Problem With my Gateway

mikey4865 · 04-30-2006, 07:37 PM

hey, i just got a gateway and for some reason it isnt recognizing my Cd drive.
IT is an older gateway so its running Windows 98.

I am really stumped here and any information on what to do, to get the computer to recognize the Cd drives would be great.

What do i do?

Bobo · 04-30-2006, 07:38 PM

Does it recognize the drive in the BIOS or not at all?

Is everything connected properly?

**The_Other_One** · 04-30-2006, 07:40 PM

Have you done anything inside recently? If not, the drive just might of given out. It happens...

mikey4865 · 04-30-2006, 07:45 PM

When i got the computer it was in pieces, i just put it together, i think it has something to do w/ the setup, what should The setup be for those drives?

I think it recognizes the BIOS

Bobo · 04-30-2006, 07:48 PM

Just set all the IDE drives on Cable Select, and plug them in. The BIOS should do the configuring for you.

mikey4865 · 04-30-2006, 07:50 PM

Cable Select?

Bobo · 04-30-2006, 07:54 PM

Jumper setting on the back of the drives. Do you know how to do that? If not, wait a minute and I will find something on google

Bobo · 04-30-2006, 07:56 PM

Installing an IDE Device

This section outlines the procedure for installing an additional IDE device. You can use a similar procedure when installing the first drive in a new PC or changing IDE configuration.

Determining the Configuration

Most motherboards have two IDE controllers: IDE1 (primary) and IDE2 (secondary). Each IDE controller can support a 40-pin cable with up to two devices attached. The devices must be configured by jumper settings as slave or master.
If there is only one device on the cable, use the master setting. (Some devices have a specific single jumper setting for this).
If you add a second device to the cable, use the slave setting. Configure the drive from which you want to boot as the master device on the primary controller, unless the boot sequence options in the BIOS settings let you choose otherwise.
Certain configurations give better performance than others.
You should configure the hard disk as the master drive on the primary controller and the CD-ROM as the master drive on the secondary controller. Less contention will occur because IDE can only service one request from one device at a time. Also, the CD-ROM is a much slower device and if you attach it to the same controller as the hard drive, it will slow down access.

Set Jumpers for Each Device

Use a pair of thin-nose pliers (or fingers) to set the appropriate jumper settings for each device. Instructions on configuring the jumpers are either contained within the documentation supplied with the device, or may be written on the device itself. If this documentation is not available, the Internet is an ideal source of reference.

Connecting the IDE Device

Take anti-static precautions.
Turn off the PC. Remove the power cable and the cover.
Check that there is a free drive bay to hold the extra disk.
Connect the IDE cable to the drive and the drive controller. The IDE cable must be correctly orientated. Usually it has a red stripe that should be aligned with Pin 1 on each connector (this is often marked with a white spot). The master and slave drives can be plugged into any connector on the cable. Cables are not usually supplied with the PC but may be supplied with the new hard drive. You may require an IDE cable with connections for two drives or a second IDE cable (if the secondary controller is to be used). Check that the data cable is correctly orientated.
Attach a cable from the power supply to the power connector on the new drive. The plug will only fit one way.
Fix the disk securely into the drive bay, using the screws provided.
Replace the cover and turn on the PC.

Configuring CMOS

All but the oldest PCs automatically detect and configure the BIOS to recognize the new device. If an auto-detect option is not available, use the CMOS setup utility to select the device-specific parameters. The settings for a hard disk drive include cylinders, heads, sectors, translation type, PIO mode and DMA mode. Ensure that you save the changes before exiting from the setup. Preparing a Hard Disk A new hard disk drive requires partitioning and formatting before it can be used; the FDISK and FORMAT commands are used for this purpose.

The jumper settings will look something like this:

but they differ for every drive

mikey4865 · 04-30-2006, 08:38 PM

ok , that explaination was alil intense, i dont knwo if i did what i was supposed to do, would it be to much trouble to explain what i have to do?

Bobo · 04-30-2006, 08:49 PM

Well it is pretty hard to explain exactly what you have to do, because I really need to be looking at the parts.

Is the CD drive on its own IDE channel? (does it have its own cord)

If so, then the jumper settings shouldn't matter

Is the IDE cable plugged in correctly?

