Wont boot with 2 HDs enabled...

Hello,

Well, I have quite a weird problem. I am running Windows MCE 2005. I have 2 internal SATA Seagate barracuda hard drives (not in RAID) and 1 80 gig external USB drive. Well, if the extra hard drives are either disabled or unplugged Windows loads fine, if not then I can only load Windows in Safe-Mode and can go disable them then it will load. It doesnt matter which HD is on/enabled it wont load. I have tried formatting and reinstalling Windows and the error still occurs. Also, what I mean by Windows not loading is it just sits at the loading screen forever. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated, I dont know what to try next.

ETA - DFI Lanparty NF4 UT Ultra-D is the motherboard and yes all HD priorities are assigned correctly in the BIOS.

 

Hello afnola and welcome

Just to make sure - it doesn't make any difference whether the 2nd internal HD or the external.

With the other two HD's enabled or disabled?

I think this is a hardware problem and I'm moving this thread to that section.

Regards - Charles

 

Correct. It does it either if the second hard drive OR the external is on/enabled.

I tried formatting with the second hard drive unformatted and the external turned off. No problems until either the external is turned on or until the second hard drive gets formatted.

ETA - Also, I put it into the Windows forum because I really believe it to be a Windows problem considering it will still boot up in 'Safe Mode' and because if I have the HD disabled and boot up windows regularly then enable it after windows is booted it will function correctly.

 

Couple of quick thoughts. Did you initailize the problem drives when you brought them into the current machine environment? Were they formatted on this machine or another machine and with XP or with W2K? Did you try importing foriegn disc? Have you checked your BIOS for detection, correct geometry and drive recognition before trying to boot and is your Boot order correct in the BIOS?

 

I might see it as a problem with the IDE controller drivers. Check for updated chipdet drivers (nVidia) at the DFI website.

Can you use My Computer or Windows Explorer to work on the files that are on the internal drive when you are running in Safe Mode? If so, it will probably be a driver problem.

Check the forums at the nVidia website. I saw a BIG discussion about the way nVidia motherboards run drives there.

Matt

 

had same problem - its the IDE controllers

 

Hi NeoAngin,

Could you give us more details and how did you solve it?

Regards - Charles