PC won't power when slave drive is connected

skeezerpleezer · 08-17-2008, 08:17 AM

My computer boots fine when powered up without the slave drive connected, however when I shut down, unplug the power cable, connect the slave drive, re-connect the power cable, then attempt to power on nothing happens. It acts like it is not getting power. Any help would be greatly appreciated..Thanks.

Tumbleweed36 · 08-17-2008, 10:03 AM

Check both drives, not just the one. The Master must be set to master (not CS for this test) and be on the END of the ribbon cable. The slave must be set to slave and on the middle connector of the ribbon cable. This is assuming that they are both on the same IDE Connector like primary or secondary. List the type and brand names of both drives please.

skeezerpleezer · 08-18-2008, 07:57 AM

I should have added a little more detail. The drives are hooked up correctly, and have worked in this configuration before. I recently had to perform a system recovery after a power outage caused a glitch in my system- for the 2nd time-I have since purchased a good surge protector. The slave drive worked fine after the first recovery, but for some reason is not now. I unhooked the slave drive prior to doing the system recovery. I will post the drive types/brands when I get home. Thanks!

AquariusFX · 08-18-2008, 09:06 AM

Connect slave drive by itself see if it work.
Say goodbye if it doesn't.

skeezerpleezer · 08-18-2008, 12:30 PM

The Master drive is a Western Digital WD400. Slave drive is a Seagate Barracuda 1200.7.

I powered down, un-connected the master drive and put the slave in it's place and it would not power up. The green light on the rear of the machine by the power cord was lit up until I pushed the power button, then it went off. The fan started briefly as well. Any ideas?

Can I use a multimeter to test the slave drive? If so, what terminals would I need to put the leads on? If broken, would it be possible to fix the drive or get a SATA/IDE adaptor to pull the files off? Thanks in advance.

**kodi** · 08-18-2008, 02:58 PM

Don't waste your time, unless you happen to have a spare controller board for the EXACT same make and model hardrive.
Sorry but it seems this Drive is dead and needs to be replaced

**Done_Fishin** · 08-18-2008, 04:13 PM

I have fixed a couple of WD's that had shorted diodes and one which had an open circuit smd ceramic capacitor that measured 10uF ( I measured a good one on a similar wd400 Drive) .. I stole one that measured the same value from another dead drive in order to fix it

However it's a job that takes time and experience .. plus a lot of luck ..

Prices being what they are, if you have nothing worth saving then bin it and buy a new drive

The value of the contents will decide just how much time and money you want to spend getting it going again.

**kodi** · 08-18-2008, 05:10 PM

@wiseleo Please read previous post before persisting with your views
As I stated before He won't have spare drives etc lying around like most enthusiast and will find it near impossible to get one.
If he was capable enough to repair a Drive he would not be posting here

Tumbleweed36 · 08-18-2008, 08:08 PM

Wiseleo,

I have removed your posts that suggested replacing the controller board. The hardware team does not recommend doing that task unless you are an experienced tech, so that point is moot. In my opinion, that is simply bad advice.

I do not want to see this recommendation again in this thread or any others in the hardware forum when we are dealing with those who do not have expertise in repairing hard drives.

skeezerpleezer · 08-19-2008, 02:49 PM

Thanks. I will plan to buy a new drive. Importing all the music again will not be fun.

**Done_Fishin** · 08-19-2008, 03:06 PM

I would suggest, if you haven't done so already in investing in a DVD writer and a back up program plus regular back ups .. Don't worry about the possibility of overkill by backing up the same files several times over DVD's .. nothing is indestructible so the more times you back up the less chance you have of not being able to re-find that data.

I also have a few 200MB USB drives where I regularly back up data .. and even though I only power them on when ding my back ups I know that one day they will probably fail because I do that as opposed to leaving them running all the time

It's time to organise your backup policy, regarding both your personal files and your operating system .. take a look around to see just how many people are complaining daily that they have lost a drive or an operating system and have to start all over again

08-17-2008, 08:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
skeezerpleezer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: windows xp	PC won't power when slave drive is connected My computer boots fine when powered up without the slave drive connected, however when I shut down, unplug the power cable, connect the slave drive, re-connect the power cable, then attempt to power on nothing happens. It acts like it is not getting power. Any help would be greatly appreciated..Thanks.

