cannot get CDROM drive recognized as Primary Slave

[andybarss]

I'm havign a similar problem to this one; there was no resolution posted to that one, so I'm hoping someone can help me:

http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163

What I have:

Series 2 TiVo standalone, single tuner, model 24004A
two new Seagate DB35 500 GB PATA drives
Instantcake for series 2 standalones

Dell Dimension 8300

I have the BIOS set to disable SATA (I had two SATA drives in it running Windows XP). I removed those drives, and put in the two Seagates, conncted to the secondary IDE connector on the motherboard; their jumpers are set with one to Master, and one to Slave. BIOS recognized them.

When I go into BIOS setup, here's what it says:

SATA Primary Drive ... OFF
SATA Secondary Drive ... OFF

Primary Master Drive ... OFF
Primary Slave Drive ... Unknown Device

Secondary Master Drive ... Hard Drive
Secondary Slave Drive ... Hard Drive

In each of the six drives, I have a setup option of OFF or AUTO. I set the first three (both SATAs, and Primary Master) to OFF. I set the other three to Auto. I set the jumpers on the CDROM and two Seagate HDs to match the BIOS (i.e. CDROm has its jumper set to slave; one HD is set to Master, the other to slave).

The problem is up there on line three: the Primary Master drive is not recognized. Same thing happens if I reset the option for Primary Master to AUTO -- if I do that, rthen both primary drives (Master and Slave) are (non-)recognized as "Unknown Device".


Where do I go from here? The CDROm drives works fine in the windows configuration, so I know it isn't dead. HELP!

Thanks.

[Lou Jacob]

You may want to dig around some more as I've seen other posts where folks have had problems with some Dell boxes. Its possible that you might need to have SOMETHING connected to your primary master (any drive) in order for the primary slave to work. That is not how things are supposed to work, but Dell tends to do things differently than everyone else.

As a potential alternative...

I don't recall whether that version of InstantCake supports the 'advanced' mode, but if it does, you can try hooking up the CD-ROM in a different way (ie. primary master) and specifying that to the InstantCake script when prompted.

Lastly, read through the official discussion thread to see if your situation is addressed there, as well (link below)....

Lou

[andybarss]

Sorry for the typo.

I have also tried a different CDROm (actually a DVD-RW) drive, with exactly the same problem. It will get recognized as the Primary Master if I set the jumper for that.


So, I guess the question is: can I set up the new Seagate drives using Instantcake in a CD drive set as Primary Master?

[andybarss]

You may want to dig around some more as I've seen other posts where folks have had problems with some Dell boxes. Its possible that you might need to have SOMETHING connected to your primary master (any drive) in order for the primary slave to work. That is not how things are supposed to work, but Dell tends to do things differently than everyone else.

--> I connected both CDROm drives to the primary IDE cable, and that allowed the machine to se one of them as Primary Slave. However, it's not booting from the CD at all (I tried it in both the slave and the master drives, with no success). Any suggestions? Unfortunately the machine I'm using for this is the one that I DLed InstantCake to, so burning another copy would take some reassembly.


As a potential alternative...

I don't recall whether that version of InstantCake supports the 'advanced' mode, but if it does, you can try hooking up the CD-ROM in a different way (ie. primary master) and specifying that to the InstantCake script when prompted.

Lastly, read through the official discussion thread to see if your situation is addressed there, as well (link below)....

--> Thanks. I read throiugh them a good bit earlier today, but I'll try again.

[Lou Jacob]

It looks like you've gotten past your issue of the DELL box recognizing your CD-ROM as the primary slave. Now it is sounding like you either don't have it set up properly to boot from it, or perhaps you have not burned your CD-ROM correctly.

Again, the Official Instantcake Discussion thread is a great starting point for problems like this.

[andybarss]

The boot sequence is set in BIOS as CDROM>diskete>hard drive, so that seems to be set.

Here's one oddity: if I place the InstantCake CD in the slave drive and power up, I get an instant error message saying I should either go into BOS setup or retry the boot sequence.

If I place the Cd in the master CD drive, then the system does nothing for about 2 minutes, and then gives me the error message above.

I've been trying to have a look to see what other Dell owners have done, but noting's turned up in my searchs so far.

-- Andy Barss

[andybarss]

I'm thinking of reburning the CD, but here is a list of what is on the current one:

Autorun.inf
ptstart.exe
isolinux (folder)

wihin isolinux:

boot.cat
F1.TXT
F2.TXT
F3.TXTinitrd.img
isolinux.bin
isolinux.cfg
message.txt
vmlinuz

Is this the correct set of files?

