Question to test your skills (I know the EXACT answer)

[PC Technology INC.]

OK here's a juicy one.

A motheboard, a HDD, and a CD-ROM drive is in there.

Both HDD and CD-ROM are plugged in the SAME IDE cable onto the motherboard. It appears that the board can't boot from ANY of these two.
How do you solve it?

The one with the correct answer is the one who is smarter.

On your mark...get set...GO!!!

 

[dave597]

its seems like this is an imperfect knowledge game, how are we supposed to know if we have a lot less information than you.

personally i would experiment with what is available to hand.
maybe plug them into different cables see which one is broken, play around with the bios. or maybe the mobo is broken. anything really. there is no correct answer.

 

[Praetor]

The one with the correct answer is the one who is smarter.

Fallacy: how do you compare when two people know the answer?

its seems like this is an imperfect knowledge game, how are we supposed to know if we have a lot less information than you.

Inconsequential. The simple fact that there are multiple failure conditions nullifies the comment about know the exact answer.

 

[PC Technology INC.]

Nope both of them works. A hint:
Two small chips behind each drives.
Starts with a J.
"Master"
I already said too much . come on. It's easy.

 

[dave597]

personally i would never be stupid enough to not check the jumpers before installing new hdds and cd drives.

 

[PC Technology INC.]

Fallacy: how do you compare when two people know the answer?
exact answer.

They both get smarter... It's only a joke. Everyone's smart! Just think!

 

[PC Technology INC.]

personally i would never be stupid enough to not check the jumpers before installing new hdds and cd drives.

AH HA! Now tell me how come I thought that when my school's PROFESSIANAL computer technician didn't think of!

You're right . BRAVO!

 

[Praetor]

They both get smarter... It's only a joke. Everyone's smart! Just think!

And then how is one smarter?

Nope both of them works. A hint:
Two small chips behind each drives.
Starts with a J.
"Master"
I already said too much . come on. It's easy.

And you obviously missed something when I said there can be multiple failure conditions. If you want to test skills, please ensure that there is only one solution.

 

[PC Technology INC.]

And then how is one smarter?


And you obviously missed something when I said there can be multiple failure conditions. If you want to test skills, please ensure that there is only one solution.

IDE cable works, all are plugged in. Configured, active.

How to find out which is smarter? Test ALL of us and see

 

[Praetor]

IDE cable works, all are plugged in. Configured, active.

Im bored so ill indulge:
- Missing ROM
- Missing CPU
- Missing power
- Running an overclocked drive controller
- Having the IDE cable backwards on an older mobo (usually MSI)
- Lack of anything to boot off
- Old mobo, the floppy being the only boot device
.... and a classic ...
You're booting a terminal when the NBD is down.

How to find out which is smarter? Test ALL of us and see

You cant. Intellect comes in many facets. But if you do want a problem to chew on have a look at http://www.computerforum.com/showthread.php?t=2261&highlight=ATIP



Oh and one more....
user keeps pressing the reset button...

 

[PC Technology INC.]

Have a look