PC would not boot up after installing new HDD

[Xander]

I have just installed an 80GB HDD into a somewhat old PC AMD K6 with 503MB RAM. The real issue is that the machine would not perform POST or go to the CMOS screen, only after plugging the new HDD. I've tried the jumper switches, and no matter what combination Slave/Master, Master/Slave, Cable Select; will not boot up. Should I mess up with the Main PCB switches or exchange the HDD for a new one?


Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

[Tank]

Check your leads on yoru Motherboard I will explain what I mean


On the front of your Case you have your Reset Switch, the busy light for your HD, power on off. The wires for the busy light on the front of your case, hook up to your Mobo, make sure these are in correctly, every Mobo is different, but usually the lettering will face upwards, will say something like H.D LED on a small connector. If that is hooked up wrong, sometimes it wont boot up, i have had that happen to me. Could be a IDE Cable, if nothing else is on the cable, put the hard drive on the very last spot on the cable, farthest down the cable, set the drive to master, and give er a try, lemme know if it still does not work.

[Xander]

Thannks for your suggestion, I tried doing it the way you said. However, It still won't boot up. Thank you again, and if you have any other advise, let me know.

[icecube]

Sometimes when the hard drive is too large for the bios to reconize, it just chokes and locks up. A lot of those older systems couldn't see anything after 8 gigs (aprox 1998) and some a year later were not seeing past 32 gig. All of this was a motherboard bios issue. If you can, try booting it up on a newer system it might just boot up.

Right now, non Intel motherboards built before 2003 hit the wall at 137 gig.

Which ever way it goes, most computer stores only give you a window to return items between 14-30 days after purchase. After that, you have to deal with the manufacturer.

[Tank]

That is true as well. If all else fails, dig up an old 8 Gig HD or a old 2GB or something you can test it with, it will recognize those, you have foudn your problem.