Strange HDD problem

[slick1]

Hi all,
Im just after some advice as to what may be the problem with a computer I’m putting together with a few bits and pieces I have lying around at home.

I’ve powered the motherboard up with an ATX power supply. The video card is in one of the slots (A black slot), the HDD is plugged into the Primary IDE slot set as master with the ribbon cable, the DVD Burner is plugged into the slotSecondary IDE set as master.

The problem I am getting is when I power it up, the HDD doesn’t spin. To answer the obvious question, “Yes, the power cable is plugged into the HDD”. As soon as I unplug the IDE ribbon cable, it starts to power up.

I can then plug the ribbon cable back in and the HDD remains spinning.

I’ve tried different ribbon cables, I’ve tried to put the HDD on the secondary master etc etc.

Does anybody have any idea as to what the problem may be?? I’ve tried unplugging the video card and the HDD still does the same thing.

I think I’ll try a new power supply. I’ve tried a new Motherboard but it still does the same thing.


Thanks for any advice.

Slick1

[adams]

Try as Primary master and burner as primary slave or try hhd in another pc.
Have you set the bios for auto detect.

[cwispy]

The IDE cable plugged in the wrong way around at one end can cause the problem you describe.

Edit: some hdd's also have more than one jumper on them. What make/model drive is it?

[mickc]

not recomended to plug/unplug ide while powered up
good way to kill board or drive

[Zaius]

Have you check the pins on the HDD?
Also have you swapped (to different) IDE cables at all?

Zaius

[redstorm]

Check that the voltage at the HDD is 5v dc. If it is down around 4v dc it wont spin.

I got a system that has this problem. By loading the 12v rail the 5v rail will come back up.