**PLEASE MOVE TO Technical Support**Weird problem with Maxtor 200GB HD on Asus P4PE

[ardenJ]

EDIT: Sorry Mods, I didn't mean to post this in General Hardware, please move it over to Technical Support.

I recently purchased a new Maxtor 200GB PATA 8MB cache from the for sale forums. I installed it with my Asus P4PE (jumper set to Master), and loaded Windows on it. It worked fine. However, a few days later when I went to turn on the computer, the BIOS did not recognize the HD. It stated there was no drive on the Primary Master. This was odd since I didn't mess with any settings in the BIOS, and the drive was working fine earlier. Just to see if the hard drive still worked, I placed it on the Slave connection (I changed the jumper to cable select) with the hard drive on my current working computer, the BIOS detected it, and so did Windows. I checked the files on it, and none were corrupted or didn't open. So I then placed it back into the new computer, but this time set the jumper to cable select. I even brought over the IDE cable I use in this computer to eliminate the possibility of a bad one. Same thing, the BIOS would not recognize it. I then tried a new PSU (an Antec SL400 400w). The current PSU was the Antec 380w that comes with the Sonata. With the new PSU, it still didn't work. I reset the BIOS, but it still didn't recognize the drive. Finally, I installed the Maxtor 200GB PATA 8MB cache (exact same model) that I'm using on this computer onto the Asus P4PE. The BIOS recognized it. It doesn't have Windows on it since it's my storage drive (even if it did, it comes from another motherboard, so Windows will just give a BSOD). Anyone have any clues to the problem? I might just have to return the HD to the seller.

Sorry for the long post. I wanted to be as detailed as I could. Anyway, here's the summary:

1.)Bought Maxtor PATA 200GB
2.)Installed on Asus P4PE in a Sonata Case (Antect 380w PSU)
3.)Worked fine for a few days, then when trying to turn on computer on one day, the BIOS didn't find the drive
4.)Placed drive into current working computer as a slave, and BIOS recognized it. All files worked in Windows, none were corrupt.
5.)Placed drive back into Asus P4PE, but this time used different IDE cable and had jumper set to cable select, still didnt work.
6.)Tried new PSU (Antec SL400 400w), still didn't work
7.)Took out the Maxtor PATA 200GB (same model) from my current working computer, and placed it with the Asus P4PE, BIOS recognized it.

The new computer's specs:
Asus P4PE
Intel P4 2.8B 533FSB (not overclocked)
2x512MB PC3200 RAM (tested in Memtest, no errors)
ATI 9800Pro
Maxtor 200GB 8MB cache PATA
Pioneer 108 DVD-RW

 

[ohnnyj]

Have you updated the BIOS on your motherboard to the latest release? Was this a used drive? A refurb? Or was it brand new? If one of the first two the seller may have given you a bad drive.

 

[ardenJ]

Originally posted by: ohnnyj
Have you updated the BIOS on your motherboard to the latest release? Was this a used drive? A refurb? Or was it brand new? If one of the first two the seller may have given you a bad drive.

No, I haven't tried updating the BIOS yet. I'll try that, and let you know of the results. The drive was brand new. It was completely sealed in the Maxtor Shrinkwrap, and in the box it was sealed in the anti-static bag.

 

[stevty2889]

Well since it didnt' recognize your other working drive either, I would say it's certainly not the drive thats the problem. Also did you try it on the secondary IDE channel, or try a differant hard drive(brand and size, not the identical drive from your other PC)? Also possible the bios update could fix the problem, but not as likely since the drive was originaly working. Also since you said it's a new computer, did you make sure there were no standoffs in the wrong place, that could be shorting the motherboard? That could also cause something strange like this to happen.

 

[ardenJ]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Well since it didnt' recognize your other working drive either, I would say it's certainly not the drive thats the problem. Also did you try it on the secondary IDE channel, or try a differant hard drive(brand and size, not the identical drive from your other PC)? Also possible the bios update could fix the problem, but not as likely since the drive was originaly working. Also since you said it's a new computer, did you make sure there were no standoffs in the wrong place, that could be shorting the motherboard? That could also cause something strange like this to happen.

It DID recognize my working drive and I tried another Western Digitial 80GB HD, and the BIOS recognized that too. That's the weird thing. It seems like it only doesn't recognize the new Maxtor 200gb that I just bought, but this Maxtor works on another computer. I tried placing it on the secondary IDE channel last night, still didn't work. All standoffs are in place, so it's not shorting out. I still haven't tried the BIOS update, I'm gonna try later today.