Couple problems with a Packard and i need to identify something

[gogeeta13]

I am trying to get this old packard bell going. The problem is when i hook up a cdrom to the secondary controller, it then thinks that there are 2 cdroms, and wont boot from the HDD on the primary. When i set the cdrom to slave, it thinks there is no hdd. I am stuck.



Identification time!:
http://laserk130.tripod.com/bat.jpg
http://laserk130.tripod.com/fuzz.jpg
http://laserk130.tripod.com/sidebat.jpg
http://laserk130.tripod.com/top.jpg

 

[Russ]

That's a VRM (Voltage Regulator Module). It shouldn't have anything to do with the CD-ROM drive.

What make/model/speed is the drive?

Russ, NCNE

 

[Robor]

I know you've probably already done it but have you double checked your jumper settings and tried different IDE cables? I had an IDE cable that had rubbed through on the outer wire and I didn't see it until taking it out and replacing it.

I have no idea what that piece of hardware is.

Edit: That's why Russ is Elite!

Rob

 

[gogeeta13]

The VRM had nothing to do with the cdrom. I am about to try another cable. Yeah, all the jumpers are fine. When th cdrom is not hooked up at all, it works fine.

EDIT:
D'oh the cdrom is a 8x generic. works fine in other systems. Its atapi or ata, it may be pio though, not sure.

 

[gogeeta13]

Also. what the heck do you do with a VRM? I don't remember using one before, but then again my memory is really bad, can't remember what i had for breakfast, or lunch, or dinner last night.

 

[Russ]

gogeeta13,

A VRM converts input voltage to a correct output voltage for the CPU. Built in to modern PC motherboards, sometimes seperate on old ones. Seperate in server-class motherboards.

Russ, NCNE

 

[gogeeta13]

Thanks for the refresher. I remember those suckers now. I got the bad boy working. Turns out PB mislabeled their mobos IDE connectors, pin 1 was in the opposite place, lol.

 

[networkman]

Packard Bells were good for one thing - helping me to sell customers into upgrades to "CLONE" component systems and out of the proprietary world.

 

[Stanman]

Pukeard Bell