08-17-2008, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,650 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected Check both drives, not just the one. The Master must be set to master (not CS for this test) and be on the END of the ribbon cable. The slave must be set to slave and on the middle connector of the ribbon cable. This is assuming that they are both on the same IDE Connector like primary or secondary. List the type and brand names of both drives please. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

08-18-2008, 07:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
skeezerpleezer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: windows xp	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected I should have added a little more detail. The drives are hooked up correctly, and have worked in this configuration before. I recently had to perform a system recovery after a power outage caused a glitch in my system- for the 2nd time-I have since purchased a good surge protector. The slave drive worked fine after the first recovery, but for some reason is not now. I unhooked the slave drive prior to doing the system recovery. I will post the drive types/brands when I get home. Thanks!

08-18-2008, 09:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
AquariusFX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 148 OS: XP SP3 / Vista SP1 My System	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected Connect slave drive by itself see if it work. Say goodbye if it doesn't.

08-18-2008, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
skeezerpleezer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: windows xp	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected The Master drive is a Western Digital WD400. Slave drive is a Seagate Barracuda 1200.7. I powered down, un-connected the master drive and put the slave in it's place and it would not power up. The green light on the rear of the machine by the power cord was lit up until I pushed the power button, then it went off. The fan started briefly as well. Any ideas? Can I use a multimeter to test the slave drive? If so, what terminals would I need to put the leads on? If broken, would it be possible to fix the drive or get a SATA/IDE adaptor to pull the files off? Thanks in advance.

08-18-2008, 02:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,397 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected Don't waste your time, unless you happen to have a spare controller board for the EXACT same make and model hardrive. Sorry but it seems this Drive is dead and needs to be replaced __________________ Brian

08-18-2008, 04:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,464 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected I have fixed a couple of WD's that had shorted diodes and one which had an open circuit smd ceramic capacitor that measured 10uF ( I measured a good one on a similar wd400 Drive) .. I stole one that measured the same value from another dead drive in order to fix it However it's a job that takes time and experience .. plus a lot of luck .. Prices being what they are, if you have nothing worth saving then bin it and buy a new drive The value of the contents will decide just how much time and money you want to spend getting it going again. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Last edited by Done_Fishin; 08-18-2008 at 04:14 PM.

08-18-2008, 05:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,397 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected @wiseleo Please read previous post before persisting with your views As I stated before He won't have spare drives etc lying around like most enthusiast and will find it near impossible to get one. If he was capable enough to repair a Drive he would not be posting here __________________ Brian

08-18-2008, 08:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,650 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected Wiseleo, I have removed your posts that suggested replacing the controller board. The hardware team does not recommend doing that task unless you are an experienced tech, so that point is moot. In my opinion, that is simply bad advice. I do not want to see this recommendation again in this thread or any others in the hardware forum when we are dealing with those who do not have expertise in repairing hard drives. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 08-18-2008 at 08:09 PM.

08-19-2008, 02:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
skeezerpleezer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: windows xp	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected Thanks. I will plan to buy a new drive. Importing all the music again will not be fun.

08-19-2008, 03:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,464 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: PC won't power when slave drive is connected I would suggest, if you haven't done so already in investing in a DVD writer and a back up program plus regular back ups .. Don't worry about the possibility of overkill by backing up the same files several times over DVD's .. nothing is indestructible so the more times you back up the less chance you have of not being able to re-find that data. I also have a few 200MB USB drives where I regularly back up data .. and even though I only power them on when ding my back ups I know that one day they will probably fail because I do that as opposed to leaving them running all the time It's time to organise your backup policy, regarding both your personal files and your operating system .. take a look around to see just how many people are complaining daily that they have lost a drive or an operating system and have to start all over again __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner