**Cloning HDD problem**

Ive installed the new desktop HDD,and the pin config is set to slave.I didnt touch the old HDD pin but It should be master.I booted up and got an error saying ""install Windows please insert recovery disc"".I accidently pushed Enter without inserting disc,but it started up fine(as per normal).However,the 2nd HDD does not show up in the [My computer] or disk management.I had to manually detect the HDD in BIOs setting,that comes up ok but still,no HDD shows up in [My computer] or disk management.Any suggestions?

 

I thought this thread started off with the system being a Laptop. Now you say you "installed the new desktop HDD".

 

Now that this thread has reached a 2nd page, it would be nice to have an updated summary of the problem and its current status.

Generally speaking:
If you added a new drive, then
Bios should be set to AUTO for its position as slave
If jumpered as slave, then it has to be on middle ribbon connector and the end connector has to be occupied and the pin settings have to be master.
Use Disk Management to assign drive letters and partition/format the drive.
It won't show in "My Computer" until Windows has initialized it and has been formated with a drive letter assigned.

Note: When using the same ribbon cable, you should never jumper the second drive until you have determined how the first drive is jumpered. Both may need changing or the second one only may need changing.

 

Laptop before,now Im doing the Desktop.

For desktop

Ive connected the New HDD as slave on the same ribbon of the old HDD(old HDD is at the end of ribbon),The new HDD has pin configured as slave.I didnt touch the old HDD as I thought it would be set as master by default.One other thing is,the new HDD power cord is the slave to the old HDD's power cord.

I had to manually detect the new HDD in BIOs as it wasnt detected before,but BIOs detects it now.However [Disk management] doesnt detect it so I cant initialize,partition or format it.

One other thing...Ive noticed the CPU usage flutters between 0% and 100% often by just opening a web page or a file.

 

Try using the new ribbon cable which came with the new drive.

Don't guess. Please verify. It could be set to "cable select".

 

The new HDD never came with a ribbon,just the plain HDD(which doesnt have a case shell like the old one).After playing around with it again,Ive put them both on cable select with the old HDD at end of IDE ribbon.I connected a different power supply so theyre not running off the same one.Still nothing....if BIOs or CMOS in this case,detects the new HDD,would there still be a problem with the BIOs?...BTW..Its on Auto-detect.

PS,you have to bear with me in replying,Im taking computer apart then reconnecting before hoping on the net...

I think I might try the other ribbon which is connected to the DVDrom and CDwriter.

 

Now it shows up,I disconnected the DVDrom and CDwriter and set the New HDD as master on the IDE-2 ribbon and the old is master on the IDE-1 ribbon.Would this mean Im going to have to connect the DVDrom and CDwriter as slaves to the Old and new HDDs?...or would it be ok to put it back to Hardrives on one ribbon and CDriter and DVDrom on the other ribbon?

 

Never mind trying the dvdrom cable--it is too old. The new larger drives comes with a cable which has more internal wires.
The power cable is not an issue. It is only the data cable in discussion.

Can you give us some more info about the new disk--make & model, size, etc. Anything special in the user manual?

By "nothing" you are still meaning that the drive does not appear in the graphical interface of the XP Disk Management?

 

Replying to your post #32. I would put both drives on the same cable and both CDRom's on the other cable. The burner which is your boot drive should be the master or end connector. I would try to keep the same drive letters for your drives and cdrom settings, etc. Using disk management, you may have to remove the wrong drive letter and re-assign different drive letters in order to keep your old drive letter setup.

ps: This is my last post tonight.

 

OK Ill switch back to both HDDs on the same IDE cable...Heres the New HDD..

[160GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 8MB, ATA100, IDE]

PS,the desktop its going in is about 5 years old.

 

The two IDE cables that are in the desktop are both the same(I think they are 40wire),I have an 80wire cable from another computer but its slightly shorter,would this make a difference?

 

Ive just switched back to how it was before(both HDDs on the same IDE cable)and like before,the new HDD(slave) is not detected.

Both IDE cables are 80wire now,would it be wise to connect the new HDD as slave to CDwriter and DVDrom as slave to old HDD?

 

If that's the only way you can get the new drive to be seen, then go ahead and connect the cdrom drives as slaves. You may have to re-assign your preferred drive letters from within Disk Management.

Normally speaking,
on IDE cable 1, the primary master becomes C (end connector) and the primary slave (middle)becomes E
on IDE cable 2, the secondary master becomes D (end connector)and the middle connector becomes F

Good luck.

 

On the systems I've come across, mine and others, it didn't matter which connector on the cable I used, as long as the two devices on the cable were jumpered correctly - one, the hard drive, as master and the other, 2nd hd or optical device, as slave. Which connector I use is determined by whether they will physically reach the device.

