Member Avatar for Gervman21

First off, I tried to hook up my old harddrive to one of my newer computers, without setting it as secondary with that little pin on back. Anyway, I get that hooked in and on my screen it says Input signal out of range. Doesn't start up or anything. I turn on the computer, it makes a few clicks, and it stays on that screen. So then I take out the old harddrive and hook all the wires I unhooked from the dvd burner. Then, I turn it on and get the same message: 27.8kHz V: 62.0 Hz input signal out of range. Remember, this isn't like the other ocassions, when I turn on the computer I get no loading or anything, just that message. And so I turn it on 2 more times and it finally loads, but the video is all messed up, so I turn it off and turn it back on, and the video is fine. So then I tried to hook up the old HD again and got the same message, and then when I took it out, the same message remained to this very day. This was a few weeks ago. I don't want any suggestions that say start it up in safe mode because nothing is loading at all. The keyboard and mouse don't even turn on when i turn on the computer. Something else I was wondering about, do I hook the computers harddrive (not the old HD) to the power supply with the insert with 2 wires of each color, or just 1 wire of each. So do I connect it to the one with 8 wires or the one with 4 wires, and how can I get my computer to start up, instead of having the screen say "27.8kHz V: 62.0hz Input signal out of range"

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Dani AI

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Short expert summary: the monitor message "Input signal out of range" means the display is receiving a video timing (resolution/refresh) it cannot show, and the monitor’s firmware blocks the image until the source uses a supported mode. That message can appear before Windows loads because it’s the monitor rejecting the signal from the video adapter. (manualzilla.com)

Context and quick isolation: the symptom started after an old drive was added, but the display path and the drive/power/jumper configuration are separate fault domains. First-stage checks already implied by the thread: remove the old drive and non‑essential devices, try another VGA/DVI cable or a different monitor, and if the system has onboard video try that connector (or reseat/remove the discrete card) to rule out the GPU/cable/monitor. If nothing displays and Safe Mode is unreachable, clear the BIOS/CMOS to force factory default video timing (use the motherboard’s CLR_CMOS jumper or remove the coin cell briefly). Clearing CMOS is a safe, standard troubleshooting step that often restores basic POST video. (intel.com)

Drive/power/jumper notes tied to the old 6 GB disk: very small-capacity drives from that era are usually PATA/IDE and require the 4‑pin Molex peripheral power plug (not the flat 15‑pin SATA power plug used on newer drives). PATA/IDE devices also need correct jumper settings (Master/Slave or Cable‑Select); two devices jumpered as Master on the same ribbon can make the controller fail to enumerate drives and can stop normal boot. ’s “Doesn’t matter” about the harness needs the extra detail that the drive type determines which connector and jumper setting are required. (studylib.net)

Concise steps (safe, chronological):

  1. Power off and unplug; remove the old drive and try a clean boot with only monitor, keyboard, mouse.
  2. Swap the monitor cable or try another monitor / onboard video.
  3. Clear CMOS (jumper or battery) and then boot. (intel.com)
  4. If re‑attaching the old drive, confirm it’s PATA vs SATA, set the drive jumper correctly, and use the 4‑pin Molex for PATA drives.
  5. If the system still gives no POST (no keyboard LEDs) after the above, test with minimal components or check/replace the PSU or motherboard.

Cautions: always unplug mains before touching internal connectors, ground against static, and consult the specific drive or motherboard label/manual for exact jumper diagrams.

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Member Avatar for Nick Evan

So do I connect it to the one with 8 wires or the one with 4 wires,

Doesn't matter.

For your other problem:

Old harddrive

How old? What kind of Mobo? Did you try hooking up a 'newer' harddrive?

Regards Niek

Member Avatar for Gervman21

Old 6gig harddrive I don't know what kind or anything.

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