If you cannot access the hard disk drive, and its configuration settings are correct, you must troubleshoot the hardware components associated with the hard disk drive. As previously indicated, these components include the drive, its signal cable, and the HDC. Like the FDC from the floppy disk drive, the HDC can be mounted on an adapter card, or it can be integrated into the system board. Normally, you must remove the outer cover form the computer to troubleshoot these components.
In a pre-Pentium system, the easiest component to check is the controller card that holds the HDD interface circuitry. Exchange the controller card with a known good one of the same type. Make certain to mark all the cards control signal cables before disconnecting them. Also, identify their connection points and direction. Your makings help to ensure their proper re-installation. Reconnect the disk drive signal cables to the new controller card.
Try to reboot the system from the hard drive. If the system boots up properly, check to see that all the DOS commands are working properly. Also, check the operation of all the hard disks software programs to make sure they are still functioning correctly. Reinstall any program that does not function properly.
The next logical step may seem to be to replace the hard drive unit. However, it is quite possible that the hard drive may not have any real damage. It may just have lost track of where it was, and now it cannot find its starting point. In this case, the most attractive option is to reformat the hard disk. This action gives the hard drive a new starting point to work from. Unfortunately, it also destroys anything that you had on the disk before you replace it may save the expense of buying a new hard disk drive that is not needed. Make certain to use the /S modifier, or repeat the SYS C: operation with the FORMAT command, to restore the system files to the hard drive..
If not, check the HDD signal cable for proper connection at both ends. Exchange the signal cables for a known good one. Check the HDD Drive select jumper and Master/Slave/Single jumper settings to make sure they are set correctly, as illustrated. Check to see whether the system might be using the cable select option also depicted. This setting requires a special CSEL signal cable designed to determine the master/slave arrangements for multiple IDE drives. Exchange the HDD power connector with another one from the power supply, to make certain that it is not a source of problems.
In a pre-Pentium system, the easiest component to check is the controller card that holds the HDD interface circuitry. Exchange the controller card with a known good one of the same type. Make certain to mark all the cards control signal cables before disconnecting them. Also, identify their connection points and direction. Your makings help to ensure their proper re-installation. Reconnect the disk drive signal cables to the new controller card.
Try to reboot the system from the hard drive. If the system boots up properly, check to see that all the DOS commands are working properly. Also, check the operation of all the hard disks software programs to make sure they are still functioning correctly. Reinstall any program that does not function properly.
The next logical step may seem to be to replace the hard drive unit. However, it is quite possible that the hard drive may not have any real damage. It may just have lost track of where it was, and now it cannot find its starting point. In this case, the most attractive option is to reformat the hard disk. This action gives the hard drive a new starting point to work from. Unfortunately, it also destroys anything that you had on the disk before you replace it may save the expense of buying a new hard disk drive that is not needed. Make certain to use the /S modifier, or repeat the SYS C: operation with the FORMAT command, to restore the system files to the hard drive..
If not, check the HDD signal cable for proper connection at both ends. Exchange the signal cables for a known good one. Check the HDD Drive select jumper and Master/Slave/Single jumper settings to make sure they are set correctly, as illustrated. Check to see whether the system might be using the cable select option also depicted. This setting requires a special CSEL signal cable designed to determine the master/slave arrangements for multiple IDE drives. Exchange the HDD power connector with another one from the power supply, to make certain that it is not a source of problems.
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