My 2nd HDD disappeared after a fresh XP install

[Nuruhuine]

Hi,

I encountered a rather confusing issue today after reinstalling windows on my computer. Here is what happened:

 

I have 2 HDD in my desktop, an Hitachi and a Maxtor. Both of them are partitioned in 2, which makes a total of 4 partitions.

 

When I started the Windows XP install, I got no other choice but to install it on the C: drive. The 3 others weren't displayed. I formated the C: drive, and proceeded to the install.

Once the install was over, the 3 other partitions were nowhere to be found. I even checked in Disk Management.

 

After installing the SP3, I finally got the 2nd partition of my Hitachi (Windows is installed on the 1st) displayed in Disk Management. I reallocated it.

 

However, no matter what I do, my Maxtor is displayed nowhere... I even looked in the Bios.

 

There is just one moment, when the computer boots, I get a screen with "Please wait for IDE scan", and when the scan is over, for just a split second, I can see my Maxtor drive in a line right before it switches to the Windows loading logo... (it's written Maxtor with a number on the right)

 

I didn't touch anything in the hardware before, while or after the install. I didn't open the computer case, I absolutely did nothing at all but a fresh install of Windows XP.

 

Also, I'm 150% sure I didn't format my Maxtor drive or delete the partitions.

 

Any idea on how to fix that mess?

Thanks.

[joddle]

HI - I had a similar experience - I removed the HD and put it into a caddy and looked for it as an external drive - it needed a chkdisk but after that it was OK. I then turned off the second disk on the bios and rebooted. Of course there was then only one disk there but then I closed down again, put the second disk back and reset the bios to look for two disks and hey presto it was found - all perfect.

Still dont know why though!