Slave HDD is detected as Primary

[Count]

I have an old HDD that I want to format and use it in
other computer, when I install the HDD on my pc as slave,
I also change the jumper to slave, when the computer
start, it shows on the POST that is slave, but It detect
the Os of the slave drive intead the
primary dirve, why is that. The Bios is also set to
start with the first drive, in this case the primary.
Any help, Thanks.

 

[D.Currie]

I have an old HDD that I want to format and use it in
other computer, when I install the HDD on my pc as slave,
I also change the jumper to slave, when the computer
start, it shows on the POST that is slave, but It detect
the Os of the slave drive intead the
primary dirve, why is that. The Bios is also set to
start with the first drive, in this case the primary.
Any help, Thanks.

Primary and secondary are the 2 IDE ports on the motherboard

Master and slave are the designations for 2 drives on the same port.

So saying "slave instead of primary" makes no sense as the mean 2 different
things. It can be both slave and primary or neither.

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

The bios of many computers will detect the drives as Drive 1 and Drive 2 on
the primary IDE channel, and as Drive 1 and Drive 2 on the secondary IDE
channel.

What has occurred, in your case, is that the OS on the 2nd drive is on a
partition that has been created as a "primary" DOS partition. Now, if your
1st hard drive has an operating system on a primary DOS partition (doesn't
matter how it is formatted), and 3 "logical" partitions as D - E - and F,
when you connect the second drive IT will become Drive D: and bump the
original D - E - and F down one letter! This is normal, and can not be
altered!

To do what you desire, you must delete the partition/s on the old hard
drive. Then, create a new "logical" partition. Do this by booting up into
DOS with a boot floppy and use Partition Magic. When you have created the
new logical partition you will be asked to reboot so the computer will
recognize the drive/partition as such.

Now, when you get into Windows XP the new drive will be seen as drive G:

Hope this helps!