HDDs - both can't be detected on system boot

[aidsministrator]

I'm currently trying to fix my friend's VERY OLD pc.

I tried the original HDD. The system can't detect it on boot process. Primary Master - None..

I pull out the original HDD. Then I tried my old HDD on the same computer. Still it's Primary Master - None..

I've tried changing the BIOS settings (All primary & secondary to AUTO), changed IDE cables, used all power connectors, un-plugged other hardwares, already tried using a Secondary IDE controller, I also used the Auto HDD Detection in BIOS.

Yep, all these didn't work...

Does anyone know what the problem really is?

I suspect it's the Power supply. Maybe the power is not enough to load the HDD. but the power supply works on other hardware. And also the only one hard problem is.. I don't have an old kind of power supply.

So I'm stuck!

 

[tdeg]

Did you eliminate the cable?

Try hooking a CDROM to the primary and see if it is detected.

 

[IronDuke]

If you've elimated the cable as tdeg suggested then go to the drive makers website and find the drive parameters and enter them in the bios.

 

[Samstoned]

is the 2nd drive and cable know to be good ,if so
unplug pc reset the cmos to default
check with MB manufacturer on how to delete the VRM
and or see if you can get a bootable bios upgrade.