I am re-placing a old hard drive before it fails in a Micron Millenea computer at work. It is a 15 Gig generic type 47 HD. The computer is used for Auto Cad. OS is Windows 98 SE
New drive is a WD Caviar 40 Gig. Ran drive test with WD utility, result was no problems. Performed install of OS, Windows 98 SE. Clean Install.
After install I checked Device manager for devices that needed drivers. Installed AGP and Creative Audio adapter drivers from CD that came with the computer. There is not a CD for the main board.
During the device manager check I noticed the ! over the primary IDE controller. To check my install I plugged the existing HD back in. The error or problem was still there. I don’t know how long or if it had been there before. Checked performance and found that drive was operating in MS DOS mode.
Switched HD (existing) to secondary IDE, made CMOS changes as necessary for master on secondary IDE. Problem went away. Plugged new HD in on Secondary IDE, made CMOS changes. No problem. I was preparing to do cable hook up to use CD ROM and HD on Secondary to finish installing software and problem returned. Problem seems intermitent on secondary as well. Tried old HD problem was present on secondary as well. Though it seems if system sits for a while and a different drive HD is hooked up the problem goes away. System has been shut down and restarted several times with no problem indicated. But after a HD switch it will re-appear sometimes. It is always present on the primary IDE connection. I have replaced the IDE cable using a cable supplied with the WD drive. Hooked up old drive this morning no problem showing. I have wiped new drive and intend on trying a new install of OS.
Does CD ROM need a different cable other than IDE for HD (fine wires) and can they be used together or will CD ROM operate correctly using a primary IDE cable. I am assuming that primary IDE channel is going out.
