before i disassemble my computer (again)

[Screech]

I recently (last night) got an athlon 64 3000+ (754) and a crappy ECS mobo for a total of $125, as well as a western digital 120 gig HDD for $20 (yay rebates!). I was more concerned with getting a working computer running because the last one seemed to be on the fritz.

Anyway, I installed a clean windows XP install on the new 120 gig, then put my older 80 gig western digital in as a slave with all my old crap (music, word documents, etc). Here's the problem: the WD hard drives are..."picky" about where they are installed. The computer hangs on the IDE detection, for instance, if I hook the 120 gig up on the middle IDE connector on the IDE cable, rather than the end (it is set as master on the jumper, not cable select, which I will try once I post this....). the 80 gig is also tempermental. The biggest problem is that since the IDE cables aren't long enough, in order to have both my hard drives connected (in working order), I don't have anything with which to connect my CD-ROM. This isn't necessaril;y an issue with the motherboard, because I had the same problems when I put the 80 gig into my old computer (an athlon 1800+ on an equally crappy ECS motherboard) about half a year ago.

so.....suggestions? Any help = much appreciated.

 

[ElFenix]

don't WDs have separate settings for master w/slave and master without? have you ensured that those jumpers are properly set for each drive?

 

[Pabster]

Don't be so quick to label ECS boards "Crap"

They're actually very nice boards and perform quite well for the price.

You are obviously having trouble with device connections, possibly jumper settings or cable positions. Do you have the drives set for cable-select perhaps?

 

[Screech]

Well, they are GREAT for the price, of course I'm sure this has been rehashed a million times before, so i digress....

Typically, I figured out the solution after asking for help....connecting the IDE cables the reverse way solved the problem. I thought I had tried that before, but obviously I hadn't. Still not sure why, but as long as it works, I'm happy.

ElFenix: You are correct; It was already set for master w/ slave, as opposed to master/single. Wasn't the problem, though, apparently. Turned out to be the cable positions.....

thanks for the suggestions though :beer:

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Don't be so quick to label ECS boards "Crap"

I think he meant that the particular boards that he got were crap. Never know though.
FYI screch, ECS makes ABIT (not the other way around either)

 

[mechBgon]

What ElFenix said. WD's have a Single Master jumper setting as well as a "master-with-slave-present" jumper setting. If you have a WD solo on its own IDE cable, then jumper it for Single Master, which is when there is no jumper on the pins at all.

Might be your issue, might not. Good luck!