Hard Disk Fail
This issue can be caused by any of the following:
- Hard disk drive not connected properly.
- Hard disk drive not setup in CMOS properly.
- Hard disk drive cable is bad.
- Other bad hardware.
Hard disk drive not connected properly
Note: When inside the computer ensure you are familiar with ESD.
Verify that the hard disk drive is properly connected to the
computer. The back of the hard disk drive should have two cables
connected to it, the IDE cable and the power
cable. Verify these two cables are firmly connected to the back of
the hard disk drive.
Next, ensure that the IDE cable is connected to the motherboard.
Finally, if this is a new hard disk drive or another IDE drive has
been connected to the computer verify that the jumpers are properly
set.
Hard disk drive not setup in CMOS properly
Verify that the CMOS setup for the hard disk drive is properly
setup. The computer hard disk drive settings should either be defined
or if the computer is a Pentium or higher the hard disk drive should
be defined as Auto.
Additional information about CMOS can be found on our CMOS page.
Hard disk drive cable is bad
If the above two recommendations do not resolve the issue replace
the IDE hard disk drive or switch the cable with a known good IDE or
EIDE cable.
Other bad hardware
If you continue to experience the same issue and have followed the
above recommendations and have no recently added IDE device connected
in the computer unfortunately it is possible that either the hard disk
drive or the motherboard/interface board is bad.
Recommend that either these components be replaced or that the
computer be serviced
