Hi Brett,

I had the exact same problem with a customers computer recently.  I thought
the drive was bad and almost sent it back, then I was struck with an
inspiration.  I replaced the IDE cable and viola`, all drives came up and
were recognized as they should be.  They're pretty inexpensive, and it's
always handy to have an extra one hanging around, so it's worth checking
out.

Kyle Elmblade
Distinct Computer Solutions
Sales - Upgrades - Training - Consulting
[log in to unmask]
Due to the current economic situation, the light at the end of the tunnel
will be turned off until further notice.

From: "Brett Getz" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Maxtor hard drive


> Thanks for all your input.  I wanted to use the drive as a storage for
> pictures and mp3 files.  So I configured the hard drive as slave.  I have
> done everything I could, I am out of ideas I just bought the drive from
> Newegg.com so I don't know what I could do as far as returing the product.
> Any help would be great thanks again.

> From: "Bob Wright" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > At 09:53 PM 10/4/2002, Mike McNeil wrote:
> > >Hello, I was wondering if anybody could help me out with a Maxtor hard
> > >drive? I have currently two hard drives in my desktop pc.  The one is
> used
> > >for a master drive which is working fine.  The other is used for a
slave
> > >drive, this is the drive that is giving me promblems.  I have ran all
> tests
> > >on the hard drive everything comes up ok.  But when I go to to boot up
> the
> > >computer it won't let me boot up with the slave drive attached.  But
when
> I
> > >disconnect the slave drive the computer starts up fine.  If anybody
could
> > >help me some advice on what to do thanks Brett...
> > ==============================
> >
> > >Check the jumper settings on the 1st Hard drive to make sure it's not
set
> as
> > >a single master. You could also try changing the jumpers on both drives
> to
> > >cable select to see if that resolves the problem.
> > >Cheers
> > >Mike McNeil
> >
> > I only wish you had provided more information on the Maxtor drive.
> > I have found recently a couple of fairly new 40gig Maxtor drives that
> > have something wrong in that they begin to start locking up the
operating
> > system and over time they degrade to the point where you cannot even
> > completely boot the system without a lockup.  I have returned them under
> > warranty, as they were definitely defective.
> >
> > On the issue above about "cable select," the advice is incorrect.  Cable
> > Select is used with a special IDE cable that 'selects' which one is the
> > master, similar to how a floppy drive cable works.  You use these
> > special cables to plug the master connector into the master drive and
> > the slave connector into the slave drive.  Without this cable and
setting
> > your drives to Cable Select, you are in effect telling your system that
> > both are in neutral...  neither is a master or slave drive.  This is an
> old
> > option that failed in that it never caught on in popular use.
> >
> > If in fact you have a setup issue on the drives, be sure that your boot
> > drive is set to Master and your other drive is set to slave.
> >
> >     Bob Wright
> > The NoSpin Group, Inc.

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