Most BIOSes offer two variants of automatic detection of IDE/ATAPI/etc
devices:

1. Auto detect at each boot
  This slows the boot process somewhat, but is often the only way to handle
removable drives or media.  I think that's what you're saying you've
configured.

2. Detect now and set CMOS parameters accordingly
  Even if you want or need to use the other setting, this is a good
diagnostic tool.  Try it and see what the BIOS reports for this drive.


  I believe I've seen a few motherboards over the years which have lacked
the keyed plastic shroud around each on-board IDE connector.  Without that
shroud, it can be easy to connect the IDE cable backwards, or off by one pin
pair from where it's supposed to go.
  Of course, also make sure you're plugging into the primary connector and
not the secondary.


  Also check the jumper settings on the drive.  Most offer three or four
options:

1. Master
2. Only (often this is the same setting as master, but not always)
3. Slave
4. "Cable Select"

  If that fourth option is selected, the drive will become master if it is
at the end of the cable, and slave if it's in the middle.  You might be
plugging it into the end connector in the old case, but the middle connector
in the new case.  (I know Dell has liked to ship all hard drives set this
way; Compaq might, too.)

David Gillett


On 17 Nov 2004 at 18:56, Lionel Daddy wrote:

> I just bought a new motherboard/CPU chip set and case for my son for his
> birthday to teach him how to build a computer.  We bought a PCCHIPS M825G;
> Socket 462 uATX with VIA KM 266 PRO/8235 CPU CHIP to upgrade from a 4-yr old
> Compaq Presario 5BW120 Intel Celeron 600 Mhz System.  We kept the Yamaha
> CD-RW and the original 15 GB IDE HD Quantum Fireball Lct 15  loaded with
> Ugraded Win XP OS.  When we assembled the new system together, we experience
> a bad power switch off the case and we replaced that.  Now that we have
> power, I configured the BIOS to auto detect the drives successfully, but no
> matter what the old drive would not boot, I just get a " - " waiting  on the
> screen after the boot up process finishes.  I have removed all other dirves
> and just tried to boot the drive itself as well as disbled the Flopply
> controller because I don't want to install a floppy.  I have also switched
> the old drive back to the old system to see if it is the HD, but it is not,
> it still worked fine.  Is there a possible problem with this old HD working
> on this new motherboard or could we have a bad mother board?  Please help me
> as soon as you can!  My problem now is I am active military remotely station
> in Turkey and I leave in 24 hours.  My family is here in Alaska while I am
> deployed overseas.  My goal is to fixed this before I leave so my son can
> have a working PC.  Thanks for any help you can provide and God Bless you
> all..
>
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