Re: ntldr is missing error - second hd

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From: b r a l l (bhallspam-signups_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 08/10/04 

Date: 10 Aug 2004 12:22:07 -0700

Right, I understand that. But funny enough, I find that my
motherboard, despite how I've set jumpers, sometimes detects my
devices differently depending on how they're situated on the cable as
well as which IDE I've used. It's caused me endless stress, as
there's no (conventional) logic to it...

I will take a crack, thanks.

"Pegasus" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message news:<utF2#kdeEHA.1764@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...
> It seems some clarification about disc connections is
> required.
>
> Primary/Secondary Controller:
> Whether a disk is connected to the primary or secondary
> controller is determined by the socket for the ribbon cable
> on the motherboard. One is labelled "primary", the other
> "secondary".
>
> Master/Slave Disk
> Whether a disk is a master or a slave is determined by
> one or several jumpers on the disk. It is irrelevant which
> connector you select on the ribbon cable.
>
>
> "b r a l l" <bhallspam-signups@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:35ee3705.0408031722.450be95d@posting.google.com...
> > Sounds good. To clarify:
> >
> > > - Connect the second disk as a primary slave disk
> >
> > so I'd connect to the same IDE cable, yes? i've got
> > the jumpers set correctly.
> >
> > > - Make the CD drive the secondary master, and the
> > second disk
> > the secondary slave disk.
> >
> > so again, i'd connect them to the same ide cable, yes?
> > is this set through the jumpers once they're on the
> > same, or is it through the position on the cable
> > (middle vs. outside). if so, which position is the
> > master and which the slave? i believe this is how i
> > currently have had it positioned: the second hd with
> > the cd-rom.
> >
> > > - Tell the BIOS that you don't have a second disk.
> Win2000
> > > will probably still pick it up.
> >
> > how do i do this? when i view the hardware setup, try
> > and hide the disk?
> >
> > thanks for helping this newbie. fyi, my whole setup
> > looks like this:
> >
> > ide 3 (middle connector) - hd 0 - boot - primary master
> > ide 4 (middle connector) - hd 1 (i've actually got three hd's, this one
> > is fine) - secondary slave
> > ide 1 (middle) - dvd rom
> > ide 2 - cd rw (middle) + hd 2 (outside) (the problem hd)
> >
> > thanks for your help.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Pegasus" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message
> news:<ecS#2atdEHA.1356@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>...
> > > "b r a l l" <bhallspam-signups@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > > news:35ee3705.0407301419.559eb3cb@posting.google.com...
> > > > I recently re-installed Win2K and am now having trouble re-connecting
> > > > a second hard drive used for data only.
> > > >
> > > > I can boot up fine when the second HD is not connected. When I
> > > > connect it however, I cannot boot up windows and get stopped by a
> > > > "ntldr is missing" error. When I remove the HD, I can once again boot
> > > > up. I'm attaching this HD to an IDE that also shares a cd drive. I
> > > > did not have any problems prior to my re-install with it attached in
> > > > the same fashion.
> > > >
> > > > I tried using a different IDE, this time sharing it with my HD. In
> > > > this situation, I did not get the "ntldr is missing" error, got to the
> > > > windows load screen, but it stalled in mid-load.
> > > >
> > > > I've searched some postings for similar problems, but they seem to be
> > > > primarily about primary HD's that contain the OS. Not sure if the
> > > > fact that this is used for data only will affect the fix.
> > > >
> > > > Much appreciated...
> > >
> > > It seems your BIOS is treating the secondary master disk as the
> > > primary master disk. It should not but I have seen it before. If
> > > this is correct then you could try either of these methods:
> > >
> > > - Connect the second disk as a primary slave disk
> > > - Make the CD drive the secondary master, and the second disk
> > > the secondary slave disk.
> > > - Tell the BIOS that you don't have a second disk. Win2000
> > > will probably still pick it up.

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