http://forum.lowyat.net/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:33:36 +0800 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/622957 Most of the time installing or adding another hard disk is a piece of cake. And most will not have any problems doing so. But what I&#39;m about to tell u guys is really crazee or also weird. My comp just wont let me add another hard disk without having a cd-rom drive. (will only start if i plug in with the cd rom). Basically, my pc wouldn&#39;t let me boot up without a cd-rom drive...creepy....(btw i have already configured bios to primary boot - hard disk.) This is what i&#39;ve encounter, On each IDE slot, I have to insert 1 hard disk and 1 cd rom or else it wont boot (both IDE slots have to be in same settings, 1 hard disk and 1 cd rom for each individual slot.) <br /><br />- I tried fixing 2 hard disk on 1 IDE slot with primary and slave jumper in place, (didn&#39;t even reach bios, then shut down. instant shut down&#33;). <br />- Tried fixing primary hard disk on IDE 1, then another hard disk also as primary on IDE 2 (Still Instant Shutdown&#33;)<br />- Tried fixing 1 hard disk and 1 cd rom on IDE 1. Fix another hard disk on IDE 2 (STill Instant Shutdown&#33;)<br />(Using 80pin IDE cable for both channel)<br /><br />Tried so many combination, and this is the only one that works,<br />- IDE 1 - 1 hard disk(master), 1 cd rom(slave)<br />- IDE 2 - 1 hard disk(master), 1 cd rom(slave)<br />(boot excellently&#33;) <!--emo&:hyper:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/rclxm9.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rclxm9.gif' /><!--endemo--> But don&#39;t u guys think this is weird? <!--emo&:hmm:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/hmm.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='hmm.gif' /><!--endemo--> I just don&#39;t understand why do i need this configuration. on my previous pc, I can add 2 hard disk on the same IDE channel or on separate IDE channels. I can also boot without a cd rom drive. <br /><br />After that i faced another problem. Because of the drive positioning, the IDE cable length is too short to link the devices. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo--> besides that, I only have 4 power output. so it fit just nice with the 4 drives. But i don&#39;t have extra power output for fans. <!--emo&:furious:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/vmad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='vmad.gif' /><!--endemo--> <br /><br /> <!--emo&:help:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/icon_question.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='icon_question.gif' /><!--endemo--> Need help:<br />- Hard disk issue pls (need other possible solutions)<br />- Limited amount of power output (need to upgrade PSU?, i hope not lerh)<br />- Short IDE Cable<br />My Spec <!--emo&:blush:--><img src='http://static.lowyat.net/style_emoticons/default/blush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blush.gif' /><!--endemo--> :<br />- P4 2.4Mhz<br />- Intel D845GVSR Mobo<br />- Maxtor hard disk(both disk)<br />- 2 GB DDR<br /> weisern Technical Support Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:40:38 +0800