Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics

Hard Drive

Problem

 

Possible Solution

 

 

Hard drive error occurs.

Hard disk has bad sectors or has failed. Use a utility to

 

locate and block usage of bad sectors. If necessary,

 

reformat the hard disk.

 

 

Disk transaction problem.

Either the directory structure is bad or there is a problem

 

with a file. In Windows 98, 2000, or Me run ScanDisk.

 

Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools >

 

ScanDisk.

 

In Windows NT, right–click Start, click Explore, and select a

 

drive. Select File > Properties > Tools. Under Error-checking,

 

click Check Now.

 

 

 

Drive not found (identified).

1.

Cable could be loose. Check cable connections.

 

2.

The system may not have automatically recognized a

 

 

newly installed device. See reconfiguration directions in

 

 

the “Hardware Installation Problems” section. If system

 

 

still does not recognize the new device, check to see if

 

 

the device is listed within Computer Setup. If it is listed,

 

 

the probable cause is a driver problem. If it is not listed,

 

 

the probable cause is a hardware problem.

 

3.

Check drive jumper settings. If the drive is a secondary

 

 

drive that has just been installed on the same controller

 

 

as the primary drive, verify that the jumpers for both

 

 

drives are set correctly.

 

4.

Check SCSI IDs to ensure none are duplicated.

 

 

 

Nonsystem disk message.

1.

The system is trying to start from a diskette that is not

 

 

bootable. Remove the diskette from the diskette drive.

 

2.

The system is trying to start from the hard drive but the

 

 

hard drive may have been damaged. Insert a bootable

 

 

diskette into the diskette drive and restart the computer.

 

3.

Diskette boot has been disabled in Computer Setup. Run

 

 

Computer Setup and enable diskette boot.

 

 

Second Ultra ATA hard drive does not

The cable is not compatible with the drive type. Reinstall the

perform optimally.

second Ultra ATA hard drive using an 80-conductor cable.

 

 

 

 

F–8

Service Reference Guide