Hi everybody,

I need some help trying to set up the IDE connection in a HP thin client T5720 because I have spent many hours and is driving me crazy and i do not understand what it is happening.

- The included 512 Mb flash memory works normally. It detects it and no problem using it, but it is too small and the win98se installation fills too many space and i have some problems running applications.
- I have a mSATA flash memory from a different computer so bought an mSATa to IDE converter, plugged in and it doesn't recognize it. The BIOS setup program doesn't detect it and sometimes the POST gets stuck before "detecting IDE".
- I tried an IDE 2.5" hdd from a retro laptop that works and the BIOS detects it, but after the POST finishes i get a blinking cursor instead the win98se splash (in fact it doesn't show the "verifying DMI pool data" message neither) screen and it gets stuck there and doesn't respod to any key command like control+alt+del. I have tried the jumpers as primary and cable select with he same result.
- I also tried to start with an usb with easy2boot with the hard disk plugged in the ide connection but in this case it doesn't read the USB and keeps showing the blinking cursor anyway what it confuses me even more as i have read that there are many times that the blinking cursor can be fixed reformatting the hard disk and reinstalling windows but not in this case.

I have tried 2 different ide cables, a long brand new one (around 15cm) and an old one around 5 cm with the same results and i do not know what more to try as i do not see any other BIOS setting nor any jumper in the motherboard.

Has anyone had this issue with a thin client and solved it or knows what i am doing wrong?
Do I try booting with a USB floppy drive? (anyway i'll try it after work today)

I was planning to but a PCI riser card or a extension cable to do some experiments but i'm stuck there and I'm tired of buying cables and adapters with no luck and i'm afraid that buying an SD card to IDE adapter could not work neither.

Thank you.

edit: I tried last night booting with a usb floppy disk with same results. If the 2.5 hard disk is plugged the computer doesn't go further and gets stuck in the blinking cursor and no "verifying DMI pool data message".