Sometimes, the master boot record(MBR) on a hard disk may become corrupted as a result of installing other operating systems or through infection by a boot-block virus. When this happens, you can boot from a floppy (you must have the necessary files) and attempt to re-write the Master Boot Record (Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP only) by typing “FDISK /MBR” (leave out the quotes). If that doesn’t work, there are other ways to purge the MBR through the use of debug routines, SCSI low-level format routines, or the zero-fill utility in your SCSI controller BIOS. Consult your operating system vendor for assistance with this to determine if this is an operating system issue.
Or try these troubleshooting steps:
- Check all cable connections.
- Verify twisted-pair cable on any LVD SCSI drives.
- Test the data cable by trying a different cable.
- Try the cable on a known working drive.
- Check the jumper settings.
- Check the SCSI bus termination.
- Check the host adapter card default settings.
- Test the card by either trying a known good card or a known working drive.
- Check host adapter settings.
- Set the SCSI transfer mode to asynchronous negotiation and the transfer rate to 10MB/s (or the slowest setting).
- Make the offending drive the only device in the system and re-test.
- Run the “low-level” format (SCSI Format) routine if it’s provided by the host adapter manufacturer (data destructive).
- Try drive in a different system to see if the same results follow.
