Author Topic: Not writing to HDD (Read 1637 times)

Edgedamage · « **on:** March 30, 2004, 09:29:10 am »

I just built a system and the problem I am having is the system wont write to HDD windows starts by saying "copying files needed for setup" and then it asks for a restart and when I do. It goes through the same thing over and over. I tested three HDD's and 4 IDE cables. now mind you the system is running a 230watt power supply. the main board is a ECS with a pro 2800+ cpu on board.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2004, 09:40:56 am »

well im not sure if it has anything to do with it but that power supply is really small for that system. athlons are known to use a little more then pentiums also, i use a 420W on my 2000 athlon XP

SirPeale · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2004, 09:46:55 am »

Yeah...that power supply, man...um...

DeathMonk · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:01:44 am »

Did you check to see if the HDD is set to "Active" in fdisk? That's what it sounds like to meh.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:40:51 am »

Well the bios says to hit f-3 in setup and when I do it finds the hdd instantly. Stupid system is at work now but I will test with a 450 watt power supply. Oh yah also this main board also has the p-4 cpu power plug which I am using. So is it possible that the HDD is going through the motions but there is not the power needed to lay down the mag info on the platters. Also when I swapped out the HDD with another it was reading what was on the HDD but when I did a format and then did Fdisk. And started to install win2k it said "hdd unfromatted or damaged" So I did a format with win2k
it said after format was at 100% "unable to format" So I removed all cables and double checked everything. And gave win another try it did the format and started to "copying files needed for setup" and it asked for a restart so I did. After the restart win started the whole "copying files needed for setup" again. Also the hdd is set to active.

JackTucky · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:45:13 am »

I had similar problems with a bad IDE cable. Did you try switching that out?

Art

Witchboard · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:00:14 am »

What version of Windows is it? If it's not 2K or XP... you have to take the CD out of the drive so it doesn't boot to it again. I'm sure you already did this, but figured I would throw that out there.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:04:22 am »

I tested a couple of ide cables and have the hdd on channel one and on the last connector on the ribbon cable and hdd set to master. also I am trying to install win2k pro.

Witchboard · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:07:28 am »

Okay, no prob then. It should ask you to strike a key for CD boot. Just checking.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:19:14 am »

Also forgot to say the mainboard is micro ATX.

allroy1975 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:47:27 am »

is it an "original" copy of the OS install disk?

have you ever installed of that EXACT disk before? from the SAME CD drives?

I was having a VERY similar problem with my not-original copy of XP. so I burned another copy and had the same problem..I couldn't get it to install off either of my DVD drives. it turned out to be that those drives couldn't read all of that disk or something. I re-burned to a different kind of disk and boom it worked perfect. But...man...I wasted a whole weekend being frustrated by this problem!

Anyway, Try a different disk or a different drive.

Allroy

Edgedamage · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:54:12 am »

Tested a couple of drives and cables. And used non-copy disks of win2k pro and win98.

pmc · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2004, 12:31:11 pm »

Consider this:

When asked to reboot, eject the CD and remove it. Enter the BIOS before the reboot and verify the HD is only device to boot from. Disable all other HDs. Exit & Save settings. Reboot.

You'll either boot off the partial W2K install or the machine will hang-up or error indicating that something's wrong with the BIOS settings, the drive, the partition, or the install. Either way, you'll know.

As per someone else's comment, run FDISK or PartitionMagic or something and verify that the partition is properly set and active. Then again, W2K shouldn't install without straightening that out for you.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2004, 12:43:08 pm »

Well after the reboot win reloads all the drivers and files again win asks to format the drive. And if I reformat the drive win will install "files needed for setup" and then will ask to reboot. And the whole cycle starts over again. I just called a friend who is good with hardware and he said to try using the hdd on channel two.

radiator · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:29:12 pm »

I had a problem like this with an old SCSI drive...never solved it though.

Have you tried installing the HDD in another machine, or vice versa?
At least then you can start narrowing down the faulty hardware possibilities.

pointdablame · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:47:30 pm »

what do you mean you are "using" the p4 aux power cable. That should only be used in a P4 motherboard, there should be nowhere to plug that into an AMD mobo. Also, it sounds like you may have a problem in the actual IDE channels if you've gone through all this. Try resetting your CMOS on the mobo by unplugging the battery and using the reset jumper (if applicable). This is just something that came to mind, but I don't honestly think it'll do much. You may also wanna see what options you have with returning your mobo for another one. I personally have dealt with ECS a few times, and they were very flaky. And I've heard bad things about these 2800+ Pro chips that are actually like Duron 1.4's or some such. If you have an actual AthlonXP 2800+ disregard that, but if not, its even more reason to see if its a mobo problem.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2004, 09:32:28 pm »

Quote from: pmc on March 30, 2004, 12:31:11 pm

Consider this:

When asked to reboot, eject the CD and remove it. Enter the BIOS before the reboot and verify the HD is only device to boot from. Disable all other HDs. Exit & Save settings. Reboot.

You'll either boot off the partial W2K install or the machine will hang-up or error indicating that something's wrong with the BIOS settings, the drive, the partition, or the install. Either way, you'll know.

As per someone else's comment, run FDISK or PartitionMagic or something and verify that the partition is properly set and active. Then again, W2K shouldn't install without straightening that out for you.

Man you hit the nail on the head. I did what you said and the comp restarted and win started the installation process and stopped and asked for the cd. In fact this responce is from the now working comp. Also I know it sound funny to have a AMD motherboard that uses the p-4 aux power connector. But the board has the connector and the little book says to use it. Again thank you EVERYONE who helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pmc · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:16:51 pm »

Glad to help. Been through that kind of thing a few times myself.

Make sure you reset you BIOS settings back to normal now. And you'll probably still want to upgrade that power supply. If you add another hard drive and a CDR and DVD and a USB device or three you'll start to get see some interesting behavior.

- pmc

Edgedamage · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:21:56 pm »

Thing that bugs me is I have installed win2kpro on 8 diffrent machines and this one was the only one that did not want the cd in the drive during the full install. That's what sent me for a loop. As for adding extras this comps only use is for my vertical cocktail cab.

StephenH · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2004, 01:07:06 am »

I would check the controller and the BIOS, as well as the master/slave jumpers.

Additionally, I would make sure the drive is formatted with FAT32 or NTFS.

You may want to try a boot disk with fdisk and see if there are any non-windows paritions on it, and if so delete them (note: data will be lost when you do this, btut it sounds like you are installing clean anyway).

SirPeale · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2004, 01:38:44 pm »

Quote from: StephenH on March 31, 2004, 01:07:06 am

I would check the controller and the BIOS, as well as the master/slave jumpers.

Additionally, I would make sure the drive is formatted with FAT32 or NTFS.

You may want to try a boot disk with fdisk and see if there are any non-windows paritions on it, and if so delete them (note: data will be lost when you do this, btut it sounds like you are installing clean anyway).

Boy did you come in late. He fixed his problem.

Edgedamage · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2004, 10:34:25 am »

Ok pride swallowing time:

#1 my first problem was the drive wasn't set to "active"

#2 my second problem not pulling out the cd when the op system asked for a restart.

"note to self when running a fever of 100f don't start to build a pc system"

Again thanks to everyone who helped!


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