SATA harddrive recognition

Schematic

The eMachines T6532 uses an MSI MS-7207 motherboard.
Also known as the KN8GM2-L,

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/K8NGM2-FID--IL--L.html

[ http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130041 ]

The MSI motherboard has provisions for using, EITHER an
IDE (PATA) harddrive, or a SATA harddrive. (Or more than one)

Two different technologies.
I will explain both, using an IDE (PATA) harddrive,
OR;
Using a SATA harddrive;

On the MSI Support page above, click on the Download tab.
(Overview / Specifications / Download / Support / etc)

In the drop down list click on - Manual

Language > English > 7.1MB > E7207v2.0.zip
Click on the blue E7207v2.0.zip

On the next page click on the country name nearest yours.
A small window will come up -
Opening E7207v2.0.zip

Make SURE there is a Green dot in the small circle, to the left of Save File.
IF not; Left-click in the small circle to the left of Save File.
Now go below in the small window, and click on OK

A small download window will come up. Allow the file to download ALL the way, then DOUBLE-click right on it.

In the next small window go to the far left, and click on -
Extract all files.

At the bottom of the next 3 small windows, click on -
Next, Next, and Finish.

In the last small window DOUBLE-click right on the file name.
(7207v2.0(G52-M7207X5) next to the red Adobe PDF icon)

There is the Motherboard Manual

The MS-7207 has two IDE slots;

IDE 1, which is Yellow in color, and close to the outside edge of the motherboard.
Should have IDE 1 silkscreened on the motherboard, below it.

IDE 2 is Yellow in color also, and right next to IDE 1.

(IDE 2 is in-between IDE 1 and the Ram Memory slots.
The Purple, Slot 4, ram memory slot to be specific. {DIMM 4 )

IDE 1 is used for an IDE harddrive.
IDE 2 is used for an IDE optical drive.

TWO IDE harddrives can be put on a single flat ribbon IDE cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ATA_cables.jpg

NOTE that there are two styles of IDE flat ribbon cables;
40-wire cable,
OR;
80-wire cable.

BOTH have 40 socket holes in their connectors.
(ONLY 39 are used, so one hole May, or May Not be blocked off)

How to connect to a 40-wire IDE cable, or an 80-wire IDE cable,

http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/howto_connect_ide_hd.html

An IDE cable usually has a Locating Lug on it's connectors, in the middle of the connector; and on one side,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PATA-cable.jpg

Here you see the Locating Lug as being two separate 'ridges'.
Some styles the Locating Lug is single block.

The motherboard connector has a matching Cutout on one side.
The Locating Lug lines up with the cutout when installing the cable.

The Harddrive, and optical drive (CD/DVD drive), will have a cutout on their circuit boards.

There are 40-pins. (Only 39 are used if so)
One of them is the number 1 pin.
The IDE cables are plugged into the motherboard, with number 1 pin lining up with number 1 wire, in the IDE cable.

Same when the IDE cable is plugged into a Harddrive, or optical drive.

IF, there is no Locating Lug on the IDE cable;
Look for the faint RED stripe, on the side of the IDE cable.
Number 1 wire is on the same side, as the faint Red stripe.

When plugging into a motherboard, Number 1 pin is on the Bottom.
The faint red stripe on the cable, goes towards the BOTTOM of the motherboard.
(Motherboard installed in computer case)

When plugging into a Harddrive, or optical drive; the faint red stripe ALWAYS goes toward the power cable,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

This shows you the Back of an IDE (PATA) harddrive, and the power cable used for it.
If -> No Locating Lug on IDE cable, the faint Red stripe goes towards the power cable.

This is a 4-pin standard Peripheral power cable.
Note when installing the rounded corners ALWAYS goes UP.

[This power cable is frequently, and erroneously; referred to as a 'Molex' power cable.
Molex was just the first manufacturer of the power cable CONNECTOR. Name STUCK.

Kind of like calling an adjustable open-end wrench, a 'Crescent wrench ]

A SATA power cable is used for a SATA harddrive, or SATA optical drive,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#sata

There is an L-shape in the SATA power cable's connector.
It matches an L-shape on the Harddrive, or optical drive.

Between a SATA power cable's connector, and a SATA data cable's connector; a SATA power cable connector is the LARGER of the two.
A SATA power cable has 15-contact pins.
A SATA data cable has 7-contact pins.

A SATA power cable's connector may have a LOCK on it.
Usually a Tab, or 'bulb' type affair.
It is pressed down with the thumb when installing, or removing the SATA power cable.

This is a general example of a SATA data cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA_Data_Cable.jpg

Now you can see the L-shaped opening a little better, that both the SATA data cable have, and the SATA power cable, has.