Is the power plugged in?

Does the CD drive open/close?

04-30-2006, 07:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
mikey4865 Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 235	Problem With my Gateway hey, i just got a gateway and for some reason it isnt recognizing my Cd drive. IT is an older gateway so its running Windows 98. I am really stumped here and any information on what to do, to get the computer to recognize the Cd drives would be great. What do i do?

04-30-2006, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	Have you done anything inside recently? If not, the drive just might of given out. It happens... __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

04-30-2006, 07:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	Installing an IDE Device This section outlines the procedure for installing an additional IDE device. You can use a similar procedure when installing the first drive in a new PC or changing IDE configuration. Determining the Configuration Most motherboards have two IDE controllers: IDE1 (primary) and IDE2 (secondary). Each IDE controller can support a 40-pin cable with up to two devices attached. The devices must be configured by jumper settings as slave or master. If there is only one device on the cable, use the master setting. (Some devices have a specific single jumper setting for this). If you add a second device to the cable, use the slave setting. Configure the drive from which you want to boot as the master device on the primary controller, unless the boot sequence options in the BIOS settings let you choose otherwise. Certain configurations give better performance than others. You should configure the hard disk as the master drive on the primary controller and the CD-ROM as the master drive on the secondary controller. Less contention will occur because IDE can only service one request from one device at a time. Also, the CD-ROM is a much slower device and if you attach it to the same controller as the hard drive, it will slow down access. Set Jumpers for Each Device Use a pair of thin-nose pliers (or fingers) to set the appropriate jumper settings for each device. Instructions on configuring the jumpers are either contained within the documentation supplied with the device, or may be written on the device itself. If this documentation is not available, the Internet is an ideal source of reference. Connecting the IDE Device Take anti-static precautions. Turn off the PC. Remove the power cable and the cover. Check that there is a free drive bay to hold the extra disk. Connect the IDE cable to the drive and the drive controller. The IDE cable must be correctly orientated. Usually it has a red stripe that should be aligned with Pin 1 on each connector (this is often marked with a white spot). The master and slave drives can be plugged into any connector on the cable. Cables are not usually supplied with the PC but may be supplied with the new hard drive. You may require an IDE cable with connections for two drives or a second IDE cable (if the secondary controller is to be used). Check that the data cable is correctly orientated. Attach a cable from the power supply to the power connector on the new drive. The plug will only fit one way. Fix the disk securely into the drive bay, using the screws provided. Replace the cover and turn on the PC. Configuring CMOS All but the oldest PCs automatically detect and configure the BIOS to recognize the new device. If an auto-detect option is not available, use the CMOS setup utility to select the device-specific parameters. The settings for a hard disk drive include cylinders, heads, sectors, translation type, PIO mode and DMA mode. Ensure that you save the changes before exiting from the setup. Preparing a Hard Disk A new hard disk drive requires partitioning and formatting before it can be used; the FDISK and FORMAT commands are used for this purpose. The jumper settings will look something like this: but they differ for every drive Last edited by Bobo; 04-30-2006 at 07:59 PM.

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04-30-2006, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	Does it recognize the drive in the BIOS or not at all? Is everything connected properly?

04-30-2006, 07:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
mikey4865 Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 235	When i got the computer it was in pieces, i just put it together, i think it has something to do w/ the setup, what should The setup be for those drives? I think it recognizes the BIOS

04-30-2006, 07:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	Just set all the IDE drives on Cable Select, and plug them in. The BIOS should do the configuring for you.

04-30-2006, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
mikey4865 Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 235	Cable Select?

04-30-2006, 07:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	Jumper setting on the back of the drives. Do you know how to do that? If not, wait a minute and I will find something on google

04-30-2006, 08:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
mikey4865 Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 235	ok , that explaination was alil intense, i dont knwo if i did what i was supposed to do, would it be to much trouble to explain what i have to do?

04-30-2006, 08:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	Well it is pretty hard to explain exactly what you have to do, because I really need to be looking at the parts. Is the CD drive on its own IDE channel? (does it have its own cord) If so, then the jumper settings shouldn't matter Is the IDE cable plugged in correctly? Is the power plugged in? Does the CD drive open/close?