Primary HDD not recognized by BIOS

Some history, a couple of weeks ago I lost my dual boot XP/Vista and the only way I could get in was to insert the Vista disc so I decided to clean install as the installs were getting old and cluttered. This went perfectly after a low level format and a check with memtest86 just to be sure everything was fine, which it was.

I subsequently found out that it was my BIOS that screwed up somehow as when I set it to default, everything worked fine again Yesterday, I lost my boot again. System disk not found etc. Today I come back, boot and notice the ASUS BIOS screen taking 15 sec to get by rather than the normal 5 sec. and that my boot drive was not being recognized.

Shut down, reseated tha SATA cables, same issue. I then slapped in a Knoppix Live CD, booted to that and here I am. Also the Linux sees both my SATA drives and all the info is still intact. I don't have a spare SATA rig to test the drive out. Any ideas out there as I'm fresh out, besides starting surgery on this puppy. Thanks.

 

None that I noticed

You mean switch the cables on the mobo sockets? and/or connecting the HD. I see where you're going with this. I'll try this next.[/quote]

The primary is the only one with boot info on it as I have both OSs there. The secondary drive is data only but I have a spare 50GB partition which I may install an old distro on, prolly take forever to load updates but anything is better tha a live CD. Thanks Tim, much appreciated. and a hunting I will go.

 

OK, I'm back up after unplugging the primary and booting to second drive with XP CD and the splash screen was normal. I then reversed by unplugging the second drive and booting to the primary and with XP CD in drive and not touching a key when prompted. Splash screen was normal again. confused I got my dual boot back!

I then replugged the second drive and rebooted with no CD in drive, everything was back to normal.:eek :banghead :banghead :banghead Perhaps the procedure reset something in BIOS, I have no idea. I hope this lasts. confused :cry

Thanks for the help Tim, only minor surgery this time.

 

Maybe, maybe not. One should be able to boot from a disk no matter what is on the HDD. Anyways, I don't know my BIOS from my a**. Thanks again Tim, at least fiddling with the drives did something positive.