new SATA hd problem

[jgillis81]

Hi,
I just bought a new Seagate Seagate Barracuda 300GB Hard Drive
model #ST3300622AS-RK to install on my Dell Dimension 9200 to repalce a
ST3300622AS-RK. I thought this would be simple because I am replacing
one seagate drive with one that is virtually identical (except for the
size and that the old one is 7200.9 while this is a 7200.10)

When I booted up the machine for the first time (with the discwizard in
my dvd-rw drive) the "run discwizard" option begins but then stops
saying it cannot proceed with discwizard installation because my dvd-rw
drive does not have a letter. It tells me to go into DOS and write the
command "letter2 C X" where C is my RAM and X is the letter I want to
assign to my dvd-rw. I do this, restart, and the problem happens
again.

I am worried that this error message isn't a hard drive problem and
might be something to do with my dvd-rw or sata connection, both of
which are brand new.

I've tried just about everything. Should I try a different hard drive
or does this look like something I'll need to address on my computer?
Please help!

Thanks,
John

 

[Tom Scales]

Hi,
I just bought a new Seagate Seagate Barracuda 300GB Hard Drive
model #ST3300622AS-RK to install on my Dell Dimension 9200 to repalce a
ST3300622AS-RK. I thought this would be simple because I am replacing
one seagate drive with one that is virtually identical (except for the
size and that the old one is 7200.9 while this is a 7200.10)

When I booted up the machine for the first time (with the discwizard in
my dvd-rw drive) the "run discwizard" option begins but then stops
saying it cannot proceed with discwizard installation because my dvd-rw
drive does not have a letter. It tells me to go into DOS and write the
command "letter2 C X" where C is my RAM and X is the letter I want to
assign to my dvd-rw. I do this, restart, and the problem happens
again.

I am worried that this error message isn't a hard drive problem and
might be something to do with my dvd-rw or sata connection, both of
which are brand new.

I've tried just about everything. Should I try a different hard drive
or does this look like something I'll need to address on my computer?
Please help!

Thanks,
John

Make your life easier. Install the software and run it under windows.
Don't boot the CD. It will walk you through the steps, reboot, copy
everything over and then tell you what to do.

 

[jgillis81]

Thanks for that suggestion, but I am not planning on doing that.

I'd like to swap out my old HD, put in this new HD and install a new
OS. My question is why the seagate discwizard CD cannot proceed
because it's saying my CD drive needs a letter asigned to it.

Thanks

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Thanks for that suggestion, but I am not planning on doing that.

As Tom pointed out, don't use diskwizard.

Either reinstall the new drive from scratch (including all programs -
this is a good idea if the system has been installed for some time - it
clears out all the clutter) and manually copy your data across to the
new drive.

Failing that, get a copy of Ghost or Acronis True Image or Casper (if
using XP) and simply clone the old drive's data to the new drive.

Why make things difficult for yourself? There *are* other, better
methods.

That aside, I am intrigued to know the reason for "upgrading" from
7200.9 to 7200.10. Will you tell us? Thanks.



Odie

 

[John Gillis]

Thanks for the info. I called Dell tech support and went through this
problem with Dell Tech support last night. They said the hd I got was
defective because when it tries to load windows xp it gives the "blue
screen of death" with an error code number that he says means the hd is
defective. I guess I'll have to exchange this hd for a different one
and try again.

I just wanted a new hd. I wasn't looking to go from a .9 to a .10. I
don't really know what the difference is. I got this HD because it was
on sale for $40 (regularary $160!) and I know it's compatible with my
machine to do a clean install of windows xp. Rather than reformat my
HD and install over that I want to have a backup.

John

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Thanks for the info. I called Dell tech support and went through this
problem with Dell Tech support last night. They said the hd I got was
defective because when it tries to load windows xp it gives the "blue
screen of death" with an error code number that he says means the hd is
defective. I guess I'll have to exchange this hd for a different one
and try again.

I just wanted a new hd. I wasn't looking to go from a .9 to a .10. I
don't really know what the difference is. I got this HD because it was
on sale for $40 (regularary $160!) and I know it's compatible with my
machine to do a clean install of windows xp. Rather than reformat my
HD and install over that I want to have a backup.

John

Was it manufactured in China perchance?


Odie

 

[Arno Wagner]

Was it manufactured in China perchance?

That would explain the price...

Arno

 

[John Gillis]

I'm posting this for people experiencing the same troubles I had....

As it turns out, the HD I got was not defective. I know this because
I exchanged my Seagate for a Maxtor and got the same issues.

The problem was that when I booted up Windows XP from the CD-ROM for
the first time I had to press F6 and load the SATA drivers from an
internal floppy disk. However, I had configured my Dell Dimension
9200 without a floppy drive (It's 2007, who uses those things
anymore?!).

Luckily, I was able to take out the floppy drive and it's cable from
my old Dell computer I had and although it didn't fit in the case
properly I was able to load the drivers which I downloaded from the
Drivers section from Dell's site. (NOTE: If you're doing this
remember that when you boot up for the first time with the floppy
drive hooked up that you need to enter your F2 Set-Up screen, go to
"Drives" and change your "Diskette" from "off" to "internal").

At the F6 setup screen I loaded my drivers via floppy (it gave me with
4 drivers, I just used the first one.) Everything loaded fine and the
installation went on without problems.

I was lucky that I had a computer I could take spare parts from, but
if you don't all internal desktop floppy drivers are identical it
seems (it's just a matter of how they sit in the casing). If you
don't have a spare, floppy drives can be between $9 (generic brands)
and $30 (the official Dell brand).

I hope this information is helpful. Good luck!