Computer will not boot

[DarkStar]

Just had a read of that link Rik, one of the cables (the HDD one I think) has one of those connectors about half way along it, wondered what it was for. Will shut down and have a look inside and see what happens.

Slightly off topic, I seem to remember someone asking about a case/container that you can put an internal HDD in to convert it into an external USB connection HDD. Do you have a link? I am thinking that if I get a new computer I will have a new HDD that I can hopefully convert to a new external HDD. 

Not literally, I hope? 

No should have cleaned her out a couple of days ago but she hasn't been very well so I left her alone but she seems to have perked up a bit this afternoon. Did have four of them but the others have all died now 

[Rik]

I don't have a link, Ian, but others will.

[drummer]

Do mean an enclosure?

[DarkStar]

Do mean an enclosure?

Yes thats what I'm looking for
As it looks as though this computer is on the way out and I've just bought a new internal HDD for it I thought I could put it in one of those and make use of it for back-ups or storage.

[DarkStar]

Rik, et all, have tried using the one cable to connect to the one good connector but still doesn't work 
Will continue using the Linux disc to get online and start looking for a new machine. Watch out for a new thread asking for manufacturers/suppliers who are reliable and give good back up if things go wrong.

[DarkStar]

Ian, What BIOS is it? What you are looking for is some thing along the lines of Optimal defaults.

I can only get into the BIOS on start up Glenn and cannot find anything resembling Optimal defaults unless you mean the bit where it mentions Master and Secondary slaves which are all listed as 'Auto'

[wecpcs]

Rik, et all, have tried using the one cable to connect to the one good connector but still doesn't work 
Will continue using the Linux disc to get online and start looking for a new machine. Watch out for a new thread asking for manufacturers/suppliers who are reliable and give good back up if things go wrong.

If the WD HDD and the CD/DVD ROM drive both work separately on the same IDE cable on the secondary motherboard slot then you either have a faulty IDE cable or you have not jumpered the two devices correctly. On all ROMS the slave position is the middle set of pins. On the WD HDD their jumper arrangement is slightly different to other manufacturers in the fact that there used to be two Master settings, one which was Master only and the other was Master with Slave attached. This I found out when I used to own my own PC shop and it caught me out several times when I had two WD drives on the same cable and when I removed the slave in its removable caddy the master would not reboot without re-jumpering it.

Colin

[DarkStar]

Thanks for your info Colin. If you take a look at the WD diagram I linked to in reply #4 for 10 pin set up, which jumper set up should I try if I am putting the black connector into the HDD, grey to the CD/DVD and blue to the secondary motherboard connector. I will set the jumper on the DVD to the middle set then and give it another go.
Will not have time tonight though and will be out till dinner time tomorrow.

[kinmel]

Thanks for your info Colin. If you take a look at the WD diagram I linked to in reply #4 for 10 pin set up, which jumper set up should I try if I am putting the black connector into the HDD, grey to the CD/DVD and blue to the secondary motherboard connector. I will set the jumper on the DVD to the middle set then and give it another go.
Will not have time tonight though and will be out till dinner time tomorrow.

In case Colin doesn't get back in time..............  Jumper goes on the centre pair, pins 5 and 6 "Dual (Master)"

[drummer]

If the motherboard supports it, choosing Cable Select for the jumpers on all drives usually works.

[wecpcs]

Thanks for your info Colin. If you take a look at the WD diagram I linked to in reply #4 for 10 pin set up, which jumper set up should I try if I am putting the black connector into the HDD, grey to the CD/DVD and blue to the secondary motherboard connector. I will set the jumper on the DVD to the middle set then and give it another go.
Will not have time tonight though and will be out till dinner time tomorrow.

It does not matter which way around you put the cable (unlike floppy cables which have a twist in them). Generally the blue connector goes to the MB which is usually coloured blue (although some manufacturers use different colours such as red). The end connector to the master (HDD) and the middle connector to the slave (ROM). But as I have said that the cable can be reversed depending on if the cable is of suitable length. Sometimes it is easier to reverse the cable and also for neatness sake, as I had to do some times when I built systems for customers. I remember many years ago WD made a drive which had a inherent fault and the only way of getting the PC to recognize it was to physically cut pin 1 on the cable (a so called WD fix or bodge as I called it at the time), meaning the cable could then not be reversed. That put me off WD for quite a few years. They should have recalled them but did not.

Colin

[DarkStar]

Been out a long time today and not had a very successful day at that trying to arrange travel insurance and am feeling very tired at the moment so will probably wait until at least tomorrow to have another try at fixing it. It is essential at the moment after what happened this morning that I have a connection to the internet for at least a few days so I don't want to risk messing things up completely until I have a new computer.

[Rik]

Hopefully, things will go better tomorrow, Ian.

[DarkStar]

Hopefully, things will go better tomorrow, Ian.

I have a gut feeling it might be a long haul Rik. Got turned down flat at Nationwide 

[Rik]

That's unfortunate, they were very accommodating with me.