Hard drive problem... extremely urgent - Hardware & Software

(I am a learning computer user. I know many things, but there are odd gaps in my knowledge, so don't assume I know anything.) About a week ago, I removed my hard drive. The drive in question is a 60GB PATA Seagate thing. (Yes, I am running out of room.) I put it back in. I turned it on, and things began to go bad. Here's a rundown of what normally happens when my computer turns on. -BIOS appears. -All IDE drives appear in list. -I am prompted to press F1 to continue. -"Verifying CMOS data" is displayed for 1-2 seconds. -Windows starts. What happens now: -BIOS appears. -"Detecting IDE drives" is displayed for 10-15 minutes. (Yes.) -List of IDE drives appears in list. I am prompted to press F1 to continue. -"Updating CMOS data" is displayed for 10-15 minutes. Note that it says "updating" and not "verifying". -"DISK BOOT FAILIURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" is displayed. All connectors are inserted securely to the drive and mobo. The drive continuously repeats a sound cycle: Increasing in pitch over a second, beep. It always makes that sound when booting, but now it's repeating. My BIOS, I believe, is AwardBIOS made by Phoenix Technologies. I am utterly lost, and somewhat devastated. Is there anything I can do to get my beloved computer up and running?

If Google can't help, Facepunch can!

Can you swap out the hard drive for another one that is known to be working, just to pinpoint if it is the hard-drive that is the issue? Because it [i]could[/i] be the motherboards fault.

[QUOTE=Naaz;34334246](I am a learning computer user. I know many things, but there are odd gaps in my knowledge, so don't assume I know anything.)[/QUOTE] Not to sound like an ass, but judging from your post, you have about as much knowledge as a completely computer illiterate individual. You don't know as much as you think you do. [QUOTE=Naaz;34334246]All connectors are inserted securely to the drive and mobo. The drive continuously repeats a sound cycle: Increasing in pitch over a second, beep. It always makes that sound when booting, but now it's repeating.[/QUOTE] You're describing the average system boot process, not the hard drive. If the hard drive was making a beeping sound (which it's not) it would be [I]very[/I] bad. The beep is originating from the PC speaker, telling you that the PC speaker works. I'm guessing that since the hard drive worked before you removed it, you did something wrong when reinstalling it. Several probabilities are: 1) You accidentally removed the jumper from the drive that tells the IDE controller if it's master/slave/cable select. 2) You plugged the drive into the wrong position on the IDE cable (some boards are picky about this.) 3) You plugged the IDE cable in backwards (older IDE cables don't have keys to prevent it.) 4) You reversed the IDE cable and are using the side designated for the motherboard on a drive (MANY boards hate this and will refuse to work properly.) In more severe cases that I won't rule out, you may have tried to use the floppy drive cable to plug in the hard drive. it should be immediately obvious since the cable is smaller and won't fit properly (38 vs 40 pins) but I have seen it frequently enough on systems people bring me that their "brother" worked on.

[QUOTE=bohb;34344821]Not to sound like an ass, but judging from your post, you have about as much knowledge as a completely computer illiterate individual. You don't know as much as you think you do. You're describing the average system boot process, not the hard drive. If the hard drive was making a beeping sound (which it's not) it would be [I]very[/I] bad. The beep is originating from the PC speaker, telling you that the PC speaker works. I'm guessing that since the hard drive worked before you removed it, you did something wrong when reinstalling it. Several probabilities are: 1) You accidentally removed the jumper from the drive that tells the IDE controller if it's master/slave/cable select. 2) You plugged the drive into the wrong position on the IDE cable (some boards are picky about this.) 3) You plugged the IDE cable in backwards (older IDE cables don't have keys to prevent it.) 4) You reversed the IDE cable and are using the side designated for the motherboard on a drive (MANY boards hate this and will refuse to work properly.) In more severe cases that I won't rule out, you may have tried to use the floppy drive cable to plug in the hard drive. it should be immediately obvious since the cable is smaller and won't fit properly (38 vs 40 pins) but I have seen it frequently enough on systems people bring me that their "brother" worked on.[/QUOTE] No, sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm not stupid. I know about jumpers and IDE stuff, and none of those things happened. Also, the HDD is, indeed, beeping. It makes a new sound since the original post. Beep, second pause, repeat infinitely. I take it this means that there is permanent, physical damage that I cannot repair. And that's fine. A friend of mine might have a spare HDD for me, but I dunno. Also, you do sound like an ass.:rolleyes:

You didn't confirm/disprove any of bohb's hypotheses; I too have a feeling that you mixed the drives up and didn't [url=http://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/hdrive3.php]configure the jumpers correctly.[/url] Which is the first thing bohb guessed. If you haven't already given up, can you tell us anything other than the beeping noises?

