Ok, first post this so if I make any big mistakes please let me know!

I recently got a second HDD to set up as a slave to my useless original one. I attempted to install it yesterday, following the instructions that came with it to the letter, turned the PC on and got IXE Media Test Failure:Check cable and then it continues to boot into windows.

Now I have checked the cables, checked the connections, all looks fine to me. I am certain that the HDD is OK because I am now getting the same error with just the original drive in on its own! I was told it was possible that it was a BIOS setting problem but to be honest my knowledge doesn't stretch that far!

I would appreciate any advice, specifically as to why I am still getting the same error message without the HDD even in the blinkin' machine! I am also getting whirring noises on start up if these are relevant I am not sure... lol

Also, if you could respond in language you would use with a rather slow 6yr old it would be appreciated!

Many thanks!

Sally

If the old drive is bad, then you need to replace it. What you may need to do is make the new drive the master and install Windows on it. Then boot to it. You may be able to access the old drive as a slave and copy important files from it.

I spent a long time working on this yesterday evening with a technical friend of mine. We tried EVERYTHING! The computer just isn't recognising the new hard drive at all, even when we put it in the PC as the master drive without the old one. It wasn't recognised in Bios or anywhere else for that matter... have given up on the HDD as being a bad job. Any more ideas would be appreciated!

Sally

If the new drive isn't being recognized, then either thecables are bad or your Drive controller is bad. If the latter, then there may be nothing wrong with the drives but you may need a new motherboard.