Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
If you are going to replace the hard drive, then use ghost software and copy the hard drive
you want to the other hard drive. Then once it is copied, try reinstalling windows. That will
usually copy any files that could be causing the problem. If not, then reformat the hard drive,
then reinstall Windows. If that doesn't cure it, then you will need to do a deltree, and erase
Windows, reformat, then run windows again. This always works for me..
From: Michael O'Quin
Listen for the disk to see if it is spinning. If not, take the drive out of the system and rap it on
the side. Hook it back up and see if it spins. This is for an IDE drive.
From: James D. Patton Jr.
I'd add another HDD as master and the questionable drive as slave.
• Boot off the good drive and try accessing the bad one.
• If the bad drive is accessible then I'd install whatever O/S the user had previously on the bad
drive. Once the O/S is installed, go to the bad drive to recover any data needed. If the bad
drive wasn't able to be seen as master, then I'd try once more to access the drive using SETUP
to add the drive specs according the manufacturer.
• If this still doesn't work, then they are out of luck.
• They can pay a good chunk of change and have the data recovered from a company that
deals with that sort of thing, and buy another HDD and start all over again.
P.S. I'd also put a password on the setup to make sure that any new drives won't be changed
Accidentally since users never make mistakes. It's always the software or hardware to blame.
From: Dave Cason
Use IDEINFO or equiv. to check what the hard drive prams. were actually set to.
P.S. Or if you're bored, swap motherboards. Heck, a few years ago for fun we swapped platters
on a Seagate ST-251 and it worked! (grin) If it's sticktion, grab the drive & crack it! There's
lots of ways you can play!
From: Tony DeVos
First we must determine if this is a setup issue or a hard drive issue.
• Is the floppy drive properly recognized and working? Connect another hard drive to this
system to verify the setup is okay.
• If the setup is working, then we must look at the hard drive itself.
• When powered up, does the drive spin?
• Does it just sit there and "click, click, click?” If it spins, it could be controller failure.
• Can you obtain another controller for this drive and swap it? Try it again.
• If the drive does not spin, it could be a symptom of "stiction.” If it is "stiction,” you will most
likely be able to assist the drive to spin up to allow it to boot and then backup the data. The
way you help the drive to spin up is simple.
• Remove all mounting hardware that is securing the drive to the system.
• With the drive held in your hand horizontally with both power and ribbon cables attached,
turn on the system and rotate the drive with a flick of your wrist.