If you are really as certain as you say you are and know as much as you claim, and your hard drive really is emitting a noise reminiscent of a beep, then that's very bad news. This means there's something severely mechanically wrong with your HDD and it is emitting strange noises due to this mechanical failure. Hard drive disks do not have speakers and will not (cannot) emit a "beep" under any circumstances. Your motherboard is what's beeping. Since I highly doubt you fussed around with the jumper on the HDD, I can say with almost 100% certainty that you plugged in the wrong node of the Parallel ATA cable. Before you go looking for a new HDD which is a dumb move since you have done little troubleshooting on the issue, rearrange all the wiring that you touched when removing/reinstalling your HDD until it boots properly. If you change any settings in BIOS before you attempt this simple fix, you will certainly complicate the issue. Keep in mind, the black node on a typical ATA cable connects to the motherboard, and the standard blue-colored node should be hooked up to the HDD. You shouldn't need the gray node if there is one. Jeez, all of this is making me really appreciate SATA.

[QUOTE=Naaz;34351401]Also, you do sound like an ass.:rolleyes:[/QUOTE] The only logical conclusions that we can come to here is that: 1) You're ignorant and have no intention of wanting to solve your own problems. 2) You'd rather be an attention whore and pretend to be knowledgeable on a subject you clearly aren't. 3) Probably did something stupid like drop the drive and are wasting our time trying to solve an irreparable problem.

[QUOTE=Rome;34353452]If you are really as certain as you say you are and know as much as you claim, and your hard drive really is emitting a noise reminiscent of a beep, then that's very bad news. This means there's something severely mechanically wrong with your HDD and it is emitting strange noises due to this mechanical failure. Hard drive disks do not have speakers and will not (cannot) emit a "beep" under any circumstances. Your motherboard is what's beeping. Since I highly doubt you fussed around with the jumper on the HDD, I can say with almost 100% certainty that you plugged in the wrong node of the Parallel ATA cable. Before you go looking for a new HDD which is a dumb move since you have done little troubleshooting on the issue, rearrange all the wiring that you touched when removing/reinstalling your HDD until it boots properly. If you change any settings in BIOS before you attempt this simple fix, you will certainly complicate the issue. Keep in mind, the black node on a typical ATA cable connects to the motherboard, and the standard blue-colored node should be hooked up to the HDD. You shouldn't need the gray node if there is one. Jeez, all of this is making me really appreciate SATA.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the info; quite an informative post. I would like to stress that I did [i]NOT[/i] screw with the jumpers at all. However, I am only about 85% sure that the HDD itself is beeping; I will check. Also, the wiring is identically arranged as it was before the problems arose. I have re-secured the IDE connections, and this did not solve the problem. Also, bohb. I'd like to keep this peaceful and civil, but I'd like to remind you that the Hallmark of the Great Poster is kindness to newbs, and this is not something that you are expressing. I can't become more knowledgeable unless you allow me to be.

Even if you did not play with the jumpers, if you re-arranged the drives at all it could cause a problem. [editline]asdf[/editline] It might be a good idea to update your bios. They could've patched this if it's just a bug. Paste your motherboard model and I'll come up with some instructions.

[QUOTE=Naaz;34366749]Also, bohb. I'd like to keep this peaceful and civil, but I'd like to remind you that the Hallmark of the Great Poster is kindness to newbs, and this is not something that you are expressing. I can't become more knowledgeable unless you allow me to be.[/QUOTE] Sorry, but I refuse to play nice with hypocrits and people that have big man syndrome. In your first post, you describe that "(I am a learning computer user. I know many things, but there are odd gaps in my knowledge, so don't assume I know anything.)" And you then go on to describe parts of the computer and functions improperly, in which case I tell you that you don't know as much as you think you do (which you don't). You even state "may have odd gaps in knowledge" (which is an inadequate description.) So then I tell you things that may be wrong and you lash back all offended and refuse to take any of my advice, then again proceed to use improper terminology claiming you know [I]far[/I] more than you actually do. You have big man syndrome and cannot be wrong. Next, we have Rome repeating some of the same stuff I said earlier, and you listen to his advice like it was the first time it was offered to you. Then you go back and start changing what you said earlier like "Also, the HDD is, indeed, beeping." to "However, I am only about 85% sure that the HDD itself is beeping; I will check." So now you're willing to put forth effort and not lash back with big man syndrome. If anyone lacks civility, it's you. I may be a pompus ass, but at least I tried to help you; Which is more than I can say for you.

@bohb: Yeah, I derped. I hadn't realized just how incomplete my knowledge is. "Odd gaps" is rather an understatment; "gaping voids of boundless oblivion" is more like it. I proclaim it; I'm a newb and I don't know a gnat compared to you guys. Now let's get down to business, shall we? @Naelstrom: Unlikely, since the problem only occurred after I removed the drive and put it back in. I'm more inclined to think it's a hardware problem.