Why won't my computer detect the IDE Primary Master?

i was installing memory to my computer and after i was done the computer won't work because a messege says that the IDE Primary master is not detected. i was told to check to see if the Hard drive is connected and i did that but i really don't see anything that isn't connected. maybe one wire isn't connected and i tried putting that to every where possible , but i still get the same thing over and over i was wondering if there might be another reason why it's not being dectected.

This question was answered on March 30, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Not only must you make that the cables are connected, but you must also make sure that they have inserted the correct way.

The IDE cable has a form of "notch" indicator on the connection that will fit perfectly, not only in the slot for the motherboard, but for the hard drive as well.

The other thing you want to make sure of what type of IDE cable you have.

Can you cable accommodate 2 devices such as the hard drive and CD Rom or even @ hard drives, at the same time?

If so, that kind of cable has 3 connections on it One end of the cable is to be connected to the motherboard The other end is to be connected to the Primary device or Master device ( usually the hard drive ).

The connection in the middle is for the Secondary device or Slave device.

You must make sure that your hard drive is connected to the Master connection, with the red line on the cable facing the right of the hard drive connection or facing the outside of the tower.

Now, if your cable has only 2 connections, one on either end of the cable, then you just need to make sure that the cable connected properly with the red line on the cable facing the right of the hard drive connection or facing the outside of the tower.

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Posted by Student of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on March 30, 2004

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