IDE Controller not working

[sassie05]

Building my Mum's comp. Got it all together, but, the HD is not seen in bios.
Ran the Seagate Diag tools and it detects the controller as unknown and unsupported. So I swapped IDE controllers with the DVD/CD drive and the HD is detected but not the DVD/CD drive. SO I belive I have a bad controller. Is there something I can do to get it operational?
Other options: RMA'ing the MOBO (I'd rather not)?
IDE controller expansion card? I would prefer this!
Any other suggestions??
SPECS
ASUS P5GD1-VM Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 915G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Celeron D 331 Prescott 533MHz FSB LGA 775 64-Bit Processor w/ Execute Disable Bit Model BX80547RE2667CN - Retail

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail

Seagate 120GB Barracuda Ultra ATA 7200rpm st3120026a-rk
Thanks in advance

[jlreich]

Check the BIOS to make sure the primary IDE channel is not disabled. Make sure the BIOS is set to auto detect drives. Try a different IDE cable. Make sure the drive is jumpered correctly.

If that doesn't work it sounds like a bad mobo to me. I would RMA it. I know it is a PIA but I wouldn't keep a known bad mobo that I just paid good money for.

You could go the controller card route but why put a band aid on a new broken mobo. ;) You might get everything setup and then other things start going bad on the mobo a couple months down the road.

[sassie05]

good point about the controller card! I have tried all of the above suggestions! Call me stupid, but I am willing to take a chance using the band aid and deal with any problems down the road. This leads me to a question! When I install the controller will it then become the primary IDE? Should I connect the HD or the DVD to the controller?
OK, two questions sorry!

[jlreich]

I have never used a controller card myself so I will leave that up those more familiar with.

That being said it will not become the primary IDE but you will be able to boot from it if so desired. But I will leave the details to others.

Good luck sassie05. :)

[sassie05]

Thanks jlreich

[Paul Komski]

When I install the controller will it then become the primary IDE?
Most PCI Card IDE controllers have two IDE channels on them to which you could attach a master and slave ATA/ATAPI device just as with the two found on most mobos.

However the devices need to be configured in a separate BIOS screen that commonly follows the normal BIOS entry key press screen. This is where you would select a boot device from the drives attached to the controller - but to boot from the controller card at all the normal BIOS is normally set to boot from SCSI.

Sometimes there can be conflicts between choosing to boot from an IDE HDD on the controller and another one on the mobo. If you can it is best to only have IDE drives on either the card or the motherboard channels.

If the mobo is bad then RMA it - often one fault is the precursor to othere appearing.

[sassie05]

went and got a controller tried but could not get it to go (didn't try very hard) I had this voice in my head "get another mobo" Off I Go to get a mobo
Thanks guys!

[jlreich]

Wise decision. :) Nothing like getting a new computer all setup the way you like it and then it starts crashing two months down the road. :(

[sassie05]

Thanks guys
Got a new mobo (Intel D101Ggc) all put together and runing great! Mum should be Happy with her 70th birthday surprise! Considering she has an Emachine 733i with Windows Me. That thing is nothing but problems!
Well now I need to rma the old mobo. Hope newegg will accecpt it! Oh, and return that controller!
Thanks again.