WIN XP sp2 won't let me have 2 HD in the same machine.

[jndoggett]

I have 2 HD in my PC. They worked fine until I installed SP2. I can't open Windows anymore. It just keeps on re-booting, but on the 2nd try it asks me if I want to start in SAFE mode. Then it will try to start in SAFE mode for 10 seconds & re-boot again. If I remove the slave HD, Windows will start without any problem. I have tried every trick I know (like switching the IDE cable, switching [Primary-Slave] to [Slave-Slave], switching the sound card (PCI) & video (PCI-E) to different slots, using another HD for slave drive, using a NEW IDE cable, and reinstalling SP2 many many times). I'm sure it is an SP2 problem. I even went to the MS website to look for an answer, but no luck. Can anyone help me fix this problem? Thanks.

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Opteron146, Asus A8N32-SLI, 2G OCZ PC4000 DDR, WD 120GB HDx2, Benq-1620 & LiteOn-1693 DVD, ATI Radeon X700 Pro, Antec NeoPower 480 P/S.

 

[mechBgon]

If you're open to doing a clean install, go in this order:

0) remove the jumper cap from your boot drive, which sets it to Single Master, and put it on its own IDE cable. Unplug any flash-card readers or USB drives, so drive letter C: is available for your hard drive.

1) unplug network cable & networking devices like wireless doodads so the computer is isolated and can't be attacked by network worms.

2) install WindowsXP but do NOT install any drivers. Not video-card drivers, not motherboard drivers.

3) from an offline source such as a CD or a flash drive, install Service Pack 2 first, then reboot.

4) when you reboot, enable Automatic Updates when prompted. Once you hit the desktop, right-click My Computer > Properties and fully enable DEP.

5) from an offline source, install the latest nVidia 6.86 driver package except say NO to the nVidia SW IDE drivers when the installer asks if you want them. Most people also recommend saying NO to the Network Access Manager feature.

6) after rebooting, install video drivers and reboot, then go to Windows Update and get your system patched. Install, configure & update antivirus software.

7) shut down the system. Jumper your boot drive and your other hard drive for Cable Select and put them both on the same IDE cable. Fire the system up. Any good?

 

[jndoggett]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

 

[jndoggett]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If you're open to doing a clean install, go in this order:

0) remove the jumper cap from your boot drive, which sets it to Single Master, and put it on its own IDE cable. Unplug any flash-card readers or USB drives, so drive letter C: is available for your hard drive.

1) unplug network cable & networking devices like wireless doodads so the computer is isolated and can't be attacked by network worms.

2) install WindowsXP but do NOT install any drivers. Not video-card drivers, not motherboard drivers.

3) from an offline source such as a CD or a flash drive, install Service Pack 2 first, then reboot.

4) when you reboot, enable Automatic Updates when prompted. Once you hit the desktop, right-click My Computer > Properties and fully enable DEP.

5) from an offline source, install the latest nVidia 6.86 driver package except say NO to the nVidia SW IDE drivers when the installer asks if you want them.

nVidia SW IDE drivers? I'm confused. Do you mean WinXP IDE SataIDE Driver (v6.66) ?

 

[mechBgon]

Here's a screenshot of the blurb right before you get to say NO to it: http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mechBgon/SW_IDE_Driver.gif

That's during the installation of the nVidia motherboard drivers. If you say no, then WinXP will just use standard Microsoft IDE drivers for the ATA controllers on your board (both PATA and SATA), which is generally recognized as the least likely to have glitches.

 

[jndoggett]

I got it! Thank you. .

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: jndoggett
I got it! Thank you. .

excellent

 

[jndoggett]

MechBgon , sorry, I''m back. I have done everything (word by word) you said but it is not working. :Q
I still can't use my slave HD after SP2 installed(XP will load if only I remove the slave HD). On last post when I said " I got it !" I mean I got your msg about nVidia SW IDE Drives but not the problem fixed.

 

[mechBgon]

I see. Does the system work normally with just one hard drive? What BIOS revision is your A8N32-SLI using?

Western Digital's parallel-ATA drives have a special Single Master setting, like I mentioned before, so if you're troubleshooting and you have scenarios where you have either or both of your WD drives on cables by themselves, make sure they're on Single Master, which is different from standard Master. Single Master is when the jumper cap is removed from the pins completely, so it's easy to do.

Also, you mentioned setting up a Slave-Slave setup. If you meant that you set both drives to be Slave on the same cable, remember that doesn't work. You can have one Master and one Slave on the same cable, but not two of the same. It's OK to have both drives be Cable Select, though.

