IBM 5150 won't recognize harddrive

[ISAslot]

This computer has been sitting around for awhile. It worked a few years ago, but now it won't recognize the harddrive. Since it has no bios menu to set it up, how do you make it remember it's harddrive? Should I try the AT diagnostic disk that sets up the IBM 5170's?

Specs:
Intel 8088 @ 4.77mhz
32Mb Lapine Titan 3532 HD
360K 5.25 floppy

 

[ISAslot]

Well, I tried the AT diag. disk and that doesn't work.
Anyone know what I should do?

 

[bacillus]

does it have a m/board battery which may need renewing? :frown:

 

[ISAslot]

If it has a battery it's well hidden or not in the form I'm used to seeing. There is a odd box thing with a clear lid on top. I guess inside there could be a battery (although I have my doubts), but I don't think this mobo even has cmos? I don't see any eproms. There is a dip switch bank, but no info on what it is for.
I've been searching online for any info on setting this thing up, but the only thing I get is antique hardware pages and 5150 system specifications.
I remember a long while ago when I first got this computer, it did something similar to what it is doing now. I called a computer store and the guy informed me to just hit the backspace key when it posted. It worked back then. Doesn't work now. I wonder if that even really sets harddrive up. I wonder if I remember correctly. :frown:

 

[bacillus]

wonder if it was the Ins as opposed to the backspace key! :frown:

 

[ISAslot]

I guess I will have to redefine, fdisk, and reformat (if I can). This sux because the whole idea was to see what was left on the harddrive.

 

[ISAslot]

LOL Yes!!!!! It lives again! I'm in word perfect 4.2 right now. I guess the harddrive cables had a bit of corosion on them, messed with them, took them off, made sure they were on the right way, put it all back together, booted off a floppy, typed dir C: and it worked! Then I shut down, restarted and it booted off C drive!