If the hard drive in question is a WD, there are two jumper configurations for master, depending on whether it is the only device on the cable or whether there is a second device on the other connector.

 

Both HDDs are seagate.

What Ive done now is,disconnect the CDwriter and DVDrom,put each HDD on one IDE channel each(old HDD on Primary IDE),Ive now partitioned and formatted the new HDD,then Im going to install Windows on the new HDD by hooking it up as Master on the primary IDE with CDwriter as master on the secondary channel.Then reconnect the old HDD on the secondary IDE as Master with the CDwriter as slave,and the DVDrom(which gets the least use)will be slave on the primary channel to the new HDD.

 

It works now but...

OLD configuration (before)

*IDE primary channel-Old HDD
*IDE secondary channel-DVDrom(master) and CDwriter(slave)

NEW configuration (after)

*IDE primary channel-New HDD
*IDE secondary channel-CDwriter(master) and Old HDD(slave)

Since the cable wasnt long enough to connect the DVDrom I left it out,however,the DVDrom had an audio cable connected to it(I think it was connected to an analog input).So I transfered this audio cable to the CDwriter and connected it to the [analog] input,the CDwriter also has a [Digital] input.Now after installing Windows XP(SP1) from disc then updating,and installing other programs I go to play a song,and I get no sound!

Have I done something wrong here or do I have to update an audio driver or something like that.

NOTE: I did not clone the old HDD..just a full re-installation..

 

A place to start looking would be the Control Panel/Sound & Audio Devices.

Here you can look at all the various settings for the device and the audio settings.

If your CDRom drive has an audio output on its front, perhaps you could connect a headset to it and see if the CDRom is exporting any sounds.

Is it possible the audio cable you mentioned is mis-connected?

 

It probably is mis-connected,when I go to play music I keep getting mesages like "cannot use the audio device,another program might be using it" ...

In the control panel/sound & audio devices..I get a "No audio device".Even the CDwriter which has an audio output doesnt work (mind you,its never worked)

 

Everythings ok now,I just un-installed sound & Audio device in Device manager,then reinstalled driver from CDrom.Cheers,Now Im just waiting for my new laptop HDD after I sent it back.

 

Desktop is running fine now...

..but I want to upgrade my CDwriter now,which doesnt work properly(sometimes it cant read what its just burnt onto CD,and some CDs are unplayable)the DVDrom isnt as bad but it does have its moments in freezing but not often(usually only freezes when I try to play CDs burnt from the CDwriter).So I was looking at getting this... [Lite-On 20X LH-20A1H LightScribe Dual Layer DVDRW Drive] or this one [Philips SPD6002BD 18x DualLayer w/ lightscribe DVDRW Drive] both of them among the chepo's but she'll do for me.Should I look at investing in an IDE extension cable so I could hook the DVDrom up aswell(its not connected at the moment cos the IDE cable cant reach it) or one of those IDE-PCI cardbus,which option would give better performance?

 

If you do get a DVD burner, you do not need to have another optical device unless you want the convenience of it. The DVD burner will also burn CDs. And unless you plan to get the lightscribe capable blank discs (more expensive than standard blanks), you don't need a lightscribe burner.

 

As for a longer ribbon cable, no more than 18". Usually, you need to position your drives in their cages based on their intended position on the connectors. You need optimum positioning. The primary master works the hotest and if possible, it is always good to have an empty slot beneath it. And...any time you open the case, it's always a good idea to clean out the dust and make sure your intake/exhaust fans are clear. A can of compressed air can help a lot--and don't forget the aireate inside the power supply.

It very convenient having multiple burners. If you make copies of audio or DVD, a second burner makes it much easier.

If you create paper labels for your media, then I would strongly urge that you get a Lightscribe burner. I got one from Staples and it has been excellent. The mfgr was Samsung SH-S182M. Yes, the price of Lightscribe blanks are more expensive but BestBuy has them on sale quite frequently. You only need to use Lightscribe media when you are creating a special label--otherwise, normal media is ok.

My car dealer has indicated the most frequent problem they encounter with CD players is paper labels coming loose from the CD blank and jamming the audio player. He suggested either using Lightscribe or a Sharpie pen on a blank disc but to avoid the paper labels.

The burn times in creating a nice picture style lightscribe label is anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes but you can do other computer chores while the label is being created. The

The SureThing CD labeler Deluxe program makes a really nice label. I am partial to the Verbatim brand media. The DVD is bronze color while the CD's are a mixture of several colors. I will not buy HP or Memorex brand media.

 

Ive got everything up and running now(just recieved replacement laptop HDD after 2 weeks),so far no problems and hope it stays that way.So thanks to all those who helped me out,its much appreciated.

Cheers!