Check the BIOS to make sure SATA1 (or whichever port you connected the second hard drive to) is not disabled. While in there, make sure the BIOS is able to see the second drive -- it should give you the model number and size as the connected device.
I am running BIOS version 2.5.3. The BIOS reports the drive model and capacity correctly. However, XP does not recognize it. In addition, XP still reports only 3 GB of memory although the BIOS shows 4 GB. I removed the SATA drive, and the system runs much faster, but the memory still only shows 3 GB. The new memory is Kingston Value RAM KVR667D2N5K2/2G. The sticks are only about half as high as the original sticks. Any ideas on the memory would be appreciated.
BTW, I removed the new RAM, put the old back in, and re-booted. BIOS and XP showed 3 GB.
The memory is displaying correctly because you are running a 32 bit operating system.
A 32bit OS can only address 4GB of memory, and all hardware has to have an address so the CPU can "talk" to it. Those addresses are assigned starting at the 4GB mark, working down. Exactly how much of the address space is used this way depends on the exact hardware installed in the computer (e.g., if you add a video card with more memory, then the amount of space used for hardware addressing would increase by the same amount). Most 32bit systems with 4GB of physical memory installed have between 3.0 and 3.5 GB of useable memory.
The advantage of having a full 4GB, despite not being able to use it, is that it allows dual channel memory for the system.
If the BIOS is recognizing the hard drive correctly, then the problem is going to be the SATA drives for Windows. You will need to press F6 during the Windows Setup process (boot from the Windows XP CD) and load the required drivers from the A drive in order to be able to install Windows to the SATA drive. Alternately, you can create an XP install disk that has the required SATA drivers "slipstreamed" in if you'd like. Normally, the Dell OS CD is going to have the required SATA drivers already on it if you purchased the system with a SATA hard drive.
We now know the drive itself is bad. Having determined this, I have a question. How can one check the power supply and SATA ports on the motherboard to ensure they are not a problem? My drive was under warranty, and Western Digital is sending me a replacement. I do not want to plug it in and have it go bad due to a cause related to something else that could have created the first problem. I suppose the two items which could contribute to a hard disk failure other than the drive itself are the power supply and the SATA ports. So I would like to check those if I can. Also, if there is anything I should/could check that could have been involved, I would appreciate someone letting me know what those might be.
Can I get voltage/amperage specs for the XPS 410 that I could check with a multimeter? Would it make sense to replace the power supply that came with the XPS 410 with a larger and better one? Thanks for any help/suggestions.
One other question. I want to get a new SATA 2 cable. The XPS 410 drive bays are on the right side of the computer chassis, and they are mounted with the power and SATA connectors facing out. A right angle SATA connector is required because there is so little clearance between the cover and the drives. Every SATA cable I have been able to find requires that the cable be plugged into the drive with the cable going down. The SATA cable that Dell shipped has the right angle connector in a different orientation so that the cable goes upward. Does this orientation for the right angle connector have another name besides just right angle connector? I have seen some referred to as reversed right angle cables. Thanks.
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
0
January 9th, 2009 11:00
Check the BIOS to make sure SATA1 (or whichever port you connected the second hard drive to) is not disabled. While in there, make sure the BIOS is able to see the second drive -- it should give you the model number and size as the connected device.
cscj01
19 Posts
0
January 12th, 2009 13:00
I am running BIOS version 2.5.3. The BIOS reports the drive model and capacity correctly. However, XP does not recognize it. In addition, XP still reports only 3 GB of memory although the BIOS shows 4 GB. I removed the SATA drive, and the system runs much faster, but the memory still only shows 3 GB. The new memory is Kingston Value RAM KVR667D2N5K2/2G. The sticks are only about half as high as the original sticks. Any ideas on the memory would be appreciated.
BTW, I removed the new RAM, put the old back in, and re-booted. BIOS and XP showed 3 GB.
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
0
January 12th, 2009 14:00
The memory is displaying correctly because you are running a 32 bit operating system.
A 32bit OS can only address 4GB of memory, and all hardware has to have an address so the CPU can "talk" to it. Those addresses are assigned starting at the 4GB mark, working down. Exactly how much of the address space is used this way depends on the exact hardware installed in the computer (e.g., if you add a video card with more memory, then the amount of space used for hardware addressing would increase by the same amount). Most 32bit systems with 4GB of physical memory installed have between 3.0 and 3.5 GB of useable memory.
The advantage of having a full 4GB, despite not being able to use it, is that it allows dual channel memory for the system.
If the BIOS is recognizing the hard drive correctly, then the problem is going to be the SATA drives for Windows. You will need to press F6 during the Windows Setup process (boot from the Windows XP CD) and load the required drivers from the A drive in order to be able to install Windows to the SATA drive. Alternately, you can create an XP install disk that has the required SATA drivers "slipstreamed" in if you'd like. Normally, the Dell OS CD is going to have the required SATA drivers already on it if you purchased the system with a SATA hard drive.
dave51_2fe887
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
0
January 12th, 2009 14:00
Not sure why your Drive is disappearing, but Windows XP 32bit can only see 3 to 3.5 Gb of memory.
cscj01
19 Posts
0
January 14th, 2009 08:00
We now know the drive itself is bad. Having determined this, I have a question. How can one check the power supply and SATA ports on the motherboard to ensure they are not a problem? My drive was under warranty, and Western Digital is sending me a replacement. I do not want to plug it in and have it go bad due to a cause related to something else that could have created the first problem. I suppose the two items which could contribute to a hard disk failure other than the drive itself are the power supply and the SATA ports. So I would like to check those if I can. Also, if there is anything I should/could check that could have been involved, I would appreciate someone letting me know what those might be.
Can I get voltage/amperage specs for the XPS 410 that I could check with a multimeter? Would it make sense to replace the power supply that came with the XPS 410 with a larger and better one? Thanks for any help/suggestions.
cscj01
19 Posts
0
January 14th, 2009 08:00
One other question. I want to get a new SATA 2 cable. The XPS 410 drive bays are on the right side of the computer chassis, and they are mounted with the power and SATA connectors facing out. A right angle SATA connector is required because there is so little clearance between the cover and the drives. Every SATA cable I have been able to find requires that the cable be plugged into the drive with the cable going down. The SATA cable that Dell shipped has the right angle connector in a different orientation so that the cable goes upward. Does this orientation for the right angle connector have another name besides just right angle connector? I have seen some referred to as reversed right angle cables. Thanks.