In the photo the SATA data cable's connector, is a 90 degree bent Elbow.
This style of connector is usually used on the Harddrive, or on the optical drive.

A Straight connector style is usually used for the Motherboard.
However, you can use a SATA data cable, that has a Straight connector on both ends.

Looking at your motherboard, installed in a computer case; there are 2 SATA connectors on the motherboard.

(CAN, be up to FOUR)

I see one motherboard reference where they (2) are Orange in color, (Newegg), and the motherboard manual shows them (2) to be Purple in color.

They are located towards the Bottom/Right corner of the motherboard.
Above the CMOS battery.

The SATA connector that is closest to the Outside edge of the motherboard, is SATA1 (SATA 1)

The Harddrive plugs into SATA 1.

An optical drive that is SATA, will plug into the SATA2 connector.
To the Left of the SATA1 connector.

KNOW THIS;

DOES NOT MATTER, which SATA connector you plug the Harddrive, or optical drive; into.

The beauty of SATA, is that you can plug the Harddrive or optical drive into ANY SATA connector, (On ANY motherboard), and BIOS will find those devices.

BIOS looks FIRST, to see which drive has the Operating System on it. (Windows)
THAT, is the Harddrive.

After finding the drive with the O/S on it, then BIOS will find all the other drives. Removable, or not.

So there you have it. A lot of reading.
You need a power cable, and a data cable to the Harddrive.
Same thing for the optical drive/s.

To have me clarify anything I have stated above, please post in a Comment.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

fouad,

Inside the case of that Fantom is a regular harddrive.

Also inside that outer case is a small circuit board, that either the harddrive plugs directly into it; or there is an interface block the harddrive plugs into, and there are wires from it, that connect to the small circuit board.

(The USB cable is connected to the small circuit board)

It is this small circuit board that usually goes bad.

My suggestion is to remove the harddrive inside, purchase an economical external enclosure, and install the harddrive in it.
Have your harddrive back, and be able to use it as an external harddrive again also.

The Harddrive Inside:
Harddrives are measured by their Width.
A laptop harddrive is 2.5 inches across in width. (2-1/2 inches)
A desktop harddrive is 3.5 inches.

The Fantom Titanium II 500GB's harddrive inside, is 3.5 inches,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204034

Details > Physical Spec > Form Factor > 3.5

What I can't tell you is whether it is an IDE (PATA) harddrive, or a SATA harddrive.
However this external enclosure for 3.5 inch harddrives, is for both IDE, (PATA), and SATA harddrives,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817388014R

[ You can also look at the label on the harddrive, and look up it's model number online, to see if it is IDE or SATA. Just type the model number in your search bar ]

Just want to include information on IDE (PATA), and SATA, in case you are interested,

IDE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA

SATA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

Regards,
joecoolvette

1) IDE {PATA} DVD burner drive:

For an IDE { PATA } DVD burner, connect to the 40-pin IDE header on the motherboard. This is located to the right side of the Ram Memory slots.
It is the longer header that has 40 contact pins. {39 actually}

( The shorter connector on the motherboard is for a Floppy Drive.
{34 pins} It is above the IDE 40-pin connector )

NOTE*
The IDE connector on the motherboard should be keyed. Should have a cutout on one side. This is so the Number 1 pin in the flat IDE ribbon cable, will line up with Number 1 pin in the motherboard connector.

Some flat IDE ribbon cables, do not have a Locating Lug on the connector. (Small rectangular 'bump')

Number 1 pin on the IDE ribbon cable will be on the side that has a faint RED stripe on it.

Number 1 pin in the motherboard connector is at the Bottom, with the motherboard installed.

The side of the flat ribbon IDE cable that has the faint red stripe on it, goes DOWN, when installed in the motherboard connector.

If the DVD drive does not have a cutout for it's circuit board, the faint red stripe of the flat ribbon IDE cable, goes towards the power cable connection.

2) SATA DVD burner drive:
You have 4 Serial ATA headers (Connectors) on the motherboard.
Your SATA harddrive should be plugged into the SATA1 header.

You can choose any open available SATA header, to plug your SATA DVD burner drive into.
BIOS will see it once you turn the computer on.

3) If you somehow have been using an IDE {PATA} harddrive, and have it connected to your IDE connector on the motherboard, you SHOULD not use a DVD drive on that flat IDE ribbon cable, also.

BIOS has to find which device has the Operating System on it, (Windows), and then hand the computer over to the Operating System.

To state again, BIOS will look at both devices connected to that flat ribbon cable. The Harddrive, and the DVD drive.
It will then determine that the Harddrive, is the device that has Windows on it, not the DVD drive.

This slows the computer down, and could result in a blue screen.

If you have an IDE harddrive plugged into the motherboard, it would be best to use a SATA DVD drive.


