Installing a New Western Digital Drive

If the drive information is being reported with different characters other
than the actual letters/numbers that it should report as, it's highly possible
that the data ribbon cable is defective.
If you didn't recieve a Data Lifeguard Diagnostics disk with the drive, you
can download it via:
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...vel1=5&lang=en

On the linked page select the type of drive you have and you will be directed
to the proper download(s) page for your drive. I suggest downloading both the
Windows and DOS versions. The Windows version installs/runs in Windows where
you can test your WD drive(s) integrity. The DOS version runs only in a DOS
environment from a bootable disk, it will not run in from within Windows.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"W. eWatson" wrote in message

W. eWatson wrote:
Brian A. wrote:
"W. eWatson" wrote in message

My C-drive is a WCD1200JB, IDE. I'm trying to install a new one,
WCD1200JB also, as a slave. The drive on the end of the cable is the
old drive. The slave, the new one, is in the middle of the cable. I
have no pins used on the new drive, and one jumper over the two pins
one set away from the power plug. When I fire up, the machine sees
both master and slave in bios, but in the OS there is no trace of the
new drive. What's wrong here?

The pins jumped on WD drives should be Master w/Slave and and Slave,
other wise they could both be jumped as Cable Select. The drive
should have a diagram for the jumper settings on the label on the top
of the drive.

Master w/Slave = Center pins jumped
Slave = 2nd pins from right of power cable jumped

Looking at the back of the drive:
Master w/Salve
n n j n n
n n j n n

Slave
n n n j n
n n n j n

If that doesn't resolve the issue:
Did you partition/format the drive?
Are you using a "40 pin/80 wire" or "40 pin/40 wire" ribbon data cable?

I think the jumpers are right. They always seem to manage to put the
little jumper table sticker in a place where it can't be seen once
you've installed it. I just pulled the drive out of the package and put
it in place with whatever ribbon cable I had before. I haven't formatted
it.

I don't know which cable I have. I'll take a look at it and the jumpers
after I post here.

I have a 10-pin block next to the power plug. Back in awhile. It looks

My cable is blue (system), gray (slave) and black (master). So I guess
that a cable select. According to the pdf provided in a post, the
settings should be:
cable select (master?)
n n n n j
n n n n j
Dual(Slave)
n n n j n
n n n j n

When I look at bios, both drives are WD1200JB-00GVA.
However, if I look at the settings, I see:

C- Drive D-Drive
IDE HDD Auto: Press Enter Press Enter
IDE primary: auto auto
access: auto auto
Capacity: 120GB 33822GB !!!! Yes, MB
Cylinders: 57461 65531 !!
Head: 16 16
Precomp: 0 0
Landing zone: 57461 65530
Sectors: 255 63

What's that about??? Defective drive?
I tried a few different jumper settings and either got the OS to
recognize the c-drive, but never the d-drive.

I'm using an ABIT VA-10 MB. Am I flying into a head wind here. The bios
shows IDE on anything to do with the HDDs, and the MB shows IDE marked
on the board connectors. Perhaps this MB doesn't even support drive
select. I can't find my manual now, and the web doesn't show any free
ones. ABIT's site is down. My oh my.

If the drive information is being reported with different characters other
than the actual letters/numbers that it should report as, it's highly possible
that the data ribbon cable is defective.
If you didn't recieve a Data Lifeguard Diagnostics disk with the drive, you
can download it via:
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...vel1=5&lang=en

On the linked page select the type of drive you have and you will be directed
to the proper download(s) page for your drive. I suggest downloading both the
Windows and DOS versions. The Windows version installs/runs in Windows where
you can test your WD drive(s) integrity. The DOS version runs only in a DOS
environment from a bootable disk, it will not run in from within Windows.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"W. eWatson" wrote in message

W. eWatson wrote:
Brian A. wrote:
"W. eWatson" wrote in message

My C-drive is a WCD1200JB, IDE. I'm trying to install a new one,
WCD1200JB also, as a slave. The drive on the end of the cable is the
old drive. The slave, the new one, is in the middle of the cable. I
have no pins used on the new drive, and one jumper over the two pins
one set away from the power plug. When I fire up, the machine sees
both master and slave in bios, but in the OS there is no trace of the
new drive. What's wrong here?

The pins jumped on WD drives should be Master w/Slave and and Slave,
other wise they could both be jumped as Cable Select. The drive
should have a diagram for the jumper settings on the label on the top
of the drive.

Master w/Slave = Center pins jumped
Slave = 2nd pins from right of power cable jumped

Looking at the back of the drive:
Master w/Salve
n n j n n
n n j n n

Slave
n n n j n
n n n j n

If that doesn't resolve the issue:
Did you partition/format the drive?
Are you using a "40 pin/80 wire" or "40 pin/40 wire" ribbon data cable?

I think the jumpers are right. They always seem to manage to put the
little jumper table sticker in a place where it can't be seen once
you've installed it. I just pulled the drive out of the package and put
it in place with whatever ribbon cable I had before. I haven't formatted
it.

I don't know which cable I have. I'll take a look at it and the jumpers
after I post here.

