Resolved computer wont start w/ IDE drive connected

im trying to reformat my computer, but im using a different hard drive, IDE 75gb hd, didnt have any spare molex cables, so i used my bro's. he has one with 3 differnt molex connectors, and at the end a differnt kind of connector. should i just buy a regular molex cable w/ one connector? or is something wrong here? the computer does start when i dont have the ide drive connected

 

Hi pcyouzer, I am a little bit confused here at what you are actually doing.
As far as as I can work out you are trying to Format your hard drive.
Do you want to format the drive your OS is on or just some other drive.
Please give us some more information and details about your system and your intension's.

 

my copmtuer crashed, so im gonna reformat it, reinstall windows, wipe the drive clean, download all the drivers for my video/graphics card, etc, like i just bought the pc. instead of reformatting with the hard drive that i used on that computer (sata drive), im gonna do it w/ a different hard drive, that hasnt ever been connected to the computer before, the ide drive.

for some reason, when i have the ide drive connected, the computer will not start up. i dunno why. i dont have any spare molex cables, so i had to use my brothers. his cable, has 3 molex connectors, and at the end of the cable there's a smaller connector for something i dunno wat, prolly dont need it.

im thinking the computer wont start w/ the ide drive because of my bro's molex cable, so i wanna buy a new one, but would a new molex cable work? why is his not working? can i reformat w/ the ide drive? wat is the problem here?

i have jumpered the ide drive as slave btw

 

Hey pcyouzer,
Does this mean that you want both disks connected together and you are going to use the IDE one for your OS installation? Am hoping that you are sure that your the IDE hard disk is working OK. have you checked your bios for IDE compatibility? I don't think i have ever experienced such an issue, am thinking you need to remove the SATA disk and try the disk separately. Am hoping you are not using same IDE cable that your Optical drive is using with the IDE Drive, thats if the Optical Drive is IDE. Let me know after your have done all this, if your encounter more problems or get any error, please inform as.

Cheers

 

i wanna reformat the computer with only the ide drive. the sata drive will not be connected. the ide drive im using, is the hard drive i use for my old computer, which is the one i'm using right now.

in the computer im reformatting, im using the ide cable that connects my cdrom drive to the motherboard. there's a spare connector on that ide cable, i'm connecting the ide drive to that spare connector.

 

OK, the IDE drive you want to format will not load on this computer, this is understandable, if as you say has never been in this computer.
When you connect this IDE drive, is your BIOS recognizing this drive, if yes than you should be able to load your XP install CD and format from there before installing your new OS. Just insure that your first Boot Device is CD Rom.

 

how will bios recognize the ide drive, if i cant start my computer w/ the ide drive connected? do u mean, when i start the pc w/o the ide drive connected, i go into bios to check if it the ide drive is there?

i can start the pc w/o the drive connected

maybe i shoulda mentioned this part, my bad, but this all started when my windows repair crashed, it got stuck on some screen. after looking online i find out that i have to reformat the computer entirely. if that helps u figure out wats going on then ok

i really wanna save the files on the sata drive, if there is no way to do it i'll deal w/ it, but with unimaginable remorse . its like losing a baby, i think im gonna need psychiatric help if i cant backup those files lol no i keed

 

Hey pcyouzer,
Its seems your PC is having a conflict with you IDE drive for some reason it doesn't realise it as a drive or fails to communicate with it. Normally, if such a thing happens the the machine will still be able to go on.
We need to reset you bios settings to default, am thinking, your PC is not getting your new hardware with your initial bios settings. Look for a reset jumper on your M.Board. Usually, when you are reseting the bios, there is reset jumper that you will have to alter its position, from position 2.3 jumper set. You need to place the jumper on position 1.2, then press the power button-nothing should happen, immediately put the jumper back to positions 2.3 then your machine will be able to start and the bios would have reset. Try and putting your IDE Disk and see what happens.
NB. BIOS reset direction is indicated somewhere on the M.Board.
Let us know what happens next.
Kind regards,
Xrozz

