Recognizing HDD at POST: HDD firmware of BIOS Problem?

[Chuckiechan]

I have a ECS K7S5A.
I have two Maxtor 80G on a cable select master/slave setup.

When I boot up cold, (in the AM ~ 65 deg F) it sees the Primary HDD as some odd brand and won't boot, even after several tries. If I go into Bios and do "F3" is recognizes OK and boots fine. A warm boot is fine, and a cold boot after is has been running for awhile is fine, too. Seems temperature related to me.

I RMA'd a HDD to Maxtor for the same reason. The HDD is I got back is probably a refurb, and it is the master.

Is this likely to be a motherboard issue or a HDD issue?

I e mailed ECS tech support, but I'm not holding my breath...

Thanks in advance...

[jmichna]

If the mobo's got a few years on it... try replacing the CMOS battery (only costs a few dollars).

[DallasDon]

I remember reading instruction on the cable select settings, that the IDE ribbon cable supplied with the drive must be used.

I have no idea why, but it would not work with cable select, and rounded 80 wire cables.

[Chuckiechan]

I changed out the battery, I'll see how it behaves tomorrow AM.

Regarding the cable, it is working most of the time. The problem is intermittent so I doubt it is the cable. I give it a reseat before I close it up, tho.

Thanks...

[Wombat]

I just upgraded from 2 maxtors totalling 100gig to 1 maxtor at 120 gig and had a simlar problem. Turned out to be the power supply.
Worth a look see.

Paul

[Chuckiechan]

Well, I changed the battery and it started ok. It's not very cold this morning but I think maybe the battery was the culprit.

Great! Now how am I going to convince the wife I need another motherboard and XP 3200!

I just changed to power supply to an Antec True Power 380. My old Antec PS had like 5 years on it decided to change it out rather than wait for it to fail.

Thanks....

[jmichna]

Originally posted by Chuckiechan
...Great! Now how am I going to convince the wife I need another motherboard and XP 3200!....

Take out and hide the battery... and show her the d*mn thing just doesn't work anymore

Disclaimer: Married 22+ years... same woman, too

[Chuckiechan]

Just a follow up...

I think it may have been an IDE cable. I put a new one on and so far, so good.

Thanks for all of the help!