Rebuilding old PC - can't find HDD?

[HandsomeSandwich]

Hi guys,

Just trying to put back together an old pc. I forget the technical jargon but it recognises neither type of HDD - SATA? and the older style type with the wide cable and white power plugs.

Does recognise dvd writer and boots to windows install but can't find the HDD.

I suspect its something not attached on the MB, thoughts?

[diamondd]

Hi guys,

Just trying to put back together an old pc. I forget the technical jargon but it recognises neither type of HDD - SATA? and the older style type with the wide cable and white power plugs.

Does recognise dvd writer and boots to windows install but can't find the HDD.

I suspect its something not attached on the MB, thoughts?

um, hard drives should only need the cable to the mother board and a power connection really.

plug both in and look in the BIOS, if its not listed I'm not sure what might be the problem. The "old SATA" if you like is IDE btw.

[v4moose]

IDE?

Is the HDD set to master with the jumper...thing?. Take out the CD-ROM and use that cable to connect the HD... does that work?

[HandsomeSandwich]

um, hard drives should only need the cable to the mother board and a power connection really.

plug both in and look in the BIOS, if its not listed I'm not sure what might be the problem. The "old SATA" if you like is IDE btw.

I thought so but the thing has been transported about without a side cover and was a bit banged up with plugs everywhere and a loose vid card. Forgot to also say the BIOS finds neither.

IDE?

Is the HDD set to master with the jumper...thing?. Take out the CD-ROM and use that cable to connect the HD... does that work?

Sometimes instead of the screen turning on and having enter bios option and then booting from the DVD it displays nothing and sounds as if the IDE drive clicks over every few seconds for about 3/4 times. I'll try to cable switch and look through bios again.

[steve_rogers42]

Are you booting from the sata drive or the IDE drive?

Whats the mobo and the drives if you know?

I would be trying another ribbon if you have one on hand, if not, double checking your data cables' secure in the hdd and on the mother board, then power, double check your power/molex connectors to see if they are burnt out, and maybe try another.


If its clicking every so often, and not sowing up in bios etc, id say it might have taken a hit

[HandsomeSandwich]

Thanks.

I'd say the IDE is good for a couple of nails and a bin.

The SATA was an after thought - just realised I'm missing the thin cable lol. Think I'll have to duck out and buy one - can't find any.

Next problem - I'll need to install an OS on it, XP doesn't recognise SATA does it?

[diamondd]

Thanks.

I'd say the IDE is good for a couple of nails and a bin.

The SATA was an after thought - just realised I'm missing the thin cable lol. Think I'll have to duck out and buy one - can't find any.

Next problem - I'll need to install an OS on it, XP doesn't recognise SATA does it?

firstly, lol. secondly, I would have thought so?

[Long John]

First of you need to set the jumpers on the drives to either CS (cable select) or the HDD to master and the DVD to Slave. they need to be fitted on the right order on the cable to like THIS

I have had problems with CS option, so most times just use the master/slave. Note that even if there 1 drive on the cable it still needs to be the right to the jumper setting.

[Treloar]

You can find information here about HDD.

A HDD will look like one of these in the image below:



Did you find your HDD

[ashman1991]

Why not try plugging the HDD into a working computer (either directly with IDE/SATA, or with a USB converter) and see if the drive actually works still?