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Need help after installing new hard drive



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 19th 05, 10:45 PM
HJobe71h
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 5
Arrow Need help after installing new hard drive

I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone out there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive (either one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you use the floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg. cdrom and allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy in, load it with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of trying to start the installation process such as recognizing the hardware. Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the computer can't recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32 partition, so it suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It then takes me to the command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the A: drive command. It says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter. So I type in C: and it goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it says the same thing, "no fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I am stuck in a rock and a hard place. And since it can't go through the motions of loading everything, it won't open the cd drives which means I am limited to the floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY suggestions on how to stop this problem and move onward in the installation process? I am to my wits ends with ideas. I have tried everything I know to pull it out of this but nothing seems to work, I always end up with the same result. Hope you can help! Either respond or email to

Thank you!!!
  #2  
Old February 20th 05, 06:42 AM
John John
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Is the drive correctly recognized in the BIOS?

John

HJobe71h wrote:
I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone out
there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive (either
one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you use the
floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg. cdrom and
allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy in, load it
with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of trying to
start the installation process such as recognizing the hardware.
Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the computer can't
recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32 partition, so it
suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It then takes me to the
command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the A: drive command. It
says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter. So I type in C: and it
goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it says the same thing, "no
fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I am stuck in a rock and a
hard place. And since it can't go through the motions of loading
everything, it won't open the cd drives which means I am limited to the
floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY suggestions on how to stop this
problem and move onward in the installation process? I am to my wits
ends with ideas. I have tried everything I know to pull it out of this
but nothing seems to work, I always end up with the same result. Hope
you can help! Either respond or email to

Thank you!!!


  #3  
Old February 20th 05, 10:42 AM
Mikhail Zhilin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Have you installed the jumper "Master/Slave" of this HDD in the correct
position, that does not conflict with the position of CD-ROM drive at
the same ribbon cable?

If this HDD is the only HDD in the system -- it has to be connected to
the end of the cable of the first IDE channel, and set as Master, while
CD-ROM on the same cable has to be set as Slave.

If it is the only HDD on the cable -- it has to be set as Master in most
cases,
or, if it is Western Digital drive, as Single (if there is no such
position -- this jumper has to be removed at all).
--
Mikhail Zhilin
http://www.aha.ru/~mwz
Sorry, no technical support by e-mail.
Please reply to the newsgroups only.
======
On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 21:45:39 +0000, HJobe71h
wrote:


I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone out
there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive (either
one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you use the
floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg. cdrom and
allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy in, load it
with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of trying to
start the installation process such as recognizing the hardware.
Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the computer can't
recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32 partition, so it
suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It then takes me to the
command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the A: drive command. It
says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter. So I type in C: and it
goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it says the same thing, "no
fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I am stuck in a rock and a
hard place. And since it can't go through the motions of loading
everything, it won't open the cd drives which means I am limited to the
floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY suggestions on how to stop this
problem and move onward in the installation process? I am to my wits
ends with ideas. I have tried everything I know to pull it out of this
but nothing seems to work, I always end up with the same result. Hope
you can help! Either respond or email to

Thank you!!!


  #4  
Old February 20th 05, 05:37 PM
philo
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"John John" wrote in message
...
Is the drive correctly recognized in the BIOS?



and if not...
you may need to install a pci controller card

or possibly use drive overlay software usually provided with a new HD


  #5  
Old February 20th 05, 06:33 PM
HJobe71h
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 5
Default

OK, here is the latest happenings. After reading the question as to whether the BIOS detected the drive, I checked it out and it did not recognize anything. I made sure they were all set to AUTO DETECT and restarted, still did not detect anything.

Then I started thinking about the master/slave jumper. I took out the jumper and reversed a cable, both the CD ROM and the CDRW were recognized. So one problem solved. NOW, I still can't fdisk, it is still saying there are no fixed disks present. That was after I booted the computer with the boot disk only. Once I put in the Windows Installation cd, it began the process and then went to a blue screen stating that it basically can't locate the hard drive. Is it possible that my jumper settings are STILL wrong? This just baffles me because it recognized the cd rom drivers but still no luck with the hard drive. I don't understand it either because at one point it asked if I wanted to boot off of the CD ROM or off of the Hard Disk. Confusing.. Any help w/this would be very appreciated!



