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disk controller failure

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by twuf May 15, 2002 last reply May 17, 2002

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I have a Compaq Presario Pentium II/Win 98se. Nothing changed. Been running fine. Computer programs starting crashing. Shutdown computer for the night. Went to boot in morning and screen says '1724 disk controller failure' and won't boot to HDD. you can see files on HDD at DOS prompt c: and copy files from folder to folder etc. but will not boot operating system. Does disk controller failure usually mean motherboard ide controller is bad? can it be replaced or need new MB? Can you add an adapter with IDE ports and bypass MB IDE controller? I was told by Compaq to take in for service, bad motherboard.

20 replies

by william jay May 15, 2002

Sounds like a loose connection, otherwise a virus. . cheers.

by twuf May 17, 2002

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by krunch May 15, 2002

You "probably" have a bad controller on your motherboard. If you have another system you could plug that hard drive into it as a secondary drive and see if the drive can be seen. That will tell you if your drive is bad or not.
You CAN get a separate ide controller card that plugs into a pci slot (if you have one open) they cost about $50.00.

Good luck,

Kevin

by twuf May 17, 2002

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by dmiles May 15, 2002

First run anti-virus to check the drive for virus

Run scan disk to check the drive for any errors

Could be a bad motherboard but check the obvious first before following the advice for service
If you have the motherboard disk then you can reload the Controller driver from the disk,otherwise you will need to find the motherboard manufacturer web site and download the controller driver

by twuf May 17, 2002

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by twuf May 15, 2002

I moved old HDD into new machine and it works fine. I tried a new HDD in IDE controller on old motherboard and it reported '1724 disk controller failure". I put new HDD w/adapter card in PCI slot but could not get bios to recognize it. I put new drive in new computer and it works fine. I must be missing doing something using the adapter card, followed directions to the tee...

by twuf May 15, 2002

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by gigelul May 16, 2002

About new IDE PCI card adapter:
-try to place it in other PCI slot
-disable on board IDE controler from BIOS

Also you can reset BIOS to default/optimal and try again to use your on board IDE or change flat cable.

by gigelul May 16, 2002

Also make tests only with one HDD (no CD-ROM) to see if you don't have others problems.

by twuf May 17, 2002

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by hjs May 16, 2002

We support Compaq's here at work and every time we get a 1724 disk controller error it is the motherboard. Now if you get a 1724 smart drive error it is the hard drive. I no you did'nt want to here this. I must presume that the PC is no longer underwarranty. Sorry

by twuf May 17, 2002

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by twuf May 16, 2002

I set BIOS to default. It gives you very limited options of changing any settings. Can't disable onboard IDE controller that i could see. RAM is fine. No viruses (scanned HDD on new computer). CD-ROM on 2nd IDE controller also wouldn't work as i tried to add software drivers for new HDD w/adapter in PCI. Does this error 'disk controller failure' usually mean trashing motherboard? Or in your experience do you sucessully add HDD adapters to get around problem?

by twuf May 16, 2002

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by limatik May 17, 2002

Had a similar error on an older Compaq model some years ago and yes, I eventually had the motherboard replaced.

About IDE adapter on PCI. Try to check first with your manual if your motherboard has a switch that allows you to disable the onboardIDE controller, if yes, then your problem is solved, just disable the onboard IDE Controller and plug in the PCI IDE adapter; if not, then you do have to change your motherboard.

Good luck.

Alas