Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 09:23:59 +0800 From: Raymond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [LIB] Hard Disk Issue - HDC error
At 05:08 PM 12/11/2001 -0800, you wrote: >Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 01:05:18 -0000 >From: "Alexander Dyke" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Hard Disk Issue - HDC error > >Hi > >I've been reading the postings and hopefully someone will be able > > >Problem >======= > >I just turned on my Libby 100 to be confronted with the message "HDC error, Insert >System Disk". Ouch! >I was able to boot from floppy, but FDISK does not recognise any fixed disks Not good ... bear in mind just because it says "HDC error" doesn't necessarily mean the controller is dead, it could well be the libby can't make a head or tail of what the HDC is telling it (which could be caused by anything inputting into the HDC). >Swapped HD to another one, able to boot with floppy, formatted replacement HD. >Rebooted a couple of times (set active partition & to set up parallel port for >laplink) using the floppy disk. But now the replacement disk has the same error >message I actually had a similar issue with the KEYBOARD controller of my Toshiba Tecra 500CT (actually at the time it wasn't mine but it got written off because of that issue so now its mine ;-) ... every now and again it'll come back but it'll stay dead with almost exactly the same error "KBC error, press F1 to continue" (which is pretty darn absurd if you ask me). Except in this case I think I know what the issue was, I suspect we may have zapped the PS/2 port (because whatever happens, we can't get a PS/2 mouse working be it plugged directly into the laptop, into the dockstation or whatever). PS/2 external keyboard always works though :-/ >Can the Hard Disk controller (which I assume is the nature of the error) replaceable? In the libby I don't think so, especially since its probably integrated into other things. Even in a desktop it generally isn't (I've had a fried primary IDE controller in my computer for a while but its all integrated with a pile of other stuff so I can't fix it, I ended up using an expansion card). >Will this have damaged either of the HDs? Well seeing as putting another HDD into it temporarily resolved the issue, I wouldn't discount the possibility. I would however suspect that perhaps the nature of the problem may be more a power issue than anything else - if it was a controller issue then I doubt putting a second hard drive in would fix the issue where if the power was being weird it could take its time killing the hard drive so to speak. When you swap the original drive back in what happens? If you're good with electronics (or brave!) you might want to run the libby's motherboard (without the case but with the screen andthe HDD attached) and see if your voltage rails are stable, especially at the HDD end. Whilst you're at it, go through the board with a magnifying glass and a static-free brush (you can pick one up for a few dollars at your local electronics store, DON'T use a paintbrush or you'll zap something!) and give the boards a good clean ... perhaps a meal that you've shared with your libby has bridged a gap somewhere (if you didn't get the comment, read Perry's post a while back :-). >Can I install the HD into a desktop PC to check them? - (if so can someone advise me >on cables / voltage issues) You can pick up adapters that'll let you plug a laptop hard drive into a desktop for no more than about $20USD or so. They should pick up as normal IDE hard drives if all is well. >P.S You really don't know what you've got until you lose it :-( Hehe know the feeling .... good luck! Anyway those are my thoughts on the issue ... if anyone sees any errors/problems with what I've written do make comment! - Raymond --- /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\ | | "Does fuzzy logic tickle?" | | ___ | "My HDD has no reverse. How do I backup?" | | /__/ +-------------------------------------------| | / \ a y b o t | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | | HTTP://www.raybot.net | | ICQ: 31756092 | Need help? Visit #Windows98 on DALNet! | \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ ************************************************************** http://libretto.basiclink.com - Libretto mailing list http://libretto.basiclink.com/archive - Archives http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/portable/faq.html - FAQ -------TO UNSUBSCRIBE------- Reply to any of the list messages. The reply mail should be addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Then replace any text on the message's subject line: cmd:unsubscribe --------TO UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST------ Do above but with this on subject line: cmd:unsubscribe digest **************************************************************