One other possible issue would be if you reversed the ATA cable. The 80-pin ones have one end that's colored, usually blue or red, which is meant to go on the motherboard. I think this has to do with the Cable Select capability, but I haven't researched it. Anyway, that's easy to check

 

[mechBgon]

Also, if you continue to have issues and they're clearly caused by installing Service Pack 2, then give teh Microsoft a call at 1 (800) 936-5800 and have your license key on hand. Last I heard, they provide free support for service-pack-related problems.

 

[John]

1) Jumper both drives as cable select
2) Put the drive with Windows on the end of the cable, the slave in the middle, blue end of the cable to mainboard.
3) Does the bios see both drives? If so and the OS still refuses to load see if you can boot to safe mode

 

[jndoggett]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I see. Does the system work normally with just one hard drive? What BIOS revision is your A8N32-SLI using?

Yes, before or after the SP2 is installed. Only two HD work before the SP2 was installed. The BIOS version number is 1303.

Also, you mentioned setting up a Slave-Slave setup. If you meant that you set both drives to be Slave on the same cable, remember that doesn't work. You can have one Master and one Slave on the same cable, but not two of the same. It's OK to have both drives be Cable Select, though.

Sorry, I actually meant the [IDE1/ Primary (bootable HD)]+[IDE1/Slave] or .[IDE1/ Primary (bootable HD)]+[IDE2/Slave]

One other possible issue would be if you reversed the ATA cable. The 80-pin ones have one end that's colored, usually blue or red, which is meant to go on the motherboard. I think this has to do with the Cable Select capability, but I haven't researched it. Anyway, that's easy to check

Both IDE cables are plugged in the right place. I even changed it to 2 new cables just to be sure.

Also, if you continue to have issues and they're clearly caused by installing Service Pack 2, then give teh Microsoft a call at 1 (800) 936-5800 and have your license key on hand. Last I heard, they provide free support for service-pack-related problems

Yes, I agree. Using the USB external HD case will be my last solution.

 

[jndoggett]

Originally posted by: John
1) Jumper both drives as cable select
2) Put the drive with Windows on the end of the cable, the slave in the middle, blue end of the cable to mainboard.
3) Does the bios see both drives? If so and the OS still refuses to load see if you can boot to safe mode

Thanks for reply. I have done that but it is not working. BIOS can see both HD. XP will try to load for about 5 sec then go back to reboot & stop at SAFE mode option screen to ask action. It does not matter which action I'm taking (load SAFE mmode or not) it will try to load XP (5 sec) then go back to reboot again.

 

[mechBgon]

Maybe the second hard drive is trying to boot, instead of the first one. At POST, hit the F8 key to bring up the boot-device selection menu (a feature of most recent-model Asus motherboards), manually select the drive that you installed WinXP on, and see if it can boot now. If you're not sure which one's which on the menu, try one first, then the other. What are the results now?

(although if that were the case, I realize it ought to happen with SP1 as well as with SP2 )

 

[jndoggett]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Maybe the second hard drive is trying to boot, instead of the first one. At POST, hit the F8 key to bring up the boot-device selection menu (a feature of most recent-model Asus motherboards), manually select the drive that you installed WinXP on, and see if it can boot now. If you're not sure which one's which on the menu, try one first, then the other. What are the results now?

(although if that were the case, I realize it ought to happen with SP1 as well as with SP2 )

Yes, this one is working. I put bootable HD on IDE1/Primary & 2nd HD on IDE1/Slave (both jumper set to C/S).
But I have to hit F8 everytime I want to boot otherwise the problem will come back again.
I have changed BIOS set up. Now it suppose boot from HD but I still need to hit F8 manually select boot from XP HD.

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, in the Asus BIOS menu, you set the HDD as the first boot device. Now also go into Hard Disk Drives there, and put your specific desired boot drive on the top of the HDD priority list. That should stop it from requiring the F8 trick every time.

Any good?

 

[jndoggett]

Thank God & cross my fingers. I did what you saying but it still require me to hit F8. So I reinstall BIOS. v1303 again. Now it is working. XP is loading. Slave HD is working. And I can eat my turkey now. Many many thanks to you mechBgon. Wish you have a very very Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. Thank you.:0

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: jndoggett
Thank God & cross my fingers. I did what you saying but it still require me to hit F8. So I reinstall BIOS. v1303 again. Now it is working. XP is loading. Slave HD is working. And I can eat my turkey now. Many many thanks to you mechBgon. Wish you have a very very Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. Thank you.

That's good news Sorry I led you into a whole new Windows installation unnecessarily!