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HD undetected

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A friend gave me an old computer tower, only thing missing was a HD. I am trying to add a WD 4.3g in perfect working order. During startup, after the memory test, it flashes, Primary Master not detected, and won’t boot.

What are some of the possible reasons?

Thanks, Micahel

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HD undetected

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Sounds like the CMOS is not set for that hard drive – go into cmos (usually press DEL key) during first part of boot (when its detecting memory) and then set the hard drive – try autodetect if its a reasonably recent bios.
If not autodetect,t hen your gonna have to get the details fo the heads etc of the disk itself and manually put them in.

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I agree with the above, older CMOS sometimes requires you to specify the drive paramaters.
If it is not marked on the drive you can search for “ideinfo.exe” on the net, this will tell you the cylnders,heads, etc.
I have also heard that some older BIOS’s will not detect drives larger the 2 gig(not to be confused with DOS limitations).You did not say what make or processor this PC is so this may or may not be an issue.
Hope this helps.

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Same as the above…Also…make sure that if it is the only drive installed…that it is set as a single drive, not a Master…some BIOS want to see a slave drive installed if the primary is set as MASTER.

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Just more specific on previous answer. Check the jumpers on the drive itself. It should have a diagram to show you single, master, slave, cable select (or cs). Make sure it has the settings for single drive. After that, make sure the data cable is on correctly. Usually red line to power. Both on motherboard and on the back of the drive. Your data cable should have one side marked with either a solid or dotted line, put that side to your power source. Then try the bios again. If there is an Auto setting, try to let it find it, if not, you will have to do it automatically. If the pc is too old, it may not recognize a harddrive over 540 meg (certainly not the 4.3 gig), and you will have to use an overlay program like EZ drive (free on Western Digital’s site).

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On older Compaq’s you need to set the jumpers to cable select. I recently had a problem using an drive from an IBM in an older Compaq, something about a special Compaq partion that was not on the IBM drive.

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You say “old computer”!
As in other replies to yr Q, either the disk is “too big”, the cables, jumpers or BIOS are not set correctly. You might need help from a “better skilled” person to check all this out.
A single WD4.3 need no jumper possitioned next to the signal cable connector on the disk(just try to remove it). Also make note of the disk identifications found on top of the disk. You might need these to set up manually in BIOS.
Next connect the signal cable oriented with the marked thread of the cable near the power connector, and the other end whith the marked thread at pin numbered 1 (one).
Then, if a new boot still fails, enter BIOS (look for on screen command for entering “Setup/BIOS”). Look for a menu “Harddisk utility/Autodetect” or simular. Try auto if possible. If no disk found, check that disk detection might be set to “auto”. If still not solved, you may try to enter the details found on the disk (see above) manually in the “Main menu”.
If the BIOS don’t recognise “big” disks, you might not be able to enter the correct info manually either. If so, you might use a WD disk utility, to make an overlay disk that is not controlled by BIOS.

See this link, and follow instructions: http://www.westerndigital.com/service/ftp/drives.html

When disk is recognized, remember that Windows must be “sub version” 95b or later to use the disk “full sized”. Older Windows need you to partition the disk in 3, as no part can be bigger than 2GB. If the disk is “clean” now, you must boot from a suitable floppy to partition, format and install the operating system. Booting with a Win98 floppy, gives you easy access to CD-ROM for install (works for any Win9x install).

Best of luck.

HD undetected

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Poster rated this answer

HD undetected

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You say “old computer”!
As in other replies to yr Q, either the disk is “too big”, the cables, jumpers or BIOS are not set correctly. You might need help from a “better skilled” person to check all this out.
A single WD4.3 need no jumper possitioned next to the signal cable connector on the disk(just try to remove it). Also make note of the disk identifications found on top of the disk. You might need these to set up manually in BIOS.
Next connect the signal cable oriented with the marked thread of the cable near the power connector, and the other end whith the marked thread at pin numbered 1 (one).
Then, if a new boot still fails, enter BIOS (look for on screen command for entering “Setup/BIOS”). Look for a menu “Harddisk utility/Autodetect” or simular. Try auto if possible. If no disk found, check that disk detection might be set to “auto”. If still not solved, you may try to enter the details found on the disk (see above) manually in the “Main menu”.
If the BIOS don’t recognise “big” disks, you might not be able to enter the correct info manually either. If so, you might use a WD disk utility, to make an overlay disk that is not controlled by BIOS.

See this link, and follow instructions: http://www.westerndigital.com/service/ftp/drives.html

When disk is recognized, remember that Windows must be “sub version” 95b or later to use the disk “full sized”. Older Windows need you to partition the disk in 3, as no part can be bigger than 2GB. If the disk is “clean” now, you must boot from a suitable floppy to partition, format and install the operating system. Booting with a Win98 floppy, gives you easy access to CD-ROM for install (works for any Win9x install).

Best of luck.

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