Wndows ME Pri Master Drive ATAPI incompatible

[symze]

Hi,

I am having difficulty getting windows ME to boot up. When I turn the PC on it beeps and I get a message saying:

"Pri Master Drive ATAPI incompatible
Press F1 to resume

I have my system restore disk in, it runs but when I choose to restore I get a windows message:

error#88
unable to find correct drive

I have tried running my boot disk and trying all manner of things from there with no luck. I have disconnected the HDD and reconnected but the PC just cant recognise drive C:

I fear it may be a virus of some sort but not sure..

Thanks

[Platypus]

Pri Master Drive ATAPI incompatible


Have you checked in the BIOS setup to make sure the Primary Master device is not set as a CD-ROM?

[symze]

Hi,

Thanks for your help, in the BIOS it says the primary master and primary slave are both set to 'not installed' I have tried setting them to 'auto' but with no joy.

I have also disconnected the drive and reconnected but with no luck.

Now it is saying "boot failure, insert diskette and press any key to continue"

I try the boot disk and it comes up with a load of script but every time I try to run a command from the prompt it says "bad command".

[Archer]

Recheck the IDE cable is connected firmly and the right way round to both motherboard and harddrive also recheck the jumpers are set correctly for all devices and the power cables are inserted all the way in.

If the devices are not detected by the bios then there is no point attempting any software repairs as it is a hardware problem.

Post back if the above does not work

[symze]

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me.

I have checked all cables are the right way round, all power cables are connected, however, forgive me as I am not that clued up on this sort of stuff, how do I check the jumpers are set correctly

[Archer]

On the back of the drive with be a small plastic jumper each spans two pins as per the picture:

http://www.rugebregt.com/rudy/images/driveJumpers.jpg

The positioning of this may be written on the label for the drive if not post back the make and model for advice

An example being:

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/31553_jumpers1.gif

[symze]

I have checked as per the label on the drive and it is set correctly

[Archer]

When all are connected and you use the detect drives in the bios are any drives at all shown on the screen?
If no disconnect the harddrive [with the power off] and see if just the CDrom is discoved by the bios.

[symze]

This is the following setup

Pri Master Not Installed
Pri Slave Not installed

Sec Masetr DVD-ROM
Sec Slave CDROM

[Archer]

OK try swapping the secondary IDE cable from the CDRoms to the Primary IDE channel on the motherboard [remove the harddrive cable] and post back if they are shown in the bios.

If they are swap the ide cable from the CDRoms to the harddrive [with the power off] to check if the other cable is faulty.

[symze]

Ok tried that and in the bios all four show as not installed ahhhh..

[Archer]

Looks like a faulty hard drive then doesnt it?

[symze]

yes it does, thanks for all your help anyway.