Hi, Mike.

Are both hard drive's 'Jumpers' set correctly, Dell use's the 'Cable Select' setting?

Are you using BIOS version A02?

Bev.

Hi Bev,

The second drive is 500GB.  Yes, the drive is connected to the middle connector on the primary cable and I have formatted the drive with XP's Disk Management.  The drive is just one partition and it is assigned a letter.  For what it's worth, the main drive is 200GB. 

Mike

Hi Bev,

Yes on both counts.  I've tried setting them as Master/Slave and Cable Select.  They are currently on Cable Select.  Nothing changes the outcome.  I had thought about the BIOS versions also, but I am using A02.  Dell's BIOS can handle two drives, can't it?

Mike

Mike.

Yes, with the BIOS A02, the 2300 should be able to support two hard drives, including the 500gb IDE drive.

All I can suggest, is to try clearing the CMOS and see if it makes a difference.

See HERE

Bev.

Bev,

I cleared the CMOS and it didn't help.  I also tried changing to manual detect mode and changing the boot up order of drives, nothing helped.  This is just crazy. 

Mike

Mike.

I agree it's a crazy situation, this is a first for me.

Maybe another member has more information about this and can step in to help.

What make is the hard drive and I assume it's new?

Bev.

Bev,

All my hard drives are WD.  I did a couple other things that I will pass on.  I have another Dell system, a 2400, with two drives in it.  I took the slave drives out and swapped them.  My 500Gb works in the Dell 2400 as auto detect with no issues.  I put the slave that was in the 2400 into my 2300.  It installed and is on auto detect and there is no problems.  The slave from my 2400 is an 80GB drive.  Now I have to wonder, is there a BIOS limit on the size of drives that my 2300 can handle?  I would think not, but what else could it be?  I not sure if this helps or confuses the matter even more.  :emotion-42:

Mike

Mike.

Maybe that is the answer, but if it is, it's a first for me, especially as there's a 200gb primary hard drive working in the 2300 without any problems.

Bev.

Hi Bev,

I have an answer on this problem.  I broke down and contacted Dell, using their chat help.  For the most part, it has never helped with any of my problems so I came to the forums first.  Any ways, according to the tech, the Dimension 2300 has "an internal hard drive support of 200GB, that is the max size".  I asked them if it was total drive or partitions, and they said total drive.  That would explain why I can not get it to recognize properly.  Since my main drive is 200GB, I'm maxed out.  Even back then, you would think they would see the trend of larger programs and the need of more space.  Then again, hind sight is 20/20.  Thanks for your help. 

Mike

Hi, Mike.

Yep, that makes sense, but the one problem I see with the statement is, Dell is selling 500gb IDE Western Digital hard drives, as being compatible with the Dimension 2300, see HERE       :emotion-42:

Bev.

Well, that is odd, isn't it?  Maybe I'll have to question them on that.  I didn't even give them any drive sizes before they mentioned the max.  I wonder where they came up with that?  Thanks for the page.

Mike

Mike.

You could install a PCI IDE controller card, that would overcome the system's limitations, but personally, I would question, if it's worth the additional expense.

Bev.

Hi Bev,

Sorry, a little slow on the updates here.  I haven't contacted Dell again about the hard drive size.  I may, just for fun.  To see how they explain that one.  :emotion-2:    I did order a controller card to install in my new system so that I can use the drive.  The new system only has SATA connections, so I needed the card.  It was only $19, so not a big expense.  I hate to have 500GB just sitting around gathering dust. 

Thanks for your help with this.  I'll let you know what Dell says about the size limit, if I contact them.

Mike

Mike.

You are welcome and thank you for the heads up.

Yep, I would interested in what Dell has to say, about the 500gb hard drive.      :emotion-42:

Bev.