your boot
drive)

Disk management should be able to handle the whole drive (assuming you have
SP2 )

 

[Bill Blanton]

I have a problem installing a new (300Gb) hard disk to a Dell (Dimension 2400). It's on the second IDE chain with an 80 way cable.
There isn't another IDE device on the chain so there cannot be a conflict with another IDE device. On going into CMOS I select
Auto (detect) and it comes back with "Unknown Device". I can't see any reason for this. Can you?

Make sure that the drive is jumpered properly. Some drives have
a "Master w/ slave" and another for "Single master". Failing that
see if a CS configuration will work.

Also, check the cable connection and/or try another cable.

If it still fails, and you have the resources, try putting the drive
in another system.

 

[Paul]

Make sure that the drive is jumpered properly. Some drives have
a "Master w/ slave" and another for "Single master". Failing that
see if a CS configuration will work.

Also, check the cable connection and/or try another cable.

If it still fails, and you have the resources, try putting the drive
in another system.

And after checking drive jumpering, and it still doesn't work,
you can always use a PCI card like this. You'd need to check
that there was a spare PCI slot left in the computer, before
buying the card. This card can use a large disk.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16816102007

There are some notes here on using large IDE disks. Bottom of
page 10 covers WinXP and using a PCI IDE card.

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/tp/137gb.pdf

But I bet the problem is just the jumpering.

Paul

 

[Anna]

I have a problem installing a new (300Gb) hard disk to a Dell (Dimension
2400). It's on the second IDE chain with an 80 way cable. There isn't
another IDE device on the chain so there cannot be a conflict with another
IDE device. On going into CMOS I select Auto (detect) and it comes back
with "Unknown Device". I can't see any reason for this. Can you?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

Bill:
I take it from your sig that you're a dealer or run a repair facility so I
would assume you have other PCs available to you. If so, have you installed
the HDD in a different machine? Same problem? If so it would indicate a
defective disk no?

Have you checked out the disk with a diagnostic? I realize if it's not
detected by the BIOS then the diagnostic will probably not see it as well.
But give it a try anyway.

What about connecting the HDD on the Primary IDE channel as a Slave? Same
problem? Problem still arises whether the disk is connected as Master or
Slave on the Secondary IDE channel?

You've changed the signal (data) cable, yes?
Anna