Secondary Slave (IDE) Not Recognised

[b1gb1ll]

Hi All

My Server has 3 x 160 GB HDD's installed, and I have a fourth ready to go in to the build, but no matter what I do I cannot get the BIOS to recognise all 4 Drives. I know all the drives are ok and also that both the cables are ok (by swapping things around) but no matter what, with 4 drives in place the Secondary slave does not get recognised.

To compound the confusion, when I first built the server, I had a DVD drive on Secondary Master with a HDD on Secondary Slave, The Primary, just had a HDD as a Master, thus proving that the Secondary Channel was capable of supporting two devices.

Go figure cos I can't.

Anyone any bright ideas on this one?

Thanks in advance

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Build Spec
1st Build: (Experimental)
Version: 9.1.0.1 - Sandstorm (revision 636)
Motherboard: Packard Bell - Quasar 2 (Microstar)
Processor: AMD Athlon XP3200+
RAM: 2 GB 400 MHz DDR PC 3200
HHD's: 3 x Seagate 160 GB (1 more waiting to add)

[LA70]

Are they jumpered as CS or Primary/Secondary?

[shakky4711]

Hello,

Check the hardisk manuals for the correct jumper settings. Not only CS (cable select) setting can be the problem, many (as master used) drives need a different jumper setting when they remain as master but you connect a second drive as slave.

TRAP: Take care that the master drive is connected on the outside from the cable. In theory it does not matter if master or slave is connected to the outer connector, but I have had some boards which make massive trouble with a slave at the cable end.

Shakky

[b1gb1ll]

Thanks for your input guys.

I'm pretty sure that by now I have tried each and every conceivable combination of jumper settings on the various drives, but it does appear to be a jumper issue, so I will revisit this and report back.

LA70 - In general, all drives were set as 'CS' but when that failed I tried specifying Master on the end connection and Slave on the middle connector.

Shakky4711 - I will certainly bare in mind your comments:-

Not only CS (cable select) setting can be the problem, many (as master used) drives need a different jumper setting when they remain as master but you connect a second drive as slave.

[b1gb1ll]

------------------------RESOLVED-------------------------------

The issue is quite simple, but may turn out expensive...I need new spectacles.

As said earlier, it seemed quite obvious that it was a jumper issue, and I was confident that I had them all set correct. However under closer scrutiny it turned out that I didn't and when I set them all correct i.e. Master on the ends and Slaves in the middle, BINGO..

Thanks for your support though.