Windows doesn't assign slave drive a letter

I've just plugged a second HD into the same IDE cable as my master HD. BIOS recognizes the drive, and so does Windows device manager, but Windows (98SE) isn't assigning it a drive letter so I can't access it. It's also not accessible in DOS mode.

Now, I've tried setting the HD jumper to make it a slave drive but the diagram on this Maxtor drive is somewhat confusing. It's basically the same configuration as this except the right hand slave setting on mine has 2 pins, not just one. I've tried both slave settings but still no joy. Is it possible I have to use both settings (using 2 jumpers) to get the drive recognized as a slave drive?

Any suggestions welcome.

How about setting its partition table first.

If it is a new drive then it is normal for Windows not to show it.

You can right-click My Computer - select Manage - then select Disk Management. See if it shows up there.

You may be able to faff about to make it active.

It's an old drive. I can't do that puki - this is win98 remember.

TBH, I have no idea what state the drive is in as it was in a PC I was given but not plugged in. But of course, to be able to format/partition it, I first need to be able to access it.

Probably not, *however*: Some harddrives require a different setting to switch between 'master' and 'single drive' -- depending on the make/model of your existing drive, you may need to switch it from single drive mode to actually be a master.
You can't add a slave unless the other one is explicitely set as a master. (Or if both drives are in 'cable select' mode, where they'll work it out for themselves, based on their position on the IDE cable)



Sounds like there is a good chance it's dead -- after all, why wouldn't it be plugged in if it was functional?

Anyway, from within Windows 9x, you can use fdisk.exe to partition it.
Just make sure that you select the proper drive before making changes. :-?

If you can see it from BIOS (so it is configured in hardware correctly) then folow these steps:

1) Go into DOS mode from windows 98, (or exit to DOS from 98 but using f8 and Dos mode is better).
2) Type fdisk and press enter.
3) Parition your NEW disk.
4) Assign it a drive letter
5) Exit Fdisk (you will have to reboot)
5) Return to DOS mode and Type format <drive letter>
6) Wait for format to complete.
7) You will now be able to access the disk from Windows/DOS.

Darkheart

Probably a drive letter conflict (this can happen sometimes when windows for some reason doesnt increment the letter)
Go in to manage (right click mycomputer), goto disk management and override the devices drive assignment to another letter.


Edit, i have just seen it's windows 98 (why-o-why u usin that!?!) anyway, make sure the FS is FAT32 and not NTFS.

Success! It was indeed NTFS formatted. Fdisk/format sorted it. Thanks everyone!