Inconsistent bootup

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
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Hi. I have an MSI K7T266 Pro motherboard and a Maxtor 60GB 7200 RPM Hard drive.

My problem is inconsistent bootup. Sometimes, my computer can find my hard drive during bootup, and other times, it cannot. Is this a hard drive problem or a motherboard problem? Since it is inconsistent, I do not know how to test the variables. I'm using the S.M.A.R.T. Drive function in the BIOS and it reports that the hard drive is fine.
 

Buz2b

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2001
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Just as a "first step" I would recommed that you turn off the "Smart Drive" function and go into the first page of your BIOS which will show the IDE devices that it recognizes. Make sure that your HDD is recognized and is correct there. During the same time you should go to the screen that shows the boot order to make sure the HDD-0 is selected and the first boot device.
That just covers the basics, and since you didn't list your OS I'm not sure how much myself or others can do. Please list your OS, the error codes you have seen and the exact behavior that happens on an "incomplete" bootup. Thanks!

 

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
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I use Win XP , but does that really affect startup?

My hard drive isn't found. The message is "Hard drive not found. Please insert a floppy."

When hard drive isn't found, I go into BIOS and look for the hard drive, and sure enough, in CMOS, it says "not installed."

I have to turn computer on and off a couple times before hard drive is found. Might be hard drive. I realized that when the hard drive isn't found, the hard drive physically feels quite cool and not powered. Now I still don't know if the problem is hard drive, motherboard, power supply?
 

Buz2b

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Jun 2, 2001
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The reason for the OS is that I was still unsure of what and when the messages were that you were getting; rather just on boot up or possibley further into the process.
As to the problem at hand, have you removed/replaced or added anything to the IDE channel that this drive is on lately. The reason for asking is I'm thinking of the jumpers being incorrect on the drive itself. That could cause the same type of issue. Also, if you added a second drive and did not configure the jumpers, that could also cause this. Did you turn off the SMART drive in the BIOS yet?
IF you are early on in the process and the BIOS cannot find the drive, it would seem to point to the drive as the source. You should also check the ribbon cable though. Remove and replace it to insure that it is secure.
 

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: Buz2b
The reason for the OS is that I was still unsure of what and when the messages were that you were getting; rather just on boot up or possibley further into the process.
As to the problem at hand, have you removed/replaced or added anything to the IDE channel that this drive is on lately. The reason for asking is I'm thinking of the jumpers being incorrect on the drive itself. That could cause the same type of issue. Also, if you added a second drive and did not configure the jumpers, that could also cause this. Did you turn off the SMART drive in the BIOS yet?
IF you are early on in the process and the BIOS cannot find the drive, it would seem to point to the drive as the source. You should also check the ribbon cable though. Remove and replace it to insure that it is secure.

Haven't turned off SMART drive yet...
Haven't changed the drive or touched it since I put it in, although I am planning on getting another one now that I think that it is failing on me :D

Yup, this problem occurs early in the process of bootup, before it POSTS I guess you would call it. I'm assuming it POSTS when it beeps?

Yea, I've checked the ribbon cable. I changed the plug for the power for the hard drive (since sometimes the hard drive wouldn't get powered). Maybe it was a bad plug. I don't think it's my PSU since other drives aren't having this problem. I guess if the hard drive still fails to power up at some point, I'll have to RMA my hard drive.
 

Buz2b

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Jun 2, 2001
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I changed the plug for the power for the hard drive (since sometimes the hard drive wouldn't get powered). Maybe it was a bad plug
Just covering the bases but did you use a plug from a working device (CDROM, etc) or just one that was "extra"? Might juggle them around a bit just to see if there is any differences or consistancies. As always, just make sure that the fit is good and snug; completely installed. Other than that, if it still won't recognize the HDD in the BIOS, sounds like the drive is at fault, as you suspect.
I don't think it's my PSU since other drives aren't having this problem.
Does this mean you've tried a different HDD in place of the problematic one? Or did you mean that since all other components/drives are getting power that you are assuming the PS is OK. Just asking and pointing out that if you meant the latter, that doesn't necessarily mean the PS is OK. A PS can seem to provide power to all components but the power itself may not be "adequate" for a particular item. As has been noted though, it seems in this case that it is the HDD. Just wanted to stick a "disclaimer" of sorts on that. ;)
 

jitspoe

Senior member
Mar 20, 2002
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Sounds like a power supply issue. I've had similar problems with a 230W power supply. What do you have?
 

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
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i have 300 watts. but my computer has been operating for a year without problems. so i don't think it's a lack of power.
 

Teak101

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Aug 25, 2002
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OK, i got the same problem with my computer.
This is my setup: P4 1.6a @ 2140mhz, 256 DDR, 120G WD, 400W PS, MSI 845 ultra ARU, CDRW, Cheap TNT 32Mb 64M, 2 case fans

Problem: Cant detect HD on bootup half of the time. CDRW on other IDE channel is fine. If i go to bios, and try auto detecting it, it would not be found for a few times, then if i kept on trying, it's somehow found. then i can go on and boot into windows. Very annoying. Problem exists w/ or w/o overclocking

I just got this new HD, and it cant be used on my older system, so I cant try to test it. Other HDs work fine on this sys.

Is there a PS problem? I think its the HD, but wanna check all the option b4 i return it.

And whats the hell w/ my cpu always showing 50C? should it be lower than that?
 

Buz2b

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Jun 2, 2001
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Teak101,
Yours sounds like a jumper problem more than anything else. I've seen the exact thing before and that was the "fix". Maybe not in your case, but definately worth a look. ;) Do you have more than one jumper on the drive? Did you switch/replace the cable?

gwlam12,
Did you try any of the suggestions I made previously? As I eluded to, your PS may have been fine but it might have finally reached a "point of no return".

buz2b
 

Teak101

Member
Aug 25, 2002
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Originally posted by: Buz2b
Teak101,
Yours sounds like a jumper problem more than anything else. I've seen the exact thing before and that was the "fix". Maybe not in your case, but definately worth a look. ;) Do you have more than one jumper on the drive? Did you switch/replace the cable?


buz2b

You're right. I realized that the jumper for "master' is not the same with 'single' i was so excited with the new 'big' drive that i overlooked that. My old drives have master and single on the same setting. the fact that it worked sometimes confused me. I did fix it while I was figuring out how to run it UDMA 5 in winxp.

Thats another problem. since the jumper was wrong, winxp downgraded it to PIO. had to reinstall fresh to make it UDMA 5 again. Just a note if any of you ran into the same problem. I didnt know my drive was slow until i ran Sandra.