I/O error on installation of HD in 486

[casanovai]

Trying to replace a damaged hard disk in a 486 at a charity center I got the message "Input/Output error Change disk and press any key" when trying to run disk.

I indicated HD parameters (a Western Digital Caviar WDAC1425-OOF of 426MB) at setup. When starting from floopy drive I can access and read the hard disk. Computer was operative before replacement. HD was installed at other computer as a slave, working fine. I set jumpers for it to work as master drive.

After message appears if I press any key, PC tries to access floppy drive.:confused:

[BipolarBill]

The drive must be made bootable. You should FDISK, FORMAT and install the OS.

If the HDD is connected to an IDE expansion card, you probably need drivers for it. If not (connected to mainboard), reinstalliing Windows should work.

[rmanet]

might want to double check those HDD parameters too, several ways to show that capacity

[smelanson]

First of all controller card doesn't need special drivers for a 486, I would check the power connectors and don't try to install 2 controller cards if you are doing this, just make sure the BIOS has the HD settings, most 486 comps can't auto detect the HD.