HDD Dead I think!

Ok hardware isnt really my thing, but I know a bit to get by. However I have a feeling my HDD died in one of my older computers.

HDD = Seagate ST320410A (20gb)

The computer was acting really slow for sometime, and I tried to get everything off and do a clean install instead of Win98 use Fedora Core 2. Now this is a 4yr old or so computer, but should manage to install Fedora within 30-40mins I thought. Took over 5hrs to Install however after that I started getting some Beeps, and a error screen

This is what I could get down

Code:

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First Boot Screen
==================================
Auto-Detecting Sec Master.. IDE Hard Disk

Sec Master: 3.60        ST320410A
                Ultra DMA Mode-2, S.M.A.R.T Capable but Disabled

Second Boot Screen (2beeps then pause then beep)
==================================
Pri Master HDD Error
Sec Slave Drive - ATAPI Incompatible
Run Setup
Press F1 to Continue

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(I also looked up the Hard Drive Specifications which are still amazingly online, anyway it doesnt seem they like Linux too much).

Ok so the second screen gives me 3beeps in the end, so I try to find my Motherboard Specifications and cant find it (now I didnt build the PC so I cant remember if I got it), anyway I cant find it, and cant tell what Model Motherboard it is after taking a look to see what the beeps indicate.

Anyway I Press F1 to continue after a another startup. To get into by Grub screen and select Fedora and load into Fedora for those that have used Fedora you have the normal black screen with things loading. Only One thing loads then pauses for 4-5mins, then we get the GUI loading screen for loading Hardware and CUPS etc. Anyway it doesnt go very far, actually it doesnt do anything at all.

Before I installed Linux I tried to reinstall Windows which didnt work just got a Blue Screen (that usually happened on the Formating Screen, however I could use FDisk with the bootable Floppy Disk) didnt read what was on it just thought give Linux a try.

Now I know its not easy without having the Motherboard model etc, to figure out the Beeps and the Error messages seems pretty straight forward (hard drive is stuffed buddy). But I thought before I go looking for a new one id get someone elses opinion or if someone else has been in a similar situation, I was thinking about going to a Computer place but I dont know any that are any good around the area most are pretty clueless.

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.

first thing i noticed

Quote:

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Auto-Detecting Sec Master.. IDE Hard Disk

Sec Master: 3.60 ST320410A
Ultra DMA Mode-2, S.M.A.R.T Capable but Disabled

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Appears its not your primary drive. Check your jumper settings and make sure its not slaved to a cdrom or something.

Actually, he's got it on the wrong IDE channel with the right jumpers. If the jumpers were wrong, it would be primary or secondary slave.

Your right, my bad.

Ok how do I change the IDE Channel, would that just be BIOS settings?

You'd need to take the ribbon cable plug out of the back of the hard drive (While the computer is off ;)) and swap it with the other one that's attached to your motherboard. If that's attached to something else, pull it out and put the other one in there.

Check out the fsck manpage and check through your drive.

man fsck