Issues with multiple HDs

Mmmm, help guys!

I know this is more like a windows tech support issue, but really you ppl are about the only serious people I can rely on for help.

I have this new 40g seagate 5400 rpm HDD, and when I tried to install into my pc the thing wouldn't boot, well let me be a little more specific. I have an IDE drive on IDE-0 in which windows is installed and a sata hd. First I tried installing this 3rd drive in IDE-0 as a slave (the other ide was master and I payed attention to the jumpers) and I got an error message after the "verifying DMI pool data" message, the message read something like "error at starting windows can't find path to specified drive" it was in white font and was like 7-10 long. Then I used the spare IDE-1 slot and plugged it there as master, I got the same error.

After a while I found out that if I removed the sata hd (which is just used to store stuff, nothing win or OS related) windows would give the same error, so this means that anything besides my actual HD configuration (the 2 hdds) is bound to fail for some reason, any hints on how to solve this?.

Many thanks in advance

Ok, basic troubleshooting request-for-help format:

A) Complete and accurate description of known state, preferably good state.  In this case, a complete description of your configuration prior to failing to install your 3rd drive.

B) Cohesive presentation.  Lay out your statements in a logical order.  "Flow-of-thought" may work in brainstorming sessions and liberal arts dissertations, but they don't cut it here.  AKA, I have *no* idea what you're trying to say.

C) Complete and accurate description of troubleshooting steps taken and results received.  You tried to do this, and that's good.  You failed miserably (mostly due to a lack of (B)) and that's bad.

All that aside, did you verify your BIOS boot order and did you verify that you're plugging the drive into the correct IDE cable plug?  Remember, master's on the end, slave is in the middle.  Double check your pin-orientation, too.  Your plugs may not have the proper plastic sleeves to force the cable in correctly.

I've never farked with mixing IDE and S-ATA drives on the same box.  I don't know if there are any wonky interactions that can result from such a configuration.

And if you have S-ATA interfaces, why are you buying a shiatty, slow, small HDD?  It's clearly not RAIDed.

Ok, I'l rephrase Everything

First my setup:

I have 2 120g HDDs, an IDE HD in which windows is installed and is on the IDE-0 controler, The other 120g drive is a sata drive which is on the IDE-2 controler, this drive (the sata drive) is used for storage porpouses only, there is nothing windows needs to get from it. Both HDDs are master in their respective controler.

The problem:

I bought a seagate 40g 5400 rpm HDD I tried installing it in many ways but I always get the same error before windows boots, it reads something like "There has a configuration or hardware problem and windows can't find the path to the specified HD". It happens after the "checking DMI pool data" message at start-up.

Measures I've taken:

I tried installing the drive as slave in the IDE-0 controler (checked the BIOS accordingly) and I get the error described above

I tried connecting the HD on IDE-1 as master(checked the BIOS accordingly), and I get the same error

For testing porpouses I even tried to boot the computer only with the HDD that contains windows, to my amusement I got the same error message.

My theories:

I think it could be that My windows partition is drive D (not C:, maybe a lack of C: drive is causing the error), if this is causing the problem then can anyone plz tell me how to reasign drive letters

I also think that it could be something with the DMI pool data, maybe the PC is trying to match a criteria in that data, in other words it's trying to find the 2 HDDs it always boots with, anything different from that gives the erroe message. Oh well I don't know what the hell is the DMI pool data but that, at least, it's my guess.

Plz help : P

You could try pressing F8 upon windows booting, to see if you can generate the boot menu. That would at least indicate at which stage your error is occuring (i.e. before or after it parses the c:\boot.ini file)

any other idea?

What was the result of the previous suggestion?