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paulbrock

3 Posts

10855

January 7th, 2007 16:00

Difficulties getting EIDE controller card and HD working on E520

Can anyone help please?
 
I've just bought an E520 with 1 HD and 2 optical drives installed.  I've spent the last few days educating myself about why I can't just put my old EIDE HD straight into the machine as a 2nd hard disk...
 
After trying an EIDE->SATA converter (apparently notoriously unreliable) I bought a PCI EIDE controller card, as suggested on several threads here.
 
That installed fine, (it's an ITE IT8211 ATA/ATAPI Controller) and after installing drivers, shows up on Device Manager.
 
Connected the old HD but Windows isn't detecting it.
 
On boot, I'm getting a "please wait for IDE scan" message which takes a few seconds longer, then it looks like it picks up my old hard disk, but the screen is so quick I can't read what it says..
 
I can't find any settings in the (Dell) BIOS that might affect it...
 
I'm a bit concerned about the whole RAID business - it seems the 1st HD is set as RAID ON, and the Intel Matrix Storage Console is only picking up one hard disk as well - might this be the problem??
 
I've checked that the jumper is set to Master, and double-checked the cables.   On other thing - I'm taking the power off the lead feeding the two optical drives...there's a spare 'old-style' HD power lead I've used but I'm not 100% convinced it's working - any way to check?
 
Thanks in advance!!

Message Edited by paulbrock on 01-07-200712:57 PM

mombodog

2 Intern

 • 

12.7K Posts

January 7th, 2007 19:00

"
On boot, I'm getting a "please wait for IDE scan" message which takes a few seconds longer, then it looks like it picks up my old hard disk, but the screen is so quick I can't read what it says..
 
I can't find any settings in the (Dell) BIOS that might affect it..."
 
This is the add in card's own bios loading, and looks like it is detecting the old drive OK.
 
When in windows go to Control panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Disk Management
Now stretch the window out to see all devices, look for your old drive in the lower pane, it may say unknown drive, can you see it in here?  Post back what you find, do not do anything yet, with this tool.

mombodog

2 Intern

 • 

12.7K Posts

January 7th, 2007 21:00

I crown thee Computer Genius!  :smileywink:

paulbrock

3 Posts

January 7th, 2007 21:00

OK, in Disk Management, it lists 1 hard disk (the new SATA one) and the two DVD drives, but no sign of the old EIDE HD....(no 'unknowns' other than the 4GB FAT32 partition on the Dell HD)

Message Edited by paulbrock on 01-07-200705:08 PM

paulbrock

3 Posts

January 7th, 2007 21:00

hurray it works now!!!!
 
What is known in the UK as a 'schoolboy error'..checked on the manufacturers site, and new drivers were available,installed them and it's all fixed...
 
Thanks for your help mombodog, finally know the reason for the 'pause' key...and glad I wasn't missing anything *else* that was obvious!!!
 

mombodog

2 Intern

 • 

12.7K Posts

January 7th, 2007 21:00

If the add in IDE card is in the top or first pci slot try moving it down 1 or2 ..
 
The card is seeing the drive during post, but windows does not,  hmmm.
 
I owuld go to the manufacturers website to see if there is any FAQ about installing that card or other documentation.
 
Try using the pause key when the card does the fast post, try to see what the post is saying.
Esc to continue booting if this works.

Message Edited by mombodog on 01-07-200705:07 PM

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