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikhail Zhilin
Have you installed the jumper "Master/Slave" of this HDD in the correct
position, that does not conflict with the position of CD-ROM drive at
the same ribbon cable?

If this HDD is the only HDD in the system -- it has to be connected to
the end of the cable of the first IDE channel, and set as Master, while
CD-ROM on the same cable has to be set as Slave.

If it is the only HDD on the cable -- it has to be set as Master in most
cases,
or, if it is Western Digital drive, as Single (if there is no such
position -- this jumper has to be removed at all).
--
Mikhail Zhilin
http://www.aha.ru/~mwz
Sorry, no technical support by e-mail.
Please reply to the newsgroups only.
======
On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 21:45:39 +0000, HJobe71h
wrote:


I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone out
there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive (either
one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you use the
floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg. cdrom and
allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy in, load it
with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of trying to
start the installation process such as recognizing the hardware.
Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the computer can't
recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32 partition, so it
suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It then takes me to the
command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the A: drive command. It
says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter. So I type in C: and it
goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it says the same thing, "no
fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I am stuck in a rock and a
hard place. And since it can't go through the motions of loading
everything, it won't open the cd drives which means I am limited to the
floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY suggestions on how to stop this
problem and move onward in the installation process? I am to my wits
ends with ideas. I have tried everything I know to pull it out of this
but nothing seems to work, I always end up with the same result. Hope
you can help! Either respond or email to


Thank you!!!
  #6  
Old February 20th 05, 07:55 PM
Jimmy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

HJobe71h wrote:
I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone
out there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive
(either one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you
use the floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg.
cdrom and allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy
in, load it with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of
trying to start the installation process such as recognizing the
hardware. Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the
computer can't recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32
partition, so it suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It
then takes me to the command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the
A: drive command. It says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter.
So I type in C: and it goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it
says the same thing, "no fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I
am stuck in a rock and a hard place. And since it can't go through
the motions of loading everything, it won't open the cd drives which
means I am limited to the floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY
suggestions on how to stop this problem and move onward in the
installation process? I am to my wits ends with ideas. I have tried
everything I know to pull it out of this but nothing seems to work, I
always end up with the same result. Hope you can help! Either respond
or email to

Thank you!!!


If you have a disk that came with the drive you should boot with that in
the floppy and setup the HD that way. Providing you have the drive installed
and jumped properly.

J.


  #7  
Old February 20th 05, 10:15 PM
HJobe71h
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 5
Default

There was no disk that came with the drive.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy
HJobe71h wrote:
I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone
out there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive
(either one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you
use the floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg.
cdrom and allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy
in, load it with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of
trying to start the installation process such as recognizing the
hardware. Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the
computer can't recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32
partition, so it suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It
then takes me to the command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the
A: drive command. It says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter.
So I type in C: and it goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it
says the same thing, "no fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I
am stuck in a rock and a hard place. And since it can't go through
the motions of loading everything, it won't open the cd drives which
means I am limited to the floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY
suggestions on how to stop this problem and move onward in the
installation process? I am to my wits ends with ideas. I have tried
everything I know to pull it out of this but nothing seems to work, I
always end up with the same result. Hope you can help! Either respond
or email to

Thank you!!!


If you have a disk that came with the drive you should boot with that in
the floppy and setup the HD that way. Providing you have the drive installed
and jumped properly.

J.
  #8  
Old February 20th 05, 11:07 PM
John John
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

The Hard Drive MUST be seen and PROPERLY recognized in the BIOS before
you can do anything. If the BIOS does not see the drive there is no
sense trying anything else. You will have to do some "trial and error"
work with the jumper settings and location of the drive on the IDE
cable. Try setting the drive jumper to "Master" then try it on the
Primary IDE controller at the end of the cable or in the middle. Or set
the jumper to "Cable Select" and try again on both location on the IDE
cable. The drive location is different on regular and on cable select
cable. Although the cables are almost identical in appearance the type
of cable you have makes a difference. Once the drive is recognized in
the BIOS you will then have to run fdisk and create 1 or more partitions
then format them.

