OT - Need some (more) tech support

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
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This makes me feel bad, it's the second time in what, two, three weeks that I've come crying for help... The last time was for a dead CPU or mobo (here), it looked like everything was under control. However, the machine was so unstable that I decided to just replace the processor and motherboard - I knew the motherboard was fried at least partially, and the CPU definitely had sustained some damage, although it may still be alright, but I decided if I was going to do one, might as well do the other, the processor cost next to nothing anyway. So, anyway, tonight (great Valentine's day, sat around, talked to a few old friends, watched TV, did some computer repairs :)) since the parts were here I figured I'd replace them, but that I'd also take advantage of this to switch things around a bit, and put all of the good components together in one computer (systems in my sig; the 933 used to have the better video card and CD burner). Anyway, I figured it wouldn't be too hard a process, since I would switch the hard drives as well and thus eliminate the need for all sorts of driver installations and such... Plus in the end I would end up with a better mix of machines - the one that does the heavier work would have the better components, the one that gets the lighter stuff would have the lesser components. So, I go about this, and eventually I've gotten everything put back together (took long enough, all sorts of silly bits there)... When I started the 933 up, I was having problems with it needing to install new PCI controllers and such... Probably due to a different South Bridge, although I'd thought the A7V133 (new) and 8K7A (old) both had the VIA 686B... But anyway, I got that sorted out eventually, then went to finish up with the 1333 (which I haven't tried overclocking yet, but I'm hoping for 9x166=1500, which should give some killer SETI times, at least in relation to the old 900 at 9x105=145, certainly not compared to all these new XPs or anything), and to my horror, when I started it up, it didn't detect the hard drive, then tried to boot from both CD-ROMs and couldn't... So, I powered off, went to investigate... I thought perhaps the problem was that the HD needed to be set to slave. Tried that, same thing. So I came up and checked the HD that used to be in that machine, it was set to master... So I thought maybe it was because it had the part of the cable labled Slave plugged into it, and it needed to be on the Master... So I went to great lengths to move the HD around in the bay (the case has an odd layout which made it hard to get it so it was on the Master), and still no dice. I tried putting the Windows CD in the drive and booting with it, and it gets me to there, but it still can't get the hard drive... So I started to think I'm having the same problem as before, something to do with the South Bridge or IDE controller or something... And I'm wondering what you guys think, whether this is the case (or if it's something else), and if so, what I can do about it. Could I plug the drive into the working machine (the 933, this one) as a slave, and put the correct drivers or whatever onto it there? Any help would be VERY much appreciated, as I'm at a loss.
 

Marrkks

Senior member
Jun 9, 2001
309
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lets start with

a: does your mb(bios) recognise the hd?
b: is this the same power supply that the old mb "died" with?


c: when you move a hd to a different model/make mb you really should do a fresh install.imho

 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
3,408
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A. No, it doesn't see it. It sees both CD drives, as well as the Zip drive which is the slave on the same cable as the HD, but not the HD.
B. Yes, I don't think that's the problem though.
C. Yes, I know that. But that does me no good now.
 

RaySun2Be

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
16,565
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What type of hard drives are you using?

I have an A7V version 1.3, and when I had an IBM 20G 7200 RPM drive as the master, I couldn't use the second IDE controller at all. Hard Drives, CD-ROMS, etc. wouldn't be recognized. I figured the 2nd IDE controller was shot. Fortunately, it also has a Promise Ultra100 controller, so I just put the CD-ROM and burner on it.

When the IBM drive died recently, I replaced it with a Maxtor 30G 7200 RPM. And lo and behold, the second IDE controller works. CD-ROMs, hard drives, all are recognized on it now. I'm not sure if the IBM was an LBA, but something about it the A7V didn't like.
 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
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Both have IBM Deskstar 60GXP 20.5 GB drives. The 933, which has the A7V133, is working fine. I've always had the HD on it on the Promise ATA/100 though.

Unfortunately the new mobo (EPoX 8K3AE) only has the two IDE controllers, although maybe I'll try switching them around, see if that works... Maybe I'll try a different cable as well, perhaps it doesn't like the ATA/100 cable.
 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
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Well, that didn't do any good. I'm going to try to plug it in to this computer as a slave and see if I can even get it to work at all.
 

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
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One thing to make sure is that the drive still spins up.

Plug it in, and hold it up to your ear. Turn the computer on, and with any luck you should hear it spin up and start seeking.

I'd also replace the PSU pretty quickly if it was the same PSU that had errors with the other motherboard. Sounds like it has been spiking, and had blown the old motherboard, and maybe the HDD with it :(
 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
3,408
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The HD that was in that computer at the time was fine. It's not in this computer.

The HD is well and truly toast now though, as nothing was working, I decided to give it one final go, and when that didn't work, I tried to pull the IDE cable out, but it wouldn't come. I pulled too hard, and managed to bend the bit at the back which attaches the IDE cable, power cable and such to the drive, and snapped a couple of the little connections... *sigh*

I'm going to start with just replacing the HD, I doubt there's actually anything wrong with the PS - the processor problems from before were due to the huge amount of dust which caused the HSF to quit working properly and the processor was partially fried, and I'm not sure that there was anything wrong with the motherboard other than the dead PS/2 port. All the subsequent stability problems were processor-related. If, once I replace the HD, there're still probelms, then I'll get a new PS.
 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
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Yeah... Luckily nothing on the drive was crucial, mostly replaceable stuff, although some of it will be a pain... Does anyone know of any way to still get the data off the drive, maybe by sending it in to IBM or something?
 

RaySun2Be

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
16,565
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I haven't used any, but I know there are companies out there that do those services. Do a search on data recovery.

 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
3,408
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Thanks, Ray. After a quick look-see, it looks like it's not worth the trouble, or the money, I don't need any of the stuff that badly... I think the worst part is that I'll be forced to finally upgrade my ICQ, I've still been using 2000b, it's so much better without all of that junk they throw into every new version. And of course all my various save-games... Oh well, now it just gives me an excuse to play more games ;) I lost a nearly-completed SETI WU too ;)
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,350
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Originally posted by: DarkMajiq
Thanks, Ray. After a quick look-see, it looks like it's not worth the trouble, or the money, I don't need any of the stuff that badly... I think the worst part is that I'll be forced to finally upgrade my ICQ, I've still been using 2000b, it's so much better without all of that junk they throw into every new version. And of course all my various save-games... Oh well, now it just gives me an excuse to play more games ;) I lost a nearly-completed SETI WU too ;)

Bummer. I have the ICQ 2000a install file if you want it. I also have your NHL 2002 roster file, so just lemme know if you want it too.

BTW, what wattage is the power supply that may have been having problems?
 

DarkMajiq

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2000
3,408
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2000a? It's no 2000b... ;)

I'm going to see how the new version is, then maybe I'll grab that from you.

It's a 300W Antec PS.