PDA

View Full Version : XP does not recognize secondary hard drive


tko69
March 21st 08, 03:56 AM
Hello,

I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When the
install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the My
Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does exist.

A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the same
setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both drives - no
problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How can I
get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?

Please help.
Thanks in advance,
Danny

Mark L. Ferguson
March 21st 08, 03:19 PM
Well, there is no exception to the rule that the BIOS has to see the drive
before anything else will see it, Windows or any other operating system.
You either have a setting wrong in the BIOS, or some physical connection
problem with the hard drive or controller card. I would test the drive in
another system first, to be sure it works (or switch connectors.) The bios
should report it if it is ok.
Once you know the drive works, look at the cables, power, and so on.
--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
Mark L. Ferguson
..

"tko69" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When
> the
> install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the My
> Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does exist.
>
> A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the
> same
> setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both drives -
> no
> problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How can I
> get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?
>
> Please help.
> Thanks in advance,
> Danny

Anna
March 21st 08, 04:29 PM
"tko69" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When
> the
> install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the My
> Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does exist.
>
> A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the
> same
> setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both drives -
> no
> problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How can I
> get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?
>
> Please help.
> Thanks in advance,
> Danny


Danny:
We'll assume that secondary HDD is non-defective since it was apparently
working OK just prior to the time you reinstalled the OS onto your primary
HDD. That's right, isn't it? And you didn't make any changes in its
connection/configuration, right?

And we'll further assume that when the secondary HDD is *disconnected* from
your system your primary HDD with the new OS boots without incident and
functions properly. That's also right, isn't it?

So when you reconnect the secondary HDD to your system, is it now detected
by the system? Or still the same problem?

If that HDD is detected in Device Manager, but still cannot be accessed,
have you gone into Disk Management to see if the drive is listed there?
Possibly without a drive letter assignment? If so, can you assign it a drive
letter in DM?
Anna

tko69
March 21st 08, 07:34 PM
Hi Anna,

Thanks for the reply. All your assumptions are correct. Nothing was changed
in the config of the hard drives, etc...
In the DM, the second HD was detected, but I am unable to allocated a letter
to the drive. What can I do now?

Thanks in advance,
Danny

"Anna" wrote:

>
> "tko69" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When
> > the
> > install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the My
> > Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does exist.
> >
> > A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the
> > same
> > setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both drives -
> > no
> > problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How can I
> > get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?
> >
> > Please help.
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Danny
>
>
> Danny:
> We'll assume that secondary HDD is non-defective since it was apparently
> working OK just prior to the time you reinstalled the OS onto your primary
> HDD. That's right, isn't it? And you didn't make any changes in its
> connection/configuration, right?
>
> And we'll further assume that when the secondary HDD is *disconnected* from
> your system your primary HDD with the new OS boots without incident and
> functions properly. That's also right, isn't it?
>
> So when you reconnect the secondary HDD to your system, is it now detected
> by the system? Or still the same problem?
>
> If that HDD is detected in Device Manager, but still cannot be accessed,
> have you gone into Disk Management to see if the drive is listed there?
> Possibly without a drive letter assignment? If so, can you assign it a drive
> letter in DM?
> Anna
>
>
>

Anna
March 21st 08, 09:51 PM
>> "tko69" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When
>> > the
>> > install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the
>> > My
>> > Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does
>> > exist.
>> >
>> > A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the
>> > same
>> > setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both
>> > drives -
>> > no
>> > problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How
>> > can I
>> > get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?
>> >
>> > Please help.
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> > Danny


>> "Anna" wrote:
>> Danny:
>> We'll assume that secondary HDD is non-defective since it was apparently
>> working OK just prior to the time you reinstalled the OS onto your
>> primary
>> HDD. That's right, isn't it? And you didn't make any changes in its
>> connection/configuration, right?
>>
>> And we'll further assume that when the secondary HDD is *disconnected*
>> from
>> your system your primary HDD with the new OS boots without incident and
>> functions properly. That's also right, isn't it?
>>
>> So when you reconnect the secondary HDD to your system, is it now
>> detected
>> by the system? Or still the same problem?
>>
>> If that HDD is detected in Device Manager, but still cannot be accessed,
>> have you gone into Disk Management to see if the drive is listed there?
>> Possibly without a drive letter assignment? If so, can you assign it a
>> drive
>> letter in DM?
>> Anna


"tko69" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Anna,
>
> Thanks for the reply. All your assumptions are correct. Nothing was
> changed
> in the config of the hard drives, etc...
> In the DM, the second HD was detected, but I am unable to allocated a
> letter
> to the drive. What can I do now?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Danny


Danny:
Assuming you haven't done this already...

1. Shut down the machine and disconnect that secondary HDD.
2. Boot just to your primary HDD.
3. Shut down the machine and reconnect the secondary HDD. Again, make
certain you've correctly/securely connected/jumpered it.
4. Boot
5. See if the drive is now recognized in the system.

If still no go, after shutting down the PC reconnect the secondary HDD to
the other IDE channel. (Although you didn't say, I'm assuming you're working
with a PATA (not a SATA) HDD. Presumably it's connected as a slave to your
Primary Master (boot) drive. So connect it on the secondary IDE channel -
either Master or Slave - it doesn't matter. See if that works out.

If you're working with a SATA HDD, just reconnect it to another SATA
connector.

If still no go, it might be best to check out the disk with the HDD
diagnostic utility available from the disk's manufacturer.
Anna

Bill Blanton
March 24th 08, 01:33 AM
In addition to what Anna suggested... if you had Goback installed, and now
not, you'll need to either reinstall Goback or unhook it from the drive.

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/goback.nsf/docid/2005111514174058?OpenDocument&src=hot&seg=hho

This is a fairly common problem.


"tko69" > wrote in message ...
> Hello,
>
> I recently installed a new version of X2 SP2 on the primary drive. When the
> install was complete, I was not able to see the secondary drive in the My
> Computer window. From the BIOS and Device Manager, the drive does exist.
>
> A little history, I had an older version of Windows installed with the same
> setup (primary and secondary drives) and I was able to use both drives - no
> problem. I have data on the second drive that cannot be deleted. How can I
> get Windows to recognize the secondary drive?
>
> Please help.
> Thanks in advance,
> Danny

Google