Computer likes one hdd not two?

[legocitytruck]

I am installing two hard drives in an slightly old computer. When I install only one, the machine loads up fine (one hard drive has windows already installed on it) However, when I try to install two on the same IDE cable, windows attempts to start, it fails and the machine restarts and prompts safe mode. I have tried adding jumpers, in the slave position on one, and the master on the other with windows installed, but this does not alleviate the problem.

Is there anything else that I can do?

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: legocitytruck
I am installing two hard drives in an slightly old computer. When I install only one, the machine loads up fine (one hard drive has windows already installed on it) However, when I try to install two on the same IDE cable, windows attempts to start, it fails and the machine restarts and prompts safe mode. I have tried adding jumpers, in the slave position on one, and the master on the other with windows installed, but this does not alleviate the problem.

Is there anything else that I can do?

It should be no problem.
How is the first HD setup, as one big partition, or does it have multiple ones?

I am guessing you may have multiple partitions on the main drive, and windows freaks out, since now with the added drive, the letters got screwed up?

Then again, how old of a system are we talking about?

 

[Denithor]

Welcome to the forums!

Here are two simple things to try.

1) Master/slave settings - first drive on cable = slave, second (final) drive (at end of cable) = master
2) Set both drives for CS (cable select)

If these don't work, report back and we will make further recommendations (only if needed, these are the easiest to perform).

 

[legocitytruck]

Thanks for the reply guys!

The machine is a few years old. It has an AMD Athlon 700 MHz if that helps to place it.
Currently, both drives have only one partition on them. The master (windows installed drive) is at the end of the cable while the secondary drive is at the second spot.
I tried setting the jumper on the back to CS or cable select. The computer will reach the windows loading screen and complete the loading. After which, the screen will stay black and then the machine will restart.

In windows safe mode, windows will load, but then the "welcome to found new hardware wizard" will keep appearing regardless of how many times you press cancel.

 

[Denithor]

Did you set both drives to CS?

Also, do they both show up in the BIOS correctly?

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: legocitytruck
Thanks for the reply guys!

The machine is a few years old. It has an AMD Athlon 700 MHz if that helps to place it.
Currently, both drives have only one partition on them. The master (windows installed drive) is at the end of the cable while the secondary drive is at the second spot.
I tried setting the jumper on the back to CS or cable select. The computer will reach the windows loading screen and complete the loading. After which, the screen will stay black and then the machine will restart.

The black screen & restart = BSOD. You can turn that off, so it don't reboot on a BSOD, or perhaps check event viewer for the error message.

 

[legocitytruck]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Did you set both drives to CS?

Also, do they both show up in the BIOS correctly?

Should only drive be set to CS? Which one? Currently, I have them both set to CS.

How do I turn off BSOD?

Also how do I enter the BIOS during start up?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: legocitytruck

Also how do I enter the BIOS during start up?

It should tell you what key to press during startup, but generally it's DEL.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: legocitytruck
Should only drive be set to CS? Which one? Currently, I have them both set to CS.

Nope, both should be set to CS, I was just making sure.

How do I turn off BSOD?

Unfortunately this has to be done in Windows. Unhook the second drive, boot into Windows and make this change. Then start working on the second drive again.

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System
Go to Advanced
Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

Also how do I enter the BIOS during start up?

As DSF said, on many systems it's the DEL key. However, if you're using a Dell/HP or one of the other "prebuilt" computers it may be the F1/F2 key or even something else. You just have to watch for a single line saying to press a certain key to enter the setup (this will come up onscreen before you see the Windows swoosh screen).

 

[legocitytruck]

Thanks for the help.

In the bios, it lists both drives, one as primary master, one as primary slave. Both drives are set to CS.

However, it still loads Windows XP but never reaches the blue welcome or login screen. But something new! A dark blue screen states: "The device got stuck in an infinite loop. This usually indicates problem with the device itself or with the device drive programming hardware incorrectly"

Does this mean that the hard drive has failed?

 

[legocitytruck]

That same error is now occurring with only one hard drive installed. Any ideas?

 

[Elixer]

When was the last time you tested your memory?

It should pass all tests in memtest, and I would let it run overnight. It is a free program, get it at memtest86.com

If it isn't a memory issue, then it could be a corruption issue that is causing the BSODs, or bad drivers.