Debian on x31 with upgraded hdd

[durin]

I'm trying to install debian etch on an x31 in which the original drive has been replaced by an 80 GB toshiba drive [mk8025gas] from a deceased averatec laptop. The problem is that etch is unable to detect the hdd. I know the hdd works because grub starts to load if I let the x31 try to boot from it. The debian installer was able to detect the toshiba drive when it was installed in the averatec laptop. The installer was also able to detect the original travelstar drive in the thinkpad.

[durin]

update: sometimes the drve is detected, but only after a very long time, and partitioning fails after a very long time. I theorise that the drive isn't fitting in properly, although grub never fails to appear.

[tom lightbody]

welcome to the forum

> I know the hdd works because grub starts to load
> if I let the x31 try to boot from it.

this is evidence of....what?

have you tried the install with another HD? Or
can you test the 80G on some other machine, to see
if it's OK? (which I personally doubt:-(too bad).

[The Spirit of X21]

Have you tried booting from a LiveCD of GPartEd or PartEd Magic?