I have a 10-pin block next to the power plug. Back in awhile. It looks

My cable is blue (system), gray (slave) and black (master). So I guess
that a cable select. According to the pdf provided in a post, the
settings should be:
cable select (master?)
n n n n j
n n n n j
Dual(Slave)
n n n j n
n n n j n

When I look at bios, both drives are WD1200JB-00GVA.
However, if I look at the settings, I see:

C- Drive D-Drive
IDE HDD Auto: Press Enter Press Enter
IDE primary: auto auto
access: auto auto
Capacity: 120GB 33822GB !!!! Yes, MB
Cylinders: 57461 65531 !!
Head: 16 16
Precomp: 0 0
Landing zone: 57461 65530
Sectors: 255 63

What's that about??? Defective drive?
I tried a few different jumper settings and either got the OS to
recognize the c-drive, but never the d-drive.

I'm using an ABIT VA-10 MB. Am I flying into a head wind here. The bios
shows IDE on anything to do with the HDDs, and the MB shows IDE marked
on the board connectors. Perhaps this MB doesn't even support drive
select. I can't find my manual now, and the web doesn't show any free
ones. ABIT's site is down. My oh my.

When I look at bios, both drives are WD1200JB-00GVA.
However, if I look at the settings, I see:

C- Drive D-Drive
IDE HDD Auto: Press Enter Press Enter
IDE primary: auto auto
access: auto auto
Capacity: 120GB 33822GB !!!! Yes, MB
Cylinders: 57461 65531 !!
Head: 16 16
Precomp: 0 0
Landing zone: 57461 65530
Sectors: 255 63

What's that about??? Defective drive?
I tried a few different jumper settings and either got the OS to
recognize the c-drive, but never the d-drive.

I'm using an ABIT VA-10 MB. Am I flying into a head wind here. The
bios shows IDE on anything to do with the HDDs, and the MB shows IDE
marked on the board connectors. Perhaps this MB doesn't even support
drive select. I can't find my manual now, and the web doesn't show any
free ones. ABIT's site is down. My oh my.

The board has room for two cables and up to four drives. Place
your working device(s) on one cable. Place the suspicious drive
all by itself, on the end of the second cable. Jumper it for
Single Master (probably no jumpers). What does it show in the
BIOS now ? A single drive on the end of the cable, gives the
best signal integrity.

Your results look like perhaps there is data corruption on the cable.

The best kind of wiring for IDE, is the 80 wire cable. The wires
are a little thinner looking than the 40 wire cable. The difference
is, on the 80 wire cable, every second wire is a ground signal,
which controls the impedance better and reduces crosstalk. The introduction
of 80 wire cables is what made the higher Ultra transfer rates work.
And they're recommended for their general goodness. If you're
using 40 wire cables still, pick up a few spares of the 80 wire
cables while you still can.

There is another thing that can influence signal quality, but it
might not be exposed on too many BIOS screens. There is an
IDE "drive strength" setting, with options like "strong" or
"normal" or the like. You really shouldn't play with that.
The setting should be left at the factory default, because
the factory setting is likely to match the normal cable
impedance. You can cause a mismatch by adjusting that setting,
and it is debatable whether such setting should even show
in the BIOS. (They used to do that for AGP as well, but
in that case, there was enough variation between chipsets,
that end users may need to tune it - even if they can't
tell what is going on.)

Paul
As it turns out, I have two different 80 wire cables. I'll try the other
one later today. The other (E)IDE connector has a DVD on it, but I'll
disconnect it and try the odd HD on it. No "drive strength" that I
noticed, but I wasn't really looking. I'll come back to this later
today. It's 3:40 am here.

When I look at bios, both drives are WD1200JB-00GVA.
However, if I look at the settings, I see:

C- Drive D-Drive
IDE HDD Auto: Press Enter Press Enter
IDE primary: auto auto
access: auto auto
Capacity: 120GB 33822GB !!!! Yes, MB
Cylinders: 57461 65531 !!
Head: 16 16
Precomp: 0 0
Landing zone: 57461 65530
Sectors: 255 63

What's that about??? Defective drive?
I tried a few different jumper settings and either got the OS to
recognize the c-drive, but never the d-drive.

I'm using an ABIT VA-10 MB. Am I flying into a head wind here. The
bios shows IDE on anything to do with the HDDs, and the MB shows IDE
marked on the board connectors. Perhaps this MB doesn't even support
drive select. I can't find my manual now, and the web doesn't show any
free ones. ABIT's site is down. My oh my.

The board has room for two cables and up to four drives. Place
your working device(s) on one cable. Place the suspicious drive
all by itself, on the end of the second cable. Jumper it for
Single Master (probably no jumpers). What does it show in the
BIOS now ? A single drive on the end of the cable, gives the
best signal integrity.

Your results look like perhaps there is data corruption on the cable.

The best kind of wiring for IDE, is the 80 wire cable. The wires
are a little thinner looking than the 40 wire cable. The difference
is, on the 80 wire cable, every second wire is a ground signal,
which controls the impedance better and reduces crosstalk. The introduction
of 80 wire cables is what made the higher Ultra transfer rates work.
And they're recommended for their general goodness. If you're
using 40 wire cables still, pick up a few spares of the 80 wire
cables while you still can.