-- Andy

[andybarss]

I've now tried the program on two different Windows boxes, two different CD burns of the IC program, with zero success. The allure of a $20 supposedly easy program has faded now that I know it's unreliable. So, I'm going to request a refund.

[Rick Travis]

I've now tried the program on two different Windows boxes, two different CD burns of the IC program, with zero success. The allure of a $20 supposedly easy program has faded now that I know it's unreliable. So, I'm going to request a refund.
InstantCake is extremely reliable, I have used it for years, as have many others. Have you ever thought that maybe it is you? If you don't know what you are doing maybe you should not of bought it? It is not for novices, It assumes a reasonable amount of computer and Linux knowledge. Lou pays royalties on every sale,why should he take a loss because of your inexperience and bad mouthing of a great product.?
:mad:

[Lou Jacob]

I've now tried the program on two different Windows boxes, two different CD burns of the IC program, with zero success. The allure of a $20 supposedly easy program has faded now that I know it's unreliable. So, I'm going to request a refund.

Andy,

Please verify that you've configured your hardware as follows:

1) CD-ROM - primary slave
2) target hard drive - secondary master

and that you've followed my recommendations, above; especially as it relates to reburning, possibly on a different media-type.

We know that the software works as MANY folks have used it over the YEARS its been available. However, we cannot and do not make any guarantees because we cannot attest to your abilities or other environmental factors that can affect things (its rare, but some PC's do have a problem); which is why we state all of this up front.

What we also state, up front, is that if you have any problem with the software, and you would prefer to get a pre-configured kit, we'll give you FULL trade-in credit of your software purchase towards the purchase of a kit. That is a close to a money-back guarantee that we can give you.

I'd encourage you to press onward though, based upon the amount of hardware you are throwing at the problem, its probably a user-error. Perhaps you've made a very simple mistake somewhere else and are repeating it with each new configuration you try (you do realize you don't need Windows to use this software, right?).

Please review the instructions (link below) with an open mind and perhaps you'll see something you missed earlier?

Lou

[andybarss]

Please verify that you've configured your hardware as follows:

1) CD-ROM - primary slave
2) target hard drive - secondary master

and that you've followed my recommendations, above; especially as it relates to reburning, possibly on a different media-type.


Yes, I have done all that, as I have said earlier. I have tried, on th first box, two different drives, one at a time, set to secondary master. Same thing on the second box, with yet two different drives. Jumpers set properly; BIOS configured properly. Burned two differnt versions of IC, on two different media brands and types. Won't boot.


We know that the software works as MANY folks have used it over the YEARS its been available. However, we cannot and do not make any guarantees because we cannot attest to your abilities or other environmental factors that can affect things (its rare, but some PC's do have a problem); which is why we state all of this up front.

I've read our disclaimers, as well as your repeated protestations that zillions of people have ued it unproblematically. I've also read various vague claims from you that it doesn't work sometimes on Dell machines, that it may or may not include an advanced version, etc.

I appreciate the support on this forum, but the fact remains that I'm a moderately skilled computer user who bought software that does not work on my equipment, and I would like my money back.
I have spent about ten hours trying to get IC to work, and it doesn't. I know you don't warranty the software, but this is beyon warranty issues. You sold a product which doesn't work, and you're being disengenous in your claims about its ease and reliability of use. Go have a look at the description of IC on the for sale page.


I'd encourage you to press onward though, based upon the amount of hardware you are throwing at the problem, its probably a user-error.

Perhaps you've made a very simple mistake somewhere else and are repeating it with each new configuration you try (you do realize you don't need Windows to use this software, right?).


Yes, of course I realize that!

Please review the instructions (link below) with an open mind and perhaps you'll see something you missed earlier?


Lou, I've followed those instructions to the letter half a dozen times. IC will not work on the equipment I own. Please refund my $19.99.

[Lou Jacob]

Andy,

Please stop asking for a refund; we don't offer them on this product.

I am trying to help you, and if you appreciate it as you say you do, you will accept the support as a token of our desire to help you with your DIY project.

The product DOES work and it has done so for almost five years. Just because you are unable to use it does not mean I or anyone who works for DVRupgrade is being dishonest in our claims; in fact, we warn you about that potential up front.

With all of that said, I still think that it may not be a compatibility issue.

Please document the steps you took to prepare your CD; you did not mention what software you are using and how you burned the image.

Lou