Hard Drive Install

[David Plude]

I have just put a second HD into my HP Pavillion 8576C. The system detected it fine. I was able to format it using Win98 Format programs. However, it hangs my PC occassionally while I am using it.

It is a Maxtor 1.2G from an older system that I am installing for backups. It is currently formatted as FAT16.

Should I make it a FAT32? Should I low level format it to wipe it clean. Any other ideas?

The systems console says they are both working fine.

[Paul R. Dittrich · Accepted solution]

Reformatting and changing to FAT32 may possibly make more efficient use of the disk space but are unlikely to solve your problem.

I believe your problem is a timing issue related to the faster interface (ATA100?) on the master disk compared to the slower interface (ATA66 or less) of the older (slave) disk.
I see a lot of mysterious problems when people mix different hardware generations like that.

HTH,
Paul

[David Plude]

Does that mean that it should nt be used? Is there a different way to hook this up that would work? Or is it just too old architecture to use. My intent is to use it as a backup drive and if that won't work then there is no point me doing this.

Thanks for the reply!

[Paul R. Dittrich]

David, if I'm correct about timing issues you can try putting the older drive on another interface, preferably by itself. Even if you don't have another IDE/ATA interface in your system you can buy an add-on card for ~$20 that will give you another pair of interfaces.
You can use the drive, you just have to be aware of, and compensate for, differences in older technology.

Good luck and thanks for the points,
Paul