mcd50s

Hi,
I really hope someone can help me. Just before Christmas, my Gateway 610xl Media Center (XP 2002), stopped booting. I went ahead and replaced the computer but I am desperately trying to get my files off the old hard drive (5 years worth). Before I removed the hard drve, I tried the Gateway recovery CD, BartPE on a jump drive and bought Sytem Suite 8. I'll give you details if it is pertinent, but none worked. So I removed the HDD and now have it slaved in a (borrowed but unused) Dell Dimension 2350 (I think I have it slaved right, jumper is in right place, ribbon goes from Dell HDD to motherboard to CD-RW to slave drive which is end of the line). But, when I boot the computer, it tries to spin the slaved drive which just clicks. I can't see it in Windows Explorer or disk management. Bios IDE test only shows the boot drive and (I assume) the CD-RW. Is there any chance to retrieve my docs?

BTW, I was properly backed up to a SimpleDrive but the restore software hangs and their website says they found a problem with StorageSync 1.41 and I should download 1.42 and backup again - not much help now, and their tech support does not answer the phone, or return messages or emails - but that would be another thread...)

The drive I am trying to recover is a Western Digital WD2000BB. I have downloaded the Lifeguard Diagnostics from WD but not much good since the system can't even see it. The Dell is running Windows XP Home 2002 SP1. I have rigged and internet connection on the Dell so I can send screen shots. I do not have XP install disks only the recovery CDs that came with my other computers.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Judy

usaf_ret

Hi Judy.....I have depended on this site for several years to handle my problems and they never fail, so I am sure you will get a positive answer soon.
One thing stuck out at me though that may be of some help.. From what you described when setting the messed up hdd as a slave in the other computer.......the ribbon (wire) should have 3 connections and one end should be connected to your motherboard, then to your slave, and finally to your master hdd.. The cd should have a ribbon (wire) of its own..
Did I misread your alignment?

mcd50s

Hi Sarge,
Thanks for the vote of confidence and your reply. In this case, the floppy drive has its own ribbon to the motherboard but the hard drive and both CDs were all on the same ribbon. I dropped one of the CD drives and plugged in my bad HDD...while I am waiting, I will experiment with some other configurations.
Thanks!

BCCOMP

Try this setup.
The good harddrive should be jumpered as master on the primary ribbon cable and set at the end of the cable. The bad HD should be jumpered as slave and set in the middle of the same ribbon cable. The CD roms should be on thier own cable.
Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Bill

usaf_ret

That's what I was trying to say Bill; couldn't understand why the slave was at the end of a ribbon..

Good luck Judy and let us know how it goes!

BCCOMP

Hi Sarge,
I agree with you. Thanks for steering Judy in the right direction.
Thanks,
Bill

mcd50s

Yep, after "shedding a little light on the subject", there were indeed three separate ribbons into the MB. Now, I have system>slave>master. Master being the good HDD. Booting up - still trying to spin the slave on boot. CMOS setup sees the 30g (good one) as master and to 250g (bad one) as slave. But now it is in a loop - stuck loading Windows XP - and still trying to spin that old hard drive...

mcd50s

I had to remove the slave from the equation as it was getting real hot. I moved pin back to default position on the WD300EB and it boots up fine - not sure I had the pin right for master pin configuration on that drive... guessed it was same as the WD2000BB...thanks for working with me!

mcd50s

OK, I took the 30g HDD out far enough to see I have the master pin placement correct, 250g is in slave position. At first boot, I get a Broadcom UNDI screen
Client Mac Address:
DHCP and a spining bar.
No boot filename received
(this is shorthand - there's more there and I will quote verbatim if necessary)
No boot disk detected, insert system disk and press F1 to continue or press F2 to setup. I go into setup and can see both drives with appropriate master slave desigation but then it gets stuck loading windows and repeatedly spins and stops the 250g HDD until it gets so hot, I stop it.
I am holding out hope, Thanks!
Judy

Deleted090308

Hi,

"Borrow" the ribbon cable going to the CD drive(s) and connect the "old" HDD as a single drive on that cable.

mcd50s

Hi Eneles,
I connected good HDD back to system and changed jumper to CS. Booted fine but can't see old HDD. I plugged the old HDD back to the MB where the CD drives were and changed jumper to:
nothing - still loops trying to load windows
slave - windows loads but can't see drive
cs - windows loads but can't see drive
(in explorer or disk manangement)...

Deleted090308

So - the old drive is alone on a cable now?
BIOS can see it, but not Windows (explorer, disk management) - correct?

If BIOS can see it, Disk management should as well.
Does BIOS report the correct size etc?

mcd50s

Yes, old drive on cable by itself with jumper in CS - BIOS no longer sees it
BIOS - can I assume that is the same as "setup" on this machine?
Advanced>IDE Configuration>
IDE primary master =WDC WD300EB reports correct size
IDE primary slave = none
IDE secondary master = none
IDE secondary slave = none

Deleted090308

Yes, BIOS = Setup when you boot the computer.

Check the cables again (data + 4-pin power).
Remove the jumper.

mcd50s

I pulled the jumper, removed and replugged the power and ribbons, even tried changing position. BIOS does not see old HDD and with the jumper pin off, windows just loops trying to load - spins up the old HDD, clicks, then spins down - over and over again

Deleted090308

Sorry, but it sounds like the drive is dead - disconnect it.
What happened when your Gateway stopped working? Power failure?

It may be possible to fix the drive by replacing the little controller board where the plugs are, but you'll probably need help with that.

mcd50s

Yes, it crashed after a power outage. I had so hoped I could get my files off - Where would you direct me to get the controller board replaced - I don't care if the disk operates after I get my stuff off as I have no use for it...
Thanks for helping...

Deleted090308

Try asking at a local computer shop (that you trust). I guess you need help with soldering etc.
The board shouldn't be too expensive - you could try WD's support (if you haven't done that already).
Please keep us updated.

mcd50s

OK, I will press on. Thanks for your help. I will let you know if I do any good....

Deleted090308

I've asked a fellow team member to have a look.