Boot disc failure

[Dragstk]

I noticed that my Folding computer had crashed. I rebooted and it picked up where it left off.
I remembered mmonnin asking about AMD procs crashing freezing running Folding.
To supply all the info needed, I needed to get the numbers off the proc. Removed the HSF, read the numbers, put it all back together.
Now it posts, but on the first BIOS screen it says "Boot disc failure-insert system disc"
Any body have any ideas what happened here?
Dragstk

[WuGgaRoO]

do u hear some form of clicking when the comp is being turned on?like a popping clickign noise radiating from the harddrive

[shwaip]

Make sure you didn't knock any of the cables loose, esp. those going to the hard drive.

[Dragstk]

No, no funny noises at all. Sounds normal. Just reset the CMOS, no help
It says insert system disc, but I can't get the CD Rom to open yet.

[Enverex]

Sounds like one of the IDE cables has come lose and isn't connected properly. Make sure the Molexes going to all the drives are properly inserted and all the IDE cables are connected properly...

[Dragstk]

Things we have tried;
I noticed that on the boot screen, under Pri. master/slave & secondary master/slave, it's all listed as none
HD is suppose to be 1st boot device
So:
reseated all cables;
used different power rail to drive HD;
tried 2 different IDE cables;
put HD in secondary IDE slot on MB, as master
All no go
I can feel the HD vibrating, but there never is any activity from the HD light
Dead HD?
Dragstk

[Dragstk]

OK, I give up!
Took the HD out, put it in my other computer, as a slave. Showed up as a slave
Changed the jumper back to Master, put it back into the Folding computer, still no go.
Set the jumper from master to slave, booted, it runs fine. Shows up in the BIOS as secondary slave. There is nothing plugged into the secondary IDE!! (yes, I checked the IDE slots on the MB)
I am totally lost as to what is happening here
But it's Folding, and it picked up right where it left off before.
I'm going to ignore the settings and let it run. But if anybody has any explanation as how this is working as it is, I'm all ears
Thank you to everyone that offered help!
Dragstk

[profdlp]

...But if anybody has any explanation as how this is working as it is, I'm all ears
Thank you to everyone that offered help!
Dragstk
In the BIOS, are all IDE channels set to "Auto"?

Are you sure the cable is not backwards?

Are you using an 80-wire or 40-wire cable?

What MB & HD do you have?

[Dragstk]

I just opened the case, checked, the rebooted to confirm all

BIOS settings are to auto
single IDE cable in the blue IDE slot
not sure about 40 or 80 wire cable(it's round one), but it's what I have been using all along
MB is an Asus A7V333 with a 5400RPM WD 20 gig
??????????????????????????????????????
Dragstk

[profdlp]

That appears to be a RAID-capable board (from the info I could find).

Do you have four physical locations to plug IDE cables into? If so, have you made sure you're using the standard IDE (non-RAID) connections? If you want to use the RAID connectors, have you gone into the Promise RAID bios to detect/enable drives there?

[Dragstk]

The manual makes mention of RAID. But there are only 2 IDE slots. The spot where the other 2 would go, is marked on the MB.
After playing with this for a while, the system will never boot w/ the HD jumper set to Master. This HD was formatted, and the OS installed w/ the HD as a slave. Does that make a difference?
It's running, and as long as it does, I'll leave it alone.
Dragstk

[profdlp]

What you describe is common. They make one layout of the board, then add in the RAID goodies for that model.

They always say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but I was wondering which connection on your IDE cable you are using? If you have the drive hooked to the connector in the middle, you might try using the one on the very end.

[Dragstk]

I am using a single device IDE cable.
Thanks for all your help and concern on this Profdlp.
Dragstk

[profdlp]

Try a standard (3-connector) IDE cable. One end to the MB, and the one at the far end to the drive. The middle connector is for a "Slave". I'll bet you'll be able to run it as "Master" that way.

Good Luck!