I have a 200 gig hard disk(slave) that I filled with data and kept  in a sealed packet. I connected it to the original computer (XP)AthlonD first without the jumper and then  with the jumper in CABLE select and slave as well. the computer does not recognize the disk. I bought a special gadget that plugs in USB with  the same RESULT. I have a new SATA computer and tried again with another gadget connected vis USB and still no result. The ribbon is 80 s wires. The cd rom drives are on a separate ribbon. Have I lost the lot or is there an alternative I haven't tried?What is the master drive jumpered to ? ?
Some (like Western Digitals ) need to be jumpered master w/slave present or it won't work...
Does the 200G show up in the BIOS ? ?Thank you patio. The primary disc has one jumper on one set of pins where indicated on the HD. The secondary drive (200 gig) I tried with NO jumpers, and then on the second set of pins (cable select) and again on the third set (Slave?). Still no luck.No the BIOS does not recognize the diskTry it on a seperate IDE channel...for example temporarily disconnect the CD drive and put it on that cable...
Keep it slave jumpered.
Not showing in the BIOS is not a good sign however but let's not write it off for now...Hi Patio, I can't thank you enough for your advice. I plugged the 200 GIG HDisk into the CD ROM plug and LO and Behold, My Computer recognized it as Local 'D' and all 187 GIGS of images and other data that I had spent a year scanning, was revealed. I quickly transferred the whole lot into a 500 GIG external drive. I think that one of the strands in the ribbon from the MOTHERBOARD may be broken.  So thank you again. Regards rover41Excellent News...
Glad you got your data back.
Time to start considering a regular backup regimen...any questions stop back and ask.

And Welcome Aboard !Do you mean 'Welcome aboard Motherboard'?!
Is backing up on San Disk cards a recognized form of storage? Or memory sticks?
I use what's known as an imaging application.
My personal choice is Acronis True Image...

Basically it takes an "image" of your entire HDD.
That can then be stored elsewhere or ideally burned to CD's/DVD's.

If something happens and you cannot recover you simply restore the image to your HDD and everything is exactly as it was at the point the last image was created.

Beats the heck out of re-installing Windows and all tour drivers and programs all over again...Thanks, I have found the site and shall back up as advised. Thank you again for your help!There is also a good FREE alternative i recently tested and reviewed...

Macrium Reflect