western digital won't work with 5 year old computer

[TH O]

I bought a new Western Digital EIDE drive but I can't get it to work
with my old PC. The WD boot disk freezes before it can successfully boot
as it is trying to communicate with the drive. The BIOS shows the drive.
I've removed the jumper per WD recommendations and I've also set it to
master. Cable select has never worked with this computer. This has
happened with two of the same drives. Any suggestions what to check?

Thanks.

 

[Rod Speed]

I bought a new Western Digital EIDE drive but I can't get it to
work with my old PC. The WD boot disk freezes before it can
successfully boot as it is trying to communicate with the drive.

That normally means that the bios has the Award 32GB bug.

The BIOS shows the drive. I've removed the jumper per WD recommendations
and I've also set it to master. Cable select has never worked with this computer.
This has happened with two of the same drives. Any suggestions what to check?

If its got an award bios, and the drives are bigger than 32GB, thats the problem.

There are a number of fixes for that.

One is to update the bios, an updated bios that fixes the problem
may be available on the motherboard manufacturer's web site.

Another is to limit the drive size to 32GB with a jumper on the drive. That may not
be very desirable tho given that the drive is likely much bigger than that given its new.

There are bios overlays available to get around the problem.

You can also put the drive on a biosed IDE card in that elderly
PC but thats usually the least attractive approach economically.

 

[TH O]

That normally means that the bios has the Award 32GB bug.

Nice catch. It is an Award BIOS.

If its got an award bios, and the drives are bigger than 32GB, thats the
problem.

I did have a 40gig drive working previously. Does that change things or
is it something with this particular brand/model of hard drive?

There are a number of fixes for that.

One is to update the bios, an updated bios that fixes the problem
may be available on the motherboard manufacturer's web site.

Another is to limit the drive size to 32GB with a jumper on the drive. That
may not
be very desirable tho given that the drive is likely much bigger than that
given its new.

There are bios overlays available to get around the problem.

You can also put the drive on a biosed IDE card in that elderly
PC but thats usually the least attractive approach economically.

What is the best way to determine that an IDE card is "biosed"? Do all
motherboards support "biosed" cards at boot and how should I enable them
(any particular keywords to look for?)?

 

[Rod Speed]

Nice catch. It is an Award BIOS.

Its the one that produces a freeze when the drive is over 32GB.

Looks like this isnt your problem tho.

I did have a 40gig drive working previously.

Are you sure it wasnt jumpered to 32GB tho ? Thats often done with
40GB drives, coz you arent losing all that much and many of those
older system dont really need drives that are bigger than 32GB.

Does that change things

Yes, if it wasnt jumpered to 32GB, the bios is later than
the versions that has the problem with drives over 32GB.

or is it something with this particular brand/model of hard drive?

It can be, but its quite uncommon to get that particular symptom,
freezing after the boot has started, with anything else.

What is the best way to determine that an IDE card is "biosed"?

You should be able to see the bios chip on the card and
there is usual and enable disable jumper for the bios too.

Do all motherboards support "biosed" cards at boot

Yes, tho they may list it as SCSI just because of the bios.

and how should I enable them (any particular keywords to look for?)?

In the boot list in the motherboard bios, it may well be listed as SCSI on those older systems.