Odd boot problem; requires slave device

[djarvinen]

I have an odd boot problem.

I can only connect two IDE devices to my PC, so I often physically
swap my CD/ROM with my 2nd hard drive, depending upon which one I
need.

If I have the 2nd hard drive or the CD/ROM attatched, no problem.

But if leave the 2nd IDE slot 'empty', I get an error on boot,
something like 'NTOS kernel corrupted' (sorry, don't remember exactly;
I will get exact message if necessary), and the PC will not boot to
Windows.

But if I plug in a 2nd device (even if it is the CD/ROM drive WITHOUT
a CD in it), the system boots fine.

How weird is that?

PS
This happened when I had Win2K installed as well as with my new WinXP
Pro system.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have an odd boot problem.

I can only connect two IDE devices to my PC, so I often physically
swap my CD/ROM with my 2nd hard drive, depending upon which one I
need.

If I have the 2nd hard drive or the CD/ROM attatched, no problem.

But if leave the 2nd IDE slot 'empty', I get an error on boot,
something like 'NTOS kernel corrupted' (sorry, don't remember exactly;
I will get exact message if necessary), and the PC will not boot to
Windows.

But if I plug in a 2nd device (even if it is the CD/ROM drive WITHOUT
a CD in it), the system boots fine.

How weird is that?

PS
This happened when I had Win2K installed as well as with my new WinXP
Pro system.

This is probably a hardware, not a Windows question, hence a hardware
newsgroup may be a better place to post it. Anyway, many hard disks have two
jumper settings: One is labelled "Drive is single master", the other "Master
with slave present". Your disk might be incorrectly jumpered.

 

[djarvinen]

This is probably a hardware, not a Windows question, hence a hardware
newsgroup may be a better place to post it. Anyway, many hard disks have two
jumper settings: One is labelled "Drive is single master", the other "Master
with slave present". Your disk might be incorrectly jumpered.

I think you have it. I seem to remember about 12 different combo
settings on that hard drive, some which seemed quite bizarre.
Thanks.