8 replies to this topic

[Gregorama]

Today, I decided to raid my old computer and salvage what useful parts I could find.  I took out a hard drive and a dvd rom.  I installed the old hard drive as a slave drive on this computer, and everything worked out fine.  When I installed the dvd rom (There's only one cd drive currently, which is a CD/DVD RW) I can't get past my bios.  It keeps trying to search for a master drive.  Once I take out the dvd rom, everything loads up fine.

Any ideas on why this is happening?

[Mr. Hahn]

It starts searching for a master harddrive or CD-rom? If it's searching for a master harddrive, I have no clue.

If it's searching for a master cd-rom, I'm not too sure. Is that the only one connected, or is it a second one hooked up to the computer? I don't think it matters which connection a CD drive is on on the IDE cable. However, if it's one you added and changed the order on the cable, try hooking it up how it was and putting the salvaged one of the slave connection.

[Sin0cide]

well I am kinda spacing... but two questions... is it on its own cable... what are the jumper settings on all drives and is it on master or slave ide slot?  ok thats three but I warned you I was spacing...

[Mr. Hahn]

Are there jumpers on the back of CD-roms? I only remember them being on HDs. Shows you how long it's been since I've installed one.

[JustinOhioRR]

dood....cd roms and dvd roms should i have jumpers, are you sure you have both cd roms hooked up to the same data ribbon? thats the only thing that will give you problems

check the cd rom jumpers and check thecable, DONT let it be connected to the HD IDE cable...especially fi they are both set at master.....

[Gregorama]

Yes, both cd drives are hooked up to the same data ribbon.  I'm still not understanding why it won't detect them when I have it installed.  I got it to actually start up with the dvd rom in it, but when it's in, my computer doesn't detect either disc tray, just the hard drives.  And once I take out the dvd rom, everything boots up correctly, and the two hard drives and dvd burner work.  

Suggestions?

[Mr. Hahn]

I just checked. There are jumpers.

I bet that's your problem. Make sure the drive connected to the end of your cable has the master jumper configuration and the drive connected half way down the cable has the slave jumper configuration. If the jumpers are set incorrectly, they won't get read right. Whether that would cause your system to stop at the BIOS, I guess we'll see.

[Gregorama]

...god fucking damnit.  The jumper hook-up for the slave to the dvd rom has only two pins.  I don't even have a jumper to fit that.

[bigw]

can you make your own jumper? And what happens when you disconnect the cd rom and leave the dvd in?