Mobo/HDD Problem

[Paulr]

Hey everyone, please help, I am totally confused now.

I bought my son a new motherboard as he's old Epox gave in, but when I built it in it started giving me a "Primary Drive Failure" message right after POST.

I took out his HDD, chucked it in my PC and it works! Put my HDD in his PC and then it works!

I've changed HDD cables, even the power supply but that board does NOT want to talk to the drive.

The mobo is a ASUS A7V600-X and the HDD a Maxtor 4D040H2 (40gig)

Does anyone have a clue what else I can do? All the components work, they just don't seem to want to work with each other.....

Thanks in advance!

 

[|tera|]

Is it an IDE or SATA harddrive? If it's IDE, just check the jumpers(if you haven't already) Other posibilties could be the BIOS, make sure all the correct settings are configured in the BIOS for the hdd and that the harddrive controller is set to active.

 

[Paulr]

It's IDE drive, all jumpers are set the way they should be etc.

What is funny is that during drive detection, it identifies the drive but then kicks out the failure message.

It happens on all the channels.

Nothing wrong with the drive, it booted up in my PC.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[|tera|]

Just make sure you have the SATA controller disabled in the BIOS, just double check that, it may interfere with IDE, I can't download the motherboard manual from ASUS and I swear just because of ASUS support I will never buy an ASUS product in my entire life, LOL!

 

[|tera|]

In advanced configuration, I/O device configuration make sure "onboard ATA boot rom" is disabled (this is SATA)

Edit: Also check the main hdd configuration is set to AUTO and check the boot menu, the harddrive should be there under "IDE hardrive"

 

[mancombseepgood]

Possibly OT

But... have you tested with another PSU?
That could also be giving grief... possibly the reason the first mobo gave up. It is a long shot - just in case u dont come right. Check the PC health status in the Bios if it displays it - check your voltages.

 

[GuRu]

What operating system is on the HDD as Xp tends to bomb out when you change components.
If you are running Xp then do a reinstall using the recovery/repair option.

 

[Paulr]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Everything is set the way you suggested. Remember that my drive works in his PC without a problem, and my son's drive work in my pc.

Must be gremlins in his room.......

 

[dabouncer]

What operating system is on the HDD as Xp tends to bomb out when you change components.
If you are running Xp then do a reinstall using the recovery/repair option.

Guru, are u sure u even read the initial post? I would suggest a bios update. They tend to fix most issues with this kind of stuff. My Maxtor also gave me some grief - but now it is dead.

 

[mancombseepgood]

Yeah

Thanks for the help everyone.

Everything is set the way you suggested. Remember that my drive works in his PC without a problem, and my son's drive work in my pc.

Must be gremlins in his room.......

I once had a mobo that worked until you lowered it into the box. I discovered this by accident and was totally confused to say the least. Must have been something to do with the PSU interfering / creating too much EMF / noise. Weird.

 

[Paulr]

Well, I tried everything. Flashed the bios to v1009, tried to run everything outside the box... NOTHING!

Off to Matrixwharehouse to buy another drive, I guess.

Thanks for everyone's efforts!

 

[.geek]

Hard drives, such a frustration!

Have you formatted it? Or does it have an OS on it?

 

[mancombseepgood]

Uh...

Well, I tried everything. Flashed the bios to v1009, tried to run everything outside the box... NOTHING!

Off to Matrixwharehouse to buy another drive, I guess.

Thanks for everyone's efforts!

I wouldn't do that - especially if it's the Mobo thats at fault - compatibility wise... I would rather take the mobo back and get another.

 

[|tera|]

And if you're buying a new hdd, just get an SATA, enable SATA again and Bob's your uncle

 

[GuRu]

Guru, are u sure u even read the initial post? I would suggest a bios update. They tend to fix most issues with this kind of stuff. My Maxtor also gave me some grief - but now it is dead.

I make it a point to read all posts before i post a reply

 

[Paulr]

Well guys, got a new Samsung Spinpoint, hooked it up to my son's PC and it runs like a dream.

At the same time the Maxtor is quite happily chugging away in my PC.

And if you're buying a new hdd, just get an SATA, enable SATA again and Bob's your uncle

- I rather got a normal IDE as all the other PC's in the house are still IDE, so at least I can chop and change if I have to. (Yeah I Know it's old tech, but I suffer from "Cash Defecit Disorder")

wouldn't do that - especially if it's the Mobo thats at fault - compatibility wise... I would rather take the mobo back and get another.

Thanks for the idea - problem is if they test the board it will work fine! Just not with this specific drive.

I guess this will be one of those things I still wonder about when I die one day!

Thanks again to everyone!!

 

[|tera|]

Glad you got it working Paul

Edit: Afrikaans translation for Cash Defecit Disorder: (FGS) F0k0l Geld Sindroom, hehe

Ek het ook FGS.