hdd auto detect

[Guest]

my computer seems to have an intermittent boot up problem which I have tried
to solve using fixmbr, fixdsk, some other windows diagnostic stuff from the
recovery console etc. I also have gone into the BIOS utility which came with
the Gigabyte GA-8S661FXM-775 motherboard and have tried different settings in
the CMOS and BIOS. I have also updated my BIOS from the internet.

When I go into the CMOS directly after the system fails to bootup I notice
that the CMOS identifies the hard disk as WDC WD602BB-20JKC0 and that its
capacity is 57 Gig (which is NOT correct for both details)

System info on windows identifies the hard disk as WDC WD400-00JKC0 and that
its capcity is 40 Gig (which is correct for both details). This is also what
CMOS shows when the computer does bootup.

Why is HDD auto detect in the CMOS failing to detect the correct hard drive
(I only have 1 anyway!)

Is this the reason why the boot up is sometimes failing?

I have no idea where it getting the model number and capcity details for the
'other' hard disk.

To date I've been forcing the computer to bootup by going in to CMOS and
hitting ENTER for the auto -detect HDD option until it identifies the correct
hard drive details i.e. WDC WD400-00JKC0 and that its capcity is 40 Gig

Would welcome any ideas.

Thanks.

 

[GHalleck]

my computer seems to have an intermittent boot up problem which I have tried
to solve using fixmbr, fixdsk, some other windows diagnostic stuff from the
recovery console etc. I also have gone into the BIOS utility which came with
the Gigabyte GA-8S661FXM-775 motherboard and have tried different settings in
the CMOS and BIOS. I have also updated my BIOS from the internet.

When I go into the CMOS directly after the system fails to bootup I notice
that the CMOS identifies the hard disk as WDC WD602BB-20JKC0 and that its
capacity is 57 Gig (which is NOT correct for both details)

System info on windows identifies the hard disk as WDC WD400-00JKC0 and that
its capcity is 40 Gig (which is correct for both details). This is also what
CMOS shows when the computer does bootup.

Why is HDD auto detect in the CMOS failing to detect the correct hard drive
(I only have 1 anyway!)

Is this the reason why the boot up is sometimes failing?

I have no idea where it getting the model number and capcity details for the
'other' hard disk.

To date I've been forcing the computer to bootup by going in to CMOS and
hitting ENTER for the auto -detect HDD option until it identifies the correct
hard drive details i.e. WDC WD400-00JKC0 and that its capcity is 40 Gig

All of the above seems to indicate that the bios table has
been corrupted. Best remedy would be to clear the CMOS and
reflash the bios and re-configuring to the default settings.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Have run into this in three circumstances when there was nothing wrong with
the hard drive.
1. When the PC is very fast, and a quick check of the RAM is done at cold
boot. The HD doesn't have enough time to properly spinup before being
checked by the bios. Reboots are usually successful for proper HD layout
interpretation.
Solution may be simply forcing a lengthy RAM check in the bios setup, or the
power supply may be weak at initial boot time which means replacing the
power supply with a suitable one.
2. When the PC has a new HD and the ide ribbon cable is marginal or
defective. Reboots are flaky, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Solution is
usually a new 80 wire ide ribbon cable.
3. HD is master with a ATAPI device as slave that is creating a
communication problem. Solution: move the ATAPI device to the other ribbon
cable.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info.

What i would dearly love to do is just manually force the cmos to go
directly to the hard drive without trying to auto-detect it.

When i'm in the CMOS there are 3 options i) auto 2) none 3) manual. The book
that came with the motherboard says if i choose Manual the user can enter the
name of the hard drive. Unfortunately when I'm at this point the CMSO doesn't
let me enetr anything? Any ideas about how to force the CMOS to manually go
to the hard drive i want it to? I still have no idea where it is picking up
the details for the 'ghost' hard drive it goes to, can't find and then cannot
bootup.

cheers
asa

 

[Guest]

strange posting an answer to my own question...

I disconnected the ribbon cable from the hard drive to the primary ide and
then connected it back again...low and behold i have no more bootup
problems...go figure!!!

 

[NotMe]

I doubt that is the first time a loose cable caused a problem.
Been there... I once had a friend call me because his BRAND NEW computer
said no disk...
I went over and opened the case, the IDE cable was there, but had not been
plugged into the HDD at the factory. But what do you expect from Tri-Gem
(now EMachines).