boot problems

[rob_in_a_crate]

I suspect the problem I am having regarding booting my PC is the way in which my hardware is set up... here goes... (btw, I am new to dealing with hardware components, so the answer is probably something very obvious that I don't even know I am supposed to be doing, so please bear with me).

I tried to boot off of a floppy drive and/or CD ROM drive to format my HD and re-install the OS (I started the process initially but the process was interrupted and I was forced to quit)... for some reason I can't boot from either the floppy or cd rom when the HD is connected to the IDE cable (it stalls right after the memory test and floppy drive is detected). Once I disconnect the IDE (and HD), it boots fine off either floppy and CD (I tested both). The problem is, I need them to be connected so I can format the drive and install the OS (obviously).

Some points to consider:

The boot process in the BIOS is 1-floppy, 2-cd rom, 3-HD-0. I tried the process with all settings as floppy but that didn't work either.

The BIOS detects the HD (primary IDE) which is what it should be and it is set as a Master drive (btw, the HD is a Maxtor DiamondPus 20 gig... the jumper being on j50 for it to be a master).

I have tried switching the primary IDE (HD) to secondary IDE and having the cd rom drive as the primary but that didn't work (I didn't hold much hope for that solution).

I have a similar Maxtor DiamondPlus 20 gig drive (no OS) and tried with that one in place (thinking it might've been a problem with the drive), but it gives me the same result. I also tried alternating cd rom drives and floppy drives thinking the problem was with one of those but same result.

I also tried booting off a floppy on another old system I have with one of the two Maxtor drives and the the boot process stalls at the same spot on the second machine as well (boot process 1- floppy etc.)... I thought maybe a problem might've been with the P/S or something else I hadn't considered on the other system.

I went through the boot process guide on this website to get an idea of the problem and the best I could come up with is there is a problem with my floppy,the solution being double checking the connections and power supply connector (which I discounted because it works without a HD plugged in)... or a problem with my HD (obviously because there is no OS) and the solution being boot from a floppy to re-install an OS (which I haven't been successful in doing).

FINAL CONCLUSIONS: Since the same problem persists on both PCs I tested (the problem being the boot process stalls after the memory test is complete and checks for an existing floppy drive) I can only assume I just did something wrong when connecting the HD.

HELP! What can I try? Any input would be much appreciated.:confused:

[Sylvander]

My guess is...

"I can't boot from either the floppy or cd rom when the HD is connected to the IDE cable...Once I disconnect the IDE (and HD), it boots fine off either floppy and CD"
Since the system works fine with the HDD disconnected, then the problem is with the HDD, or the way it's being used.
Are all your drives set to "Auto" ["Dynamically Auto-detect"] in the BIOS Setup?
Only a "Dynamic Auto-detect" would [at each boot] detect the drive parameters and correctly configure those in the BIOS Setup so that they are ALWAYS correctly set for the drive connected at each individual startup. Changing HDD's from this to that to the other would otherwise have the poor BIOS totally confused.
Is each HDD you use jumpered correctly?
Are THESE (http://service.maxtor.com/rightnow/images/maxtor_quantum%20jumpers.htm) the appropriate jumper settings for your HDD's? [What's j50?]

"I have a similar Maxtor DiamondPlus 20 gig drive (no OS) and tried with that one in place (thinking it might've been a problem with the drive), but it gives me the same result"
Either this HDD is similarly incorrectly jumpered, or the BIOS's HDD parameters are similarly incorrect for this HDD. Similar drive, similar problem.

"I also tried booting off a floppy on another old system I have with one of the two Maxtor drives and the the boot process stalls at the same spot on the second machine as well"
Same problem on a differnt PC; HDD misjumpered, or parameters incorrectly set.

"I tried to boot off of a floppy drive and/or CD ROM drive to format my HD and re-install the OS (I started the process initially but the process was interrupted and I was forced to quit)"
How far did that get?
Were you able to boot from a floppy or CD with the HDD connected?

I suspect that during Startup, your FDD is being accessed OK, and the process stalls at the next step, which is "Auto-detecting IDE Devices" as seen HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/auto0nil.htm) and more especially find the solution HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/hdd/fail_BootDetect.htm).

Step 8 in the following is failing:

A typical and successful startup sequence
1. Start of Boot Troubleshooting Walkthrough
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/index.htm
2. Yes: The system power supply is functioning
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/power1.htm
------------------------------------------------------
You should hear a single short beep at about this point indicating the successful running/completion of the POST.
Some PC’s beep much later, possibly as late as just before step 12.
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3. Yes: Something is being written to the screen during boot up [This may be only a flashing cursor]
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/video1.htm
4. The video BIOS message is displayed on the screen for a few seconds and then clears from the screen, or more messages display under it
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/vbios1.htm
5. Yes: The system BIOS startup screen is appearing
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/bios1.htm
6. The memory test completes successfully
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/ram1.htm
7. The BIOS accesses the floppy drives and the boot continues
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/seek1.htm
8. The system is able to autodetect IDE devices successfully
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/auto1.htm
9. The system is not Plug and Play compatible, has no Plug and Play devices, or has PnP devices but identifies them properly
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/pnp1.htm
10. Boot sequence is A: before C: (floppy disk first)
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/seqAC.htm
11. The floppy disk makes a noise and the light comes on
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/fd1.htm
12. The floppy disk light goes off and the hard disk light comes on as it starts booting
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/fd1hdd.htm
13. The hard disk boot process will continue here, if you want to follow it.
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/hd1.htm
14. The system continues booting from the hard disk and the message "Starting MS-DOS" or "Starting Windows 95" is displayed
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/walk/hd1os.htm
15. Operating System Loaded From Hard Disk. The system has found a boot sector on the hard disk and is now starting the load of the operating system. The hard disk is working. You have successfully completed the hardware part of the boot process. Any problems encountered after this point should be diagnosed by looking for a more specific problem with a component, or under the section that contains run-time error messages.