Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM!

McForbes · 03-21-2009, 03:13 AM

Hello,

I am trying to install a new Western Digital HD into my PC. I also have Vista (which is causing me more problems than I care to mention). The data lifeguard software is not supported by vista so I created a boot CD but when it boots it just says CDRom device driver not installed and hangs with the DOS command prompt A:\

Now I don't know too much about dos commands so I become unstuck at this point. I can't believe installing a hard disc would be so problematic, although I admit my level of expertise may have something to do with it.

The disc is not seen in the disc manager or even in BIOS.

Can anyone advise me of a third party disc manager suite which would run through windows vista, which is free? (I don't have a seagate drive so maxblast doesn't work) or perhaps advise on how to get the lifeguard tool working through dos?

Apologies if this problem has already been mentioned in a nother thread.

This is causing me a real headache.

Thanks in anticipation.

**belfasteddie** · 03-21-2009, 06:15 AM

It would help if you told the forum the make and model of the Hard drive. There is absolutely no need these days to resort to Dos when installing a new Hd. Dos won't show the Cd drive unless the cd dos driver is loaded. If the Hard disk is not recognised by the Bios then it is likely it is not connected correctly.( or its no good ). Check the power connectors.
If the drive is a Sata3 then move the little plug over and make it a Sata 2.( a lot of boards can't recognise Sata3). Again in future please give make/model.
Lastly, head on over to Western Digital and look up your Hd and check for their setup .

McForbes · 03-21-2009, 08:53 AM

The drive is Western Digital 320GB SATA WD3200AAJADTL. I already have two western digital drives in Sata 1 and 2 and I have tried switching the cable from my current secondary drive and it still does not see it. Do you think this suggests that I have been sold a duff drive?

Also the drive has no power connector so I assumed it would get the power from the SATA cable. Do I need a certain kind of SATA cable for this to happen? I have a few spare cables but they all seem to be the same.

**raptor_pa** · 03-21-2009, 10:18 AM

There should be a SATA power connector on the drive, the data cable has no provision for power. SATA power should be the largwer of the two edge connectors.

McForbes · 03-22-2009, 07:13 AM

Well that's just great! I was trying to fix it it for hours the other night and it turns out I hadn't even plugged it into the mains...... Brilliant!

Probem solved.

Thanks.

03-21-2009, 03:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
McForbes Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM! Hello, I am trying to install a new Western Digital HD into my PC. I also have Vista (which is causing me more problems than I care to mention). The data lifeguard software is not supported by vista so I created a boot CD but when it boots it just says CDRom device driver not installed and hangs with the DOS command prompt A:\ Now I don't know too much about dos commands so I become unstuck at this point. I can't believe installing a hard disc would be so problematic, although I admit my level of expertise may have something to do with it. The disc is not seen in the disc manager or even in BIOS. Can anyone advise me of a third party disc manager suite which would run through windows vista, which is free? (I don't have a seagate drive so maxblast doesn't work) or perhaps advise on how to get the lifeguard tool working through dos? Apologies if this problem has already been mentioned in a nother thread. This is causing me a real headache. Thanks in anticipation. Last edited by McForbes; 03-21-2009 at 03:20 AM.

03-21-2009, 06:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
belfasteddie Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Belfast N.I. Posts: 1,551 OS: Puppy Linux 4.12	Re: Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM! It would help if you told the forum the make and model of the Hard drive. There is absolutely no need these days to resort to Dos when installing a new Hd. Dos won't show the Cd drive unless the cd dos driver is loaded. If the Hard disk is not recognised by the Bios then it is likely it is not connected correctly.( or its no good ). Check the power connectors. If the drive is a Sata3 then move the little plug over and make it a Sata 2.( a lot of boards can't recognise Sata3). Again in future please give make/model. Lastly, head on over to Western Digital and look up your Hd and check for their setup .

03-21-2009, 08:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
McForbes Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM! The drive is Western Digital 320GB SATA WD3200AAJADTL. I already have two western digital drives in Sata 1 and 2 and I have tried switching the cable from my current secondary drive and it still does not see it. Do you think this suggests that I have been sold a duff drive? Also the drive has no power connector so I assumed it would get the power from the SATA cable. Do I need a certain kind of SATA cable for this to happen? I have a few spare cables but they all seem to be the same. Last edited by McForbes; 03-21-2009 at 08:54 AM.

03-21-2009, 10:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,786 OS: XP	Re: Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM! There should be a SATA power connector on the drive, the data cable has no provision for power. SATA power should be the largwer of the two edge connectors. __________________

03-22-2009, 07:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
McForbes Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Installing WD HD and Vista = PROBLEM! Well that's just great! I was trying to fix it it for hours the other night and it turns out I hadn't even plugged it into the mains...... Brilliant! Probem solved. Thanks.