Replace Primary Master Hard disk with Primary Slave

[sutanup]

Hello,
I have a desktop computer with following specs :
2.93 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo
Board: ASUSTeK P5QPL-AM Rev X.0x
266 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 0408
Intel(R) ICH7 Family Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)

I recently purchased a 160 gig HD and used it as the Slave disk. I formatted it and installed Windows XP while booting from and using the windows XP on the old disk. Then I removed the primary master (Old HD) and used its power and data connectors on the new HD. However, the computer does not boot and asks for a boot media.

 

[correon]

Mbr (Master boot record) is on old master hdd i guess
you have to install XP again - and with only 1 hdd connected - when installed you can connect old hdd

 

[sutanup]

Thanks Correon. I tried that last night but ended up with an endless sequence of windows rebooting after initial steps of installation and repeating same procedure again and again without any progress. The issue is that the BIOS is not recognising the hard disk while booting. Once I boot with Windows CD, then I can access the hard disk.

 

[szaboaz]

How is the jumper setting on them?

 

[Paperdoc]

szaboaz is pointing the right way. If I read your tale correctly, you now have only ONE IDE HDD connected to the Primary IDE port. Any IDE port MUST have a Master device, and MAY have a second device as Slave. There are two options for designating the single HDD as the port's Master. The most straightforward is to set the jumpers on it to the Master position. Use the diagram on this drive to guide you, NOT the diagram from another drive. Then connect this drive to the END connector on the ribbon cable if at all possible.

The other option is to set the drive's jumpers to CS (for Cable Select) and then the drive MUST be on the END connector in order to serve as Master.

 

[sutanup]

Thanks a ton. I did this yesterday and it worked.

 

[Paperdoc]

Hooray!

 

[szaboaz]

Cheers!

I suggest you select Paperdoc's comment as best answer. What a nice comment! Clear and concise, you can't ask for more. Even I have learned from it.

 

[sutanup]

Best answer selected by sutanup.

 

[sutanup]

best answer

 

[sutanup]

Thanks for all your help. I am still strugglling to get my computer up and running. Even after detecting the HD as primary master, windows is having problems recognising the fisk. I understand that this may have been due to the Linux installation and creation/modification of the partitions by the Linux Utility. I have to now reformat the drive and then try my luck again.

 

[szaboaz]

Keep us posted, I'm sure you'll sort it out.

And keep the old disk disconnected, until you get it right with the new. You know, the simpler the situation, the less things can go wrong.

 

[sutanup]

I think there is sth wrong with the disk. While installing XP, I was trying to format the drive. But the partitions are inaccessible to XP. Then I get a big ominous blue screen. Even if I use a Linux boot CD, the OS won't load. I am taking it to the vendor now.