Patricia,

I read through this and here's what I suggest.  (Please note that I haven't
followed any other threads on this).  First; somewhere in the bios is a way
to set the system to "original" or "default" or "factory" settings.  Do this
and reboot. Second:  Be ABSOLUTETY sure that the cables to the drives are
correctly installed.  Normally the red "stripe" is oriented to the #1
position on the connectors of the drives (sometimes #1 isn't marked, but #2
is; this is still the correct place to orient the red "stripe").  Be sure
the POWER plug is plugged into each drive.  I'd even unplug each of them and
then plug them in again.  Please post more notes with your progress on this
and good luck.

Regards,
Fred Hahnel
EMAIL:  [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Patty Hopkins-Baldwin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 4:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCBUILD] HARDWARE:Configuration and setup error msgs./ issues


Good afternoon everyone,
You all have been so helpful and patient with me with my HDD and FDD
installation woes. I installed both with what I thought was a *breeze*!  I
am requesting that you all come to my *rescue* once more, please.

This is all the information I have copied from the system exactly in the
hopes that the hardware gurus < I do so appreciate you guys! > will be able
to tell me what exactly I've done wrong.  I've been to the ACER support
site; it's NOT very 'supporting', sent off a note to the tech. support,
installed another FDD, same problem exists with the *same* error msgs.

I installed both a HDD <*this info is on the *back* of the actual HDD > I
have it set to 'Master' within the BIOS and the jumper is in the 'second'
position on the jumper thingy on the back of the HDD_ Maxtor 3.2GB-model-
HDA/uplevel, PCBA/uplevel, unique/uplevel, cylinders: 6218, heads:16,
Master/Single:on, Jumper:J50, S/N: E6Q7AXLA, Slave: off, C.J.D.-B.49,
CT.208C1010NF7B8M,P/N:278774-001, manu. date:06-16-1997 EA,Cable Select:
J48 Installed > and a FDD < TEAC 1.44MB > in my Acer Aspire, specs:
PN:91.AB120.C01
MB: V55LA-N
EXT: 1534
MODEL:1534
RAM: 64MB < upgraded a year ago with no problems >
VIDEO: 1MB
CACHE: 256KB
S/N: 260 105 3886
D/S: AB.097.001
PURCHASED: 04/16/1997
BIOS V2.1 < I'm assuming it's an ACER BIOS as 'bios V2.1' is all that comes
up on the boot screen >

What should the BIOS/CMOS settings be?? < the HD is set at '0' then nothing
on the number '2' setting, nothing on number '3' setting then on the 4th is
says 'ATAPI CD-Rom' and in another section, I have in the boot sequence,
A-C, didn't work, then tried C-A, didn't work, then tried just 'C', nada,
still get the 'drive A: error msg and 'equipment configuration error' > CAn
I set the C-ROM drive as the boot drive?? I installed the HD and FDD fine.
Booted up with a WIN-95 boot disk < is a WIN95- boot disk same as a WIN98
boot disk?>, formatted the HDD, which is set to 'Master' as I replaced the
other HDD and am only using ONE HDD in the system.BUT, I had to secure the
FDD drive, so I took off the cables, screwed it in place, replaced the
cables again, THEN I started getting these error msgs.  And now when the
system boots up there is an 'A drive error' and an 'equipment configuration
error'. I went into the BIOS < setup > and selected the 'default settings'
saved and re-booted and still get these error messages. All the cables are
properly attached and connected to the drives the right way. Hard drive
spins, and the A; drive *tries* to read the start-up-boot diskette.  What
am I doing wrong?? What should the BIOS or CMOS settings be *exactly*?? Do
I need a BIOS upgrade for this drive? I don't have any extra components
installed; just the monitor, keyboard and mouse.  The system is keeping the
correct date and time.  I suspect I have changed some of the CMOS/BIOS
settings to the wrong ones, as both HDD and FDD are working, i.e.. the
drive light comes on in the FDD < also used the same cable the old diskette
drive was on, the cable that came with the new FDD just made the system
'beep' continuously when I installed it into the FDD controller on the MB >
and the HDD boots up to C:\ only. Bypasses the A: drive, save for the
configuration errors mentioned previously. Even get the same diskette A:
drive error msg. when I disconnect the cable from the diskette drive! So I
am suspecting I've changed the settings in the BIOS/CMOS/SETUP wrong! <
duh! > I was using a WIN95 OS but am going to install WIN98 when the errors
are fixed.< there is no OS now, only a formatted blank C:\ drive < HDD > as
I can't get past the error messages.>
ANY help/advice/solutions appreciated!!! I'd be pulling out my hair *if*
this was my only optional computer!!

Thank you sincerely,
Patricia Hopkins-Baldwin

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