John

HJobe71h wrote:

OK, here is the latest happenings. After reading the question as to
whether the BIOS detected the drive, I checked it out and it did not
recognize anything. I made sure they were all set to AUTO DETECT and
restarted, still did not detect anything.

Then I started thinking about the master/slave jumper. I took out the
jumper and reversed a cable, both the CD ROM and the CDRW were
recognized. So one problem solved. NOW, I still can't fdisk, it is
still saying there are no fixed disks present. That was after I booted
the computer with the boot disk only. Once I put in the Windows
Installation cd, it began the process and then went to a blue screen
stating that it basically can't locate the hard drive. Is it possible
that my jumper settings are STILL wrong? This just baffles me because
it recognized the cd rom drivers but still no luck with the hard drive.
I don't understand it either because at one point it asked if I wanted
to boot off of the CD ROM or off of the Hard Disk. Confusing.. Any help
w/this would be very appreciated!



Mikhail Zhilin Wrote:

Have you installed the jumper "Master/Slave" of this HDD in the correct
position, that does not conflict with the position of CD-ROM drive at
the same ribbon cable?

If this HDD is the only HDD in the system -- it has to be connected to
the end of the cable of the first IDE channel, and set as Master,
while
CD-ROM on the same cable has to be set as Slave.

If it is the only HDD on the cable -- it has to be set as Master in
most
cases,
or, if it is Western Digital drive, as Single (if there is no such
position -- this jumper has to be removed at all).
--
Mikhail Zhilin
http://www.aha.ru/~mwz
Sorry, no technical support by e-mail.
Please reply to the newsgroups only.
======
On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 21:45:39 +0000, HJobe71h
wrote:
-

I just recently put a brand new 40gb hard drive into a relatives
computer. Everything seems to be installed correctly but I am having a
problem installing windows onto that new hard drive. I hope someone
out
there can help me. First of all, I can't open the CDROM drive (either
one, even have an Acer CDWR) and as far as I know, when you use the
floppy boot disk, it will locate the drivers for the reg. cdrom and
allow you to use it. My problem is this.. I put the floppy in, load it
with windows 98 support and it goes through the steps of trying to
start the installation process such as recognizing the hardware.
Eventually, it comes to a screen where it says that the computer can't
recognize (doesn't contain) valid Fat or Fat32 partition, so it
suggests running fdisk from the command prompt. It then takes me to
the
command prompt where I type in FDISK next to the A: drive command. It
says "no fixed disks present" when I hit enter. So I type in C: and it
goes to that drive, I type in FDISK and it says the same thing, "no
fixed disks present." Now as you can see, I am stuck in a rock and a
hard place. And since it can't go through the motions of loading
everything, it won't open the cd drives which means I am limited to
the
floppy drive currently. Anyone have ANY suggestions on how to stop
this
problem and move onward in the installation process? I am to my wits
ends with ideas. I have tried everything I know to pull it out of this
but nothing seems to work, I always end up with the same result. Hope
you can help! Either respond or email to

Thank you!!!-




  #9  
Old February 21st 05, 04:50 AM
HJobe71h
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 5
Default

Yep, that is the problem. The drive STILL isn't recognized in the BIOS. I did in fact find the cd that came with it (I don't know why but I didn't remember pulling it out of the package a month ago when I first got started on installing this new hard drive) and created the correct diskette to start it all up, but it is still saying that there is no hard drive. I don't know why or how but I am starting to believe that the hard drive is bad. It was purchased new from Office Max, it is a Western Digital drive. I am going to check it out on another computer and see if it is recognized there. Thanks for all of your help and wish me luck!!!
  #10  
Old February 21st 05, 12:44 PM
John John
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Stupid question, but... did you plug in the power supply cable on the drive?

John

HJobe71h wrote:

Yep, that is the problem. The drive STILL isn't recognized in the BIOS.
I did in fact find the cd that came with it (I don't know why but I
didn't remember pulling it out of the package a month ago when I first
got started on installing this new hard drive) and created the correct
diskette to start it all up, but it is still saying that there is no
hard drive. I don't know why or how but I am starting to believe that
the hard drive is bad. It was purchased new from Office Max, it is a
Western Digital drive. I am going to check it out on another computer
and see if it is recognized there. Thanks for all of your help and wish
me luck!!!


 




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