 

or you can remove the Battery for a few seconds.
Before doing this make sure your power is turned off and the power supply connector to your motherboard is unplugged.
To load your BIOS press power button on pc case then hit in most cases the Delete Button or F1, F2, did you at any time when your machine was working ok look at the start-up screen to see what key to hit for "Setup ".
OK you want to save your files on the SATA drive best keep it out of your PC Case so no further damage will be done until your system is up and running with the other hard drive.
As xrozz has pointed out to you your machine should still continue on.
Have you made any attempt to boot off the Windows XP CD by placing it in your CD rom drive and when the message comes up for a few seconds
"Boot From CD" hit any key.
To try and clear up some issues here you have to give us some answers to questions we ask.
1. what data if any is on the IDE drive
2. is there any OS installed
3. do you get a post when you try to start with the IDE drive
4. what actually happens when you press the power button inside the case is your CPU fan spinning.
5. do you have a legal copy of Windows XP Pro or Home
hawk22

 

1 - the ide has about 25-30gb of data. 75 gb drive

2 - on the sata drive, winxp. on the ide drive, win98

3 - wat do u mean by "post "? the computer just plain wont start. on the front of the computer where it has the 2 lights. one to tell if the computer is on (green), and the other to tell if the computer is loading something. the red light comes on for like a split second or 2, but only when i connect the ide drive, and try to start the computer for the first time.

4 - nothing happens, absolutely nothing. inside the computer, there's a green light, i assume its there when the power button for the pc is on. that light is there, but thats it. no sound, no explosion, wont even say anything to me .

5 - yes i have a legal copy of both win98 and winxp


so as of now, there's no way for me to go into bios screen with the ide drive cnnected.

 

quick thing, the mobo battery, where is it? lol

 

n/m the battery, but when u take out the battery, arent u sposed to reconfigure the cmos settings? i dunno wat that is. also need to know the battery's voltage and everything? then have to reconfigure bios settings too? if i do have to do all this how to do it?

 

In general it is a Button battery CR2032 3 Volt.
You can read the specs of the battery on the top.
Have you cleared the CMOS via Jumper like Xrozz explained to you. Do this first, you do not need to reconfigure the CMOS, all you are doing is bringing it back to its default setting. Xrozz has also explained that to you before.
What is referred to as a post is the beep, or beeps when something is wrong when you first start the PC before you see anything on the screen.
If you are going to change the Battery I assume that you are aware of the dangers of Static and take the appropriate steps to protect your system by earthing yourself.
Let us know your progress.

 

no battery chaning, just taking it out for 30 sec. then put it back in. properly ground myself before asweel

thx for all the help much appreciated fellas, i will let u know the results within 24 hours hope it works, cuz those files could save the WOOOOOOORLLLLLLDDDDDDD!!!!1111

 

the jumper's default setting is actually 1.2, so it was already on 1.2. in the manual it says to reset move to 2.3

since its late, im gonna do this when i get up. hopefully before i do this, one of u can confirm w/ me that i should move the jumper to 2.3 then back to 1.2.

 

yes that is correct.

 

pcyouzer, go ahead and switch it to pin 2&3, pin numbers depend on the manufacturer's standards. Remember after switching to port 2&3, on turning the PC, there will be no reaction-the reset would have been done, all your BIOS settings will be put to default factory settings; which means your clock and other setting will be dated to the manufacturer's date. Then you can now connect your HDD without any other IDE devices connected.
Please, let us know of your progress.

 

wait huh? the purpose of all this is so i can start my computer with the ide drive connected.

 

Yes, its supposed to recognize the new hardware so that your computer can start while your IDE HDD is connected, correct?

 

oh ok thats i hope u were sayin, the wording made me think different.

cant wait to back my friggin files omg its been nearly a month, using win98, a 1998 computer, not to mention it has its own virus and bugs. freezes almost everyime i use it.