Is there anyway I can test the HDD's in my mk2a player other than the disk builder

I keep getting no drive found. I got a new cable and after installing that the player worked for about a week now the problems have started again. I have tried 1.03 and 2.07. I have also checked the cable numerous times usually if I play with it for a while the player will start working again for a while but the problem keeps comming back.

I have the 12 gig drive that came with and I have added a 20 gig travelstar (mounted on spacers)

The "no drive found" might be one of the drives taking too long to spin up after power is applied.

Try swapping the order of the drives (master<->slave).

yes I have tried that I just switched the jumper

now I just put everything on the 20 gig that I added and have taken out the 12 that came with the player (it really does take longer to boot with one drive I'll have to install hijack). I did notice when I took out the 12 that there was an impression in the tape under the drive from the spindle I don't remember if I have ever taken it out before or not.

I did notice when I took out the 12 that there was an impression in the tape under the drive from the spindle

That's why, in the drive guide, I now recommend that everyone always washer all drives. You should do the same.

I read that and put them under my 20 but I didn't do it to the one that came with the player. I'll try it with one drive for a while and see if I still have the problem if I don't I will probably put the 12 back in there WITH SPACERS ! :-)

I have spacers on both my drives. I was lucky enough to have 4 of those funky orange spacers kicking around here in my pc-screw bag (with loads of hard drive screws, which I also used 4 of).

However... Even without the spacers, there is no way the spindle bulge, or any part of the underside of the drive could possibly touch the tray with the model I installed. The gap left with just the drive plainly mounted was pretty big (all things considered). I've got a Toshiba and IBM (both 30GB) installed right now.

Bruno