There is another thing that can influence signal quality, but it
might not be exposed on too many BIOS screens. There is an
IDE "drive strength" setting, with options like "strong" or
"normal" or the like. You really shouldn't play with that.
The setting should be left at the factory default, because
the factory setting is likely to match the normal cable
impedance. You can cause a mismatch by adjusting that setting,
and it is debatable whether such setting should even show
in the BIOS. (They used to do that for AGP as well, but
in that case, there was enough variation between chipsets,
that end users may need to tune it - even if they can't
tell what is going on.)

Paul
As it turns out, I have two different 80 wire cables. I'll try the other
one later today. The other (E)IDE connector has a DVD on it, but I'll
disconnect it and try the odd HD on it. No "drive strength" that I
noticed, but I wasn't really looking. I'll come back to this later
today. It's 3:40 am here.

Brian A. wrote:
If the drive information is being reported with different characters
other than the actual letters/numbers that it should report as, it's
highly possible that the data ribbon cable is defective.
If you didn't recieve a Data Lifeguard Diagnostics disk with the drive,
you can download it via:
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...vel1=5&lang=en

On the linked page select the type of drive you have and you will be
directed to the proper download(s) page for your drive. I suggest
downloading both the Windows and DOS versions. The Windows version
installs/runs in Windows where you can test your WD drive(s) integrity.
The DOS version runs only in a DOS environment from a bootable disk, it
will not run in from within Windows.


It looks like I have Caviar Blue, and there is only one such program for
the 20 or so drives there. One of them is mine. I'll stick with the Win
version, 387K zip file. Back later when it's actually daylight outside.
The PC is in an out building. Pretty cold out there now. 3:40 am. I'll
try the second 80 wire cable I have.

Brian A. wrote:
If the drive information is being reported with different characters
other than the actual letters/numbers that it should report as, it's
highly possible that the data ribbon cable is defective.
If you didn't recieve a Data Lifeguard Diagnostics disk with the drive,
you can download it via:
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...vel1=5&lang=en

On the linked page select the type of drive you have and you will be
directed to the proper download(s) page for your drive. I suggest
downloading both the Windows and DOS versions. The Windows version
installs/runs in Windows where you can test your WD drive(s) integrity.
The DOS version runs only in a DOS environment from a bootable disk, it
will not run in from within Windows.


It looks like I have Caviar Blue, and there is only one such program for
the 20 or so drives there. One of them is mine. I'll stick with the Win
version, 387K zip file. Back later when it's actually daylight outside.
The PC is in an out building. Pretty cold out there now. 3:40 am. I'll
try the second 80 wire cable I have.

I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s_Death_Date_Reportedly_Set_31 st_of_December_2008.html.
Gone with the wind.

I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s_Death_Date_Reportedly_Set_31 st_of_December_2008.html.
Gone with the wind.

On Nov 23, 3:55*pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
* cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.

On Nov 23, 3:55*pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
* cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.

smlunatick wrote:
On Nov 23, 3:55 pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.
How would it be prepared, if it cannot be seen under My Computer?

smlunatick wrote:
On Nov 23, 3:55 pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.
How would it be prepared, if it cannot be seen under My Computer?

"W. eWatson" wrote in message

smlunatick wrote:
On Nov 23, 3:55 pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.
How would it be prepared, if it cannot be seen under My Computer?

You can use Windows disk management, WDs tools or any other disk
utility/application that partitions/formats drives.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"W. eWatson" wrote in message

smlunatick wrote:
On Nov 23, 3:55 pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....
Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.
How would it be prepared, if it cannot be seen under My Computer?

You can use Windows disk management, WDs tools or any other disk
utility/application that partitions/formats drives.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://members.shaw.ca/dts-l/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Brian A. wrote:
"W. eWatson" wrote in message

smlunatick wrote:
On Nov 23, 3:55 pm, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I hooked up the single questionable HD to the master position on the
IDE
cable, and removed the jumpers. It showed the correct 120GB, and
other
parameters. I then used the other cable, and got the same results. It
would seem to me that sufficient power is reaching the end of the
cable,
and likely the middle connector.

Since I cannot see the slave when the master is seen, I wouldn't
think I
could use the diagnostic software yet.

I wonder if ABIT is still in business. Their web site is still
unreachable this morning. Their old phone # is not answered.

Yes, according to
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s....

Gone with the wind.

Does Device Manager show the new drive in the Disk drive section? If
yes, then the hard drive needs to be "prepared" so that the XP can us
it.
How would it be prepared, if it cannot be seen under My Computer?

You can use Windows disk management, WDs tools or any other disk
utility/application that partitions/formats drives.

Yes, that's fine, but if my system doesn't know it's there, how would
that work?

Something I didn't mention earlier is that I'm using W2K. There are
practically zero posts over there on hardware. I went to a repair shop
awhile ago and explained what I observed. He said try SP4 for W2k.