For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

"Joecolvette" has probably got it right, I've seen this before. The HDD enclosure circuit board has a fault. Can be resolved by replacing the enclosure. Plenty on ebay, just ensure you buy one with the correct HDD interface (Sata or IDE).

Alternatively, if you have a tower with a spare port, you could take the HDD out of the caddy, install it in the tower as a "Slave" (check jumper settings) ensuring the system drive is set to "Master". Then you can check whether the HDD itself is at fault.

A) If you have the Restoration Disk (CD), or a full installation disk of the Windows operating system, the answer is yes.

B) If you have an image backup program, such as Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image, or DriveImage XML, for example, the answer is yes.

The Windows operating system is copied over to the new harddrive.

It would be easier, and more cost effective to just install the 160GB harddrive as a Slave drive.

I don't know if your harddrive is an IDE (PATA) unit, or a SATA unit.

Here is more information on installing either an IDE harddrive, or a SATA harddrive, as a Slave drive in a desktop computer,

1) IDE {PATA} harddrive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4inX3nC6M1E

1A) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTOgt3UiB4


2) SATA harddrive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCgFYNLzn18&NR=1

IDE, also known as PATA is the older style of technology.
SATA is the newer style.

(Parallel ATA
Serial ATA )

The beauty of SATA is not only the faster speed, but if you connect a SATA cable (Data cable) to ANY SATA connector on the motherboard, BIOS will find the device.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) will find the harddrive with the operating system on it, first.
Then it will recognize that you have a second SATA harddrive also.

(BIOS looks at both SATA harddrives.
When it finds the one with the operating system on it, BIOS will disregard the other SATA harddrive)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScqDZZeFK9I

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

change your hard drive by replacing another hard drive with ide a belt type one end to the mother board and other end to the harddrive..... then another wire that comes from your smps box in your cabinet with red blue green colours connect it to your hard drive thats it..

if your harddrive is sata then do the same in the sata

It's a SATA harddrive, not SCSI.

Serial ATA

Acer Support > Aspire T180 > Specifications >

http://www.acersupport.com/acerpanam/desktop/0000/Acer/AspireT180/AspireT180sp2.shtml

Will use up to a 400GB SATA harddrive according to Acer.

IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics.
Another name is PATA.
Parallel ATA
Used to distinguish between IDE and SATA.

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Drive_Electronics

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCSI

Exchange it?
Your harddrive has the Operating System on it.
A new harddrive will not have an O/S on it.
(Windows XP is an example of an O/S)

It would be much easier to install the harddrive you wish into an external enclosure, and plug the external enclosure's USB cable into your T180.

One example of a desktop size harddrive SATA external enclosure,
(3.5 inch SATA external enclosure.
3 and 1/2 inches across in width, for a desktop harddrive.
Laptop HD's are 2.5)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2145406&CatId=2780

Yes, since you are using two IDE drives on One flat ribbon cable, you need to set the harddrive as a Master drive, and the optical, (DVD), drive as a Slave drive.

When two IDE drives are installed on one cable, BIOS needs a way to find the drive that has the O/S, (Operating System), then the optical drive.

Would recommend you buy a SATA optical drive, as soon as you can afford it. SATA DVD burners aren't that expensive.
Your motherboard is set up for SATA, and SATA is WAY faster than IDE. (IDE is also referred to as EIDE, ATA, and PATA)

Then of course a SATA harddrive, and a fresh genuine copy of Windows in the future.
SATA doesn't care where you plug in a drive, and doesn't care which drive connects to what SATA header. It will find that drive. You can connect any SATA drive, to ANY SATA header on the motherboard.

Having two IDE drives such as an IDE harddrive, and an IDE optical drive on the same cable, S-L-O-W-S your computer down! BIOS has to look to see which drive has the O/S first, then it will look for the optical drive.

Thought I would include two links that tell you, and show you how to set jumpers on the jumper pins, on an IDE harddrive, and IDE optical drive,
1.Harddrive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbboeMO7b8&feature=related
2.Optical drive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lldXwgPabhE&feature=channel

Should my solution have helped you, feel free to rate it.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/updates/cdarchitectfamily if you are using 5.0 you will need to upgrade from the web site above, to 5.2 then do the 5.2 update as this is the Vista patch,

you have a few options

1) buy a sata harddrive (faster then ide), use the ide for the second harddrive (backup) and cd/dvd rom

2) buy a sata cd/dvd rom use the ide on both harddrives (1 set to slave)

3) depends on your budget, buy a sata drive + sata cd/dvd rom so your main drive is on sata (faster than ide) then you only have your second drive as your backup drive on ide.

i had the same problem when i rebuilt mine, i went for the seperate harddrive and cd/dvd rom and my 320 gb ide as my backup drive

sorry to jump on this post aswell, see what others think