I've installed a new hdd and want to keep the existing hdd as the master. I've changed the jumpers on both discs to cable select and put the black connector into the existing hdd and the gray into the new hdd. The pc boots up but gives 2 bios beeps followed by a 20 second gap then 2 more beeps and 1 final beep. Message on screen is monitor self test - your monitor is working - check the video cable and pc.

I've checked all the connections to the motherboard and the monitor connections but no joy. Any ideas????:help: :confused: :gag:

I wouldnt bother with cable select. Just leave your original drive as master and set the new ones jumper to slave. Or better still if you have a spare IDE channel put it on a channel of its own as master.

Just to clarify

The original hdd should be set to Master = ON?
This leaves the following jumper options on the 2nd hdd

- Master = ON/Slave = OFF (one pair of pins)
- Cable select
- Limit drive to 32 gb

What should I set the 2nd hdd jumper to? I don't have a spare IDE connection. :gag:

remove the jumper on the second drive to make it slave. If the slave drive isnt detected you may need to go into your cmos/bios set up and check that slave is set to auto detect.

ok how do I get to bios? is there anyway to get to it from xp control panel as the black and white screens flash past so fast I can't see the key to get to it :mad:

ok found my way into bios but can't find a slave setting to change?

Looks like everything recognises the new hdd except Windows Explorer. Any ideas?

you have partitioned and formatted it, havent you?

just in the process doh! just taking a break with some super noodles. thanks for the help:thumbsup:

For those who are interested - the wizard for partitioning/formatting did not start automatically but managed to do it via control panel and computer management option from admin tools. Format took about and hour, loading xp (used repair option) took 40 minutes, was able to register my copy and download updates from MS www. site. The only problem now is a home networking issue but I'll trawl the site for an answer. Thanks to everyone who helped, yet again SF comes through. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: