AT'ers gather round......help me fix this bad boy!

[otispunkmeyer]

right im fixing up a computer for a friend as a return favour. he knows im not gonna be his personal tech, jus for the record

anyway this computer

some gigabyte VIA based mobo
Athlon XP 2400+
512 ram
new samsung IDE HD...spinpoint series.
MSI multi combo drive
and a generic 350watt PSU with 18v on the 12v rail

now

he managed to get it formatted, from what he said on the phone, but not any further.

ODD problem---- with the HDD plugged in IDE1 and into the power, and the DVD drive plugged into the power, but not into IDE2. it powers up, finds the HDD and then just waits....doesnt try search for an boot records or what ever

with the HDD plugged in and connected to IDE1, and the DVD powered and connected to IDE2, its a no show. both the DVD and HDD fail to power up and the computer tells me theres no pri master or slave


so theres definately enough juice to power them both, but once connected to ide 1 and ide 2 the both just die. what gives

 

[snoturtle]

try a new cable on the dvd drive

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: snoturtle
try a new cable on the dvd drive

i dont have a spare (will go have a dig) but i just started the system up with just the DVD connected up and it failed to come on

i swapped its IDE cable for the HDD and did the same again, and it powered up....so i just need to find a spare cable.

 

[SlitheryDee]

When you say fails to power up you mean no lights on the DVD drive and no HD spinup whatsoever? It doesn't sound like this is the problem but have you checked the master/slave/CS jumper settings on both drives?

PS: You probably have but sometimes the solution is so simple you just can believe it.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: snoturtle
try a new cable on the dvd drive

snoturtle wins the prize, (dunno what prize, maybe a bear if i ever meet him) the IDE cable for the DVD was shot

changed it for one out of mine, runs now, had to manually tell the bios the drives were present tho, but its worked.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
When you say fails to power up you mean no lights on the DVD drive and no HD spinup whatsoever? It doesn't sound like this is the problem but have you checked the master/slave/CS jumper settings on both drives?

PS: You probably have but sometimes the solution is so simple you just can believe it.

yeah id checked all those, an i meant no power at all, no spin up, no lights, no tray opening.

and yes the problem was super simple......replace IDE cable. cant believe how long ive spent

 

[snoturtle]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: snoturtle
try a new cable on the dvd drive

snoturtle wins the prize, (dunno what prize, maybe a bear if i ever meet him) the IDE cable for the DVD was shot

changed it for one out of mine, runs now, had to manually tell the bios the drives were present tho, but its worked.

Glad it worked out for you

its always the smaller things that you look for last
so now I look at those first