Have Pc Problems

[Snow]

Ok, I know some of the older hands here will know I have been suffering for some time with PC & Hard drive issues, it was the main reason for stopping my FTP a couple of years ago.

The PC:
Pentium 4 CPU 3GHz
1GB RAM
3 Internal Hard Drives (120GB Maxtor, 120GB , & 80GB Hitachi)
1 External 250 Maxtor HD (USB)
1 knackered Sony DVD Dual Layer writer (disconnected)
1 Lite On CD rewriter
Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card
Onboard sound card (Realtek AC97) running 2.1 speakers
Running Telewest Broadband 10meg surfboard modem via RJ45 & onboard netcard
Running hooky XP Pro with SP2.

The Problems:
I am running out of space on C: (as I type I am down to less than 2 GB free!:O ) so I went to move everything over to the Hitachi drive, but I can't see it on the "My Computer" screen, if I right click on My Computer icon on the desktop and choose MANAGE it isn't there either, nor is the Lite On which is connected to the same IDE cable, but when I rebuilt a freinds PC I used both items in his PC and they work fine, I even formatted the Hitachi on his PC because of previous Delayed Write Errors.
If I try to go into device manager to see if there are any conflicts I can open DM up but its just a blank space, nothing comes up at all.
If I leave my external hard drive on for any length of time things disappear off it and some folders cannot be accessed. I am on the verge of formatting everything and starting again, but as over 70% of C is bootleg DVDs and most of D is music and bootlegs I really wouldn't like to if I can help it. I can't burn them because my DVD writer won't read any discs anymore and I haven't got access to another DVD Writer yet.

Any help, or ideas will be gratefully recieved.

Mark

[Sepu]

hey Mark, my friend

I will try to help you on MSN this evening.
Anyway, seems that the Lite On and the Hitachi on the same IDE cable aren't recognized by the computer right?
Did you check if you can see them into the BIOS?

[Snow]

I forgot to mention that, all hard drives and cd's are listed in the BIOS and all are apparently ok.

[sjmike]

it could be that the jumpers on the HD are set incorrectly. Try changing them to Cable Select mode instead of master / slave.

[Snow]

At the moment CD is MASTER & Hitachi is CABLE SELECT, both are read in BIOS but not in windows

[slayerdiabolus]

I had a similar problem recently when i re-formatted. My secondary (Storage) hard drive wouldnt show up in my computer. It was showing up perfectly in the disk management area but my in my comp. so i right clicked on it and diabled it. restarted the computer and then enabled it and it worked fine. dunno if thats any help to you though....

[Snow]

WOW, what a fuck up. I tried and tried all things mentioned to me here and over MSN etc and nothing doing, still wouldn't work.

I ended up putting my recovery disk in and trying to load it onto the Hitachi HD on its own.......unfortunatley I managed to overwrite my C Drive at the same time.... In the ensuing chaos (not to mention the fact that I have zero patience and a lousy temper) I rebuilt the PC and have had to have my cable company replace the modem (ooops) hence I haven't been online for a couple of weeks. Now I am looking for all the programs and more importantly all my contact details from my email client. So if you have my email address please drop me a line so I can start the rebuilding process again, just write in your name and address as well if we have done or are about to do any trades so I can get it all sorted out.

Thank you once again for any help.

Mark

[Sepu]

I'm sorry to hear that amico, anyway it's better to buy a new PC maybe j/k

Have a nice weekend

[Robertbeer]

Hi,

Did you try with a new data transfer cable, i mean the data cable that plug the IDE with the motherboard.

Also try to update the Bios, your computers isn't too old but it you have these problems maybe your motherboard has problems because ussually all IDE devices work fine with master and slave setting.

Robert