Computer won't boot with a CD-drive and a HDD

D

Darkfett

New Member
It's and old motherboard and every device are using IDE.


I have one HDD and a CD-drive. If I start the computer with the HDD connected (CD-drive unconnected), the Windows XP logo will start loading, and after about a minute the computer restarts and the whole procedure starts over again. Same thing happens if I try to start it in safe mode.

As soon as i connect the CD-drive to the computer and starts it, the HDD started to sound weird and BIOS didn't find it. Only the CD-drive.

This is the HDD I'm using (not these jumper settings)
This is the CD/DVD-drive I'm using (not these jumper settings)

This is how I've connected the shit:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=sb614l&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=insqki&s=6
 
Try using separate IDE data cables for your hard drive and CD drives, then set each as master.

Failing that, reset you BIOS.
 
spirit said:
Try using separate IDE data cables for your hard drive and CD drives, then set each as master.

Failing that, reset you BIOS.
Click to expand...

How can I forget to think about resetting BIOS?! Thank you, BIOS now recognizes both devices!

I've been struggeling with the jumpers for two evenings and it's been driving me crazy. I feel embarrassed.

When I'm trying to install XP on the HDD, the Windows Setup (blue background white text) says something like "Windows can't be installed on the HDD because it's damaged. Press F3 to quit".

The thing is that the HDD has some type of OS installed on it already, and it can start booting it.
 
What brand of hard drive is it? I would suggest scanning the drive for errors. If you don't need the OS that is on the drive then just format it and try installing again.
 
johnb35 said:
What brand of hard drive is it? I would suggest scanning the drive for errors. If you don't need the OS that is on the drive then just format it and try installing again.
Click to expand...

While the drive is being formatted it sounds really bad (it's like a ticking sound that sounds like the lock arm would be going back and forth) so I guess it's damaged.

Well, I have another HDD (3.24 GB): MPC3032AT

When I'm connecting this HDD it won't get recognized. Only the CD driver is being recognized. I've reset BIOS but it didn't help.
 
That drive isn't big enough to do anything with. Sounds like you will need to buy a new decent size hard drive.
 
johnb35 said:
That drive isn't big enough to do anything with. Sounds like you will need to buy a new decent size hard drive.
Click to expand...

I only need to install XP on the drive. I don't need any programs at all. Are you sure XP itself requires more than 3 GB? I mean the installation CD is at 600 MB.
 
I've had XP installed on a 4GB HDD before, mind you, it was an RTM copy of XP, no updates or anything.

I think XP is about 1.5GB once installed, so it may fit... probably wouldn't recommend you try and run it on a 3GB HDD though.
 
spirit said:
I've had XP installed on a 4GB HDD before, mind you, it was an RTM copy of XP, no updates or anything.

I think XP is about 1.5GB once installed, so it may fit... probably wouldn't recommend you try and run it on a 3GB HDD though.
Click to expand...

At least I can try. The problem is that the computer won't recognize this HDD while my CD-driver is connected.
 
Try it and see.

Have you tried using separate IDE cables for your hard drive and CD drives?
 
The drives are probably jumpered wrong. Make sure they are jumpered correctly. Make sure both are set to master and attached to the end connector on the cable.
 
johnb35 said:
The drives are probably jumpered wrong. Make sure they are jumpered correctly. Make sure both are set to master and attached to the end connector on the cable.
Click to expand...

Did and still the same problem. I just realized I won't need this computer anyway so I will just throw it away.
 
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