Computer gurus, I need help

Wylaff

correct, and correct. It has been a couple years (decade) since I've worked with IDE though, so I apologize if I'm a little rusty.

jlmarta

Okay, so to be sure I'm clear on this - I should pull the jumper making the drive the master. Right?

And I'm not going to lose anything from my internal drives by doing this. Right?

And when I'm done and power down and unplug the external drive I'll be all back to normal. Right?

jlmarta

Oh, one other question. When the external is set up as master, is it then considered to be my C drive? Or which drive would it be?

Wylaff

A) Yes, set as master.
No, there is not risk.
C) It will not be C: as that is reserved for the internal master. It should come after all internal drives. My external is my F: Drive.

jlmarta

Yoo Hoo, Wayne....  Ol' troublesome is back again.

I pulled the jumper thereby making the external drive a master but nothing changed. The drive still doesn't show up on my PC and it doesn't matter whether the USB cable is plugged into a port on the PC when I power up or if I plug it in afterward. The red indicator light comes on but nothing else. 

On the adapter there is a blue button labeled OTB. There is the power indicator. Next is an indicator labeled IDE/ATC and one labeled SATA. You can see the adapter in the photo. 

The blue OTB button will click if I press it. I haven't done so while its powered up because I don't know what it does. 

Any ideas?? 

[Deleted User]

OTB means one touch backup. 

Yakster

Not Off Track Betting?

jlmarta

Does anyone know whether the power that runs the drive comes through the USB cable?  I mean, the 'power' indicator lights up - does that necessarily mean that the drive is getting the power it needs to operate?

I woulda been nice if some instructions had come with this unit. Or a power cord, if one is required. I feel like I just paid good money for a rock. (Maybe a Navajo S e x Stone?)

Yakster

I checked the Newegg listing from earlier in the thread and found this in the listing:

"This listing just for USB to SATA/IDE adapter
This adapter just works with 2.5" External hard disk and 500GB, if you want to us more than 2.5" and 500GB, you need purchase the power adapter,just click below link:
For full package includes accessories/ software CD click here"

Your WD400 is a 3.5" hard drive so it looks like you'll need to get a power adapter to make this work.  Sadly, I couldn't find a link where it says to click here for the full package above, but it appears to be this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6U63755140 which includes the power supply.

Maybe they'd let you return the one you got for one with the power supply if you pay the difference?

Wylaff

Sorry if I steered you wrong. 

0patience

Marty, there isn't a power adapter cable with the kit?
It should plug into the port on the back of the hard drive.
Or does that adapter plug into both ports on the back of the hard drive.
If nothing is plugged into the power port on the hard drive, the hard drive will not turn on/spin up and nothing will read.

jlmarta

0patience said:

Marty, there isn't a power adapter cable with the kit?
It should plug into the port on the back of the hard drive.
Or does that adapter plug into both ports on the back of the hard drive.
If nothing is plugged into the power port on the hard drive, the hard drive will not turn on/spin up and nothing will read.

Are you speaking of a 4-pin port on the back of the drive?  There's one there but no indication of its intended use. The adapter plugs into the 40-pin port for a 3.5" drive or the smaller port for a 2.5" laptop drive (I assume). 

0patience

Yes, the 4 pin port is the power supply.
An IDE hard drive requires a power supply.
That kit might power up a SATA HD, but won't power up an IDE.

Unfortunately, you need an IDE power adapter to make it work.

Wylaff

Open the side and see if you have a spare 4 pin on your ps

0patience

Wylaff said:

Open the side and see if you have a spare 4 pin on your ps

Good thinker. LOL!

jlmarta

Wylaff said:

Open the side and see if you have a spare 4 pin on your ps

Hee hee, too late. I already ordered another kit that includes a power cord and brick. They're cheap as dirt.....  I ordered one that has a bunch more stuff in it but cost around half of what the first one cost. I got the second one on eBay. Almost always a better place to buy...

We gonna whup this thing into submission, guys...  (So sayeth the oldfart.... ) 

jlmarta

Okay, Wayne, I'm back again. The kit I ordered got here and I plugged the 4-pin plug into the hard drive along with the adapter plug that I had. Next I plugged the power cord into the 'brick' that's attached to the 4-pin plug and cord. 

I plugged the USB cable from the adapter into a port that's hooked to my PC. Then I plugged the power cord from the brick into a 110v outlet. Now that everything's hooked up, I fired up my PC. 

Still a big NOTHING!  The extra drive doesn't show up on my PC, I don't hear/feel anything moving in the hard drive. What am I doing wrong?

The 'brick' is just a transformer that delivers 12vdc on pin #1 and 5vdc on pin #4. The 4-pin plug is the only thing that'll fit the power Inlet on the drive so I'm thinking that part must be right. Am I missing something?

jlmarta

Hi, guys. I'm still looking for answers to my hard drive problem. Wayne's probably tied up with something else right now and that's okay - I understand. Life has a way of making its demands on ya sometimes. 

Anyway, if any of the rest of you can offer any clues as to what's happening with this hd, please feel free to jump in and shout it out. I'd really like to get this thing resolved and hopefully recover some missing data. 

Please read the previous post where I explain the latest happenings in this continuing saga. 

Thanks in advance.... 

jgibv

@jlmarta ;

1) have you tried using a different USB port on your PC? 

2) does the drive appear in your BIOS menu (to access BIOS, restart the PC and hold F2 during the boot process)

jlmarta

I tried another USB port with no difference. 

As for the BIOS, for some reason when the screen/menu appears I have no cursor. My mouse works fine any other time but I have no way to click on anything when I'm in this mode. 

Yakster

Not sure I can be of much help, but you may need to use just the keyboard and arrow keys in BIOS mode.

jlmarta

Yakster said:

Not sure I can be of much help, but you may need to use just the keyboard and arrow keys in BIOS mode.

Tried that already. It didn't work, either....  

jlmarta

Hee hee, maybe I should just go back to a pointy piece of charcoal and writing on the back of a shovel.... 

jgibv

jlmarta said:

I tried another USB port with no difference. 

As for the BIOS, for some reason when the screen/menu appears I have no cursor. My mouse works fine any other time but I have no way to click on anything when I'm in this mode. 

@jlmarta ---are you using a wired keyboard / mouse?  or wireless one(s)?

jlmarta

It's a wireless mouse. Ya s'pose that's the problem with the cursor?

jgibv

jlmarta said:

It's a wireless mouse. Ya s'pose that's the problem with the cursor?

@jlmarta ; yes that's probably the issue. the wireless mouse likely requires a driver to operate, which will not be loaded for the BIOS menu. 

also, how old is the computer?
what operating system are you using?
and is it a USB keyboard or the older style, PS/2 keyboard (round, purple colored plug)

a few more ideas.....

1) since you were able to load the BIOS menu, you should be able to navigate the menu with the arrow keys.....but the arrow keys are not working, correct? 
load the BIOS menu again, and instead of the arrow keys, try pressing "tab" or "shift + tab" and see if that does anything.  if not, then press through the "function" keys one at a time. and lastly, try the "enter" key. 


if none of that works......
2) then unplug the adapter for your wireless mouse.
restart.
and boot into BIOS without the mouse adapter plugged into your computer and try the arrow keys on your keyboard again.


if that doesn't work.....
3) leave the mouse adapter unplugged. 
plug the keyboard into a different port (preferably on the back of your computer if possible).
restart.
boot into BIOS and try using the arrow keys.


and last but not least, if none of this works.....
4) try using a different keyboard if you have one. 

jlmarta

Wow, @jgibv, thanks a heap for that. I'll definitely try those things but it'll most likely be this afternoon before I can get to it. 

jlmarta

Okay, @jgibv, I managed some time a little earlier than I anticipated. 

The answers to your questions are:

The computer is only a couple years out of a refurb. 

It runs on Win7 Professional

It's a USB keyboard

I've tried all of your suggestions with the exception of trying a different keyboard - I don't have one. 

I unplugged the adapter for the wireless mouse and plugged a working USB mouse in. This mouse functioned normally when not in BIOS mode but, again, there's no cursor in BIOS and the arrow keys nor any if the other keys produce any movement on the BIOS screen. 

Is there a way to enter the BIOS mode other than using the f2 key on startup?  Like maybe entering a command at the DOS prompt (or is that the C: prompt)?  I'm thinking that, since the mouse works normally when not in BIOS, maybe it would work if we arrived at BIOS via a different route. Is that even feasible?

jgibv

jlmarta said:

Okay, @jgibv, I managed some time a little earlier than I anticipated. 

The answers to your questions are:

The computer is only a couple years out of a refurb. 

It runs on Win7 Professional

It's a USB keyboard

I've tried all of your suggestions with the exception of trying a different keyboard - I don't have one. 

I unplugged the adapter for the wireless mouse and plugged a working USB mouse in. This mouse functioned normally when not in BIOS mode but, again, there's no cursor in BIOS and the arrow keys nor any if the other keys produce any movement on the BIOS screen. 

Is there a way to enter the BIOS mode other than using the f2 key on startup?  Like maybe entering a command at the DOS prompt (or is that the C: prompt)?  I'm thinking that, since the mouse works normally when not in BIOS, maybe it would work if we arrived at BIOS via a different route. Is that even feasible?

@jlmarta ; just to make sure I'm understanding correctly....
You were able to load the BIOS menu? 
But could not navigate the menu with the keyboard nor mouse? 
Correct?

jlmarta

That's correct.