why won't it see hda (linux) or hdb (swap)

it saw these drives a couple of days ago (I could start the installation) but
now I can't even start it. it gets to the 'Debian GNU/Linux Installation Main
Menu' page which informs me that '[n]o hard drives were detected.' I tried
reseating the connectors but that didn't help any.

Is there a utility that will test out the hard drives to see if they are at
fault (I see that as unlikely seeing how there are two drives and both
failed). When I put Mepis in it gets to the GUI and starts running out of
memory. So I think of darn small linux.

With dsl I get to 'Enter root partition.' Whether I enter /dev/hda1
or /dev/hdb1 it complains that, 'No such device or address while trying to
determine filesize.' Actually, I think it mounts the swap drive since while
it is loading the drive light is flashing.

So I can't get a linux instalation on it.

I will try to get to an install fest. Unfortunately, I work most days (even
SAT and SUN) so finding days off that coincide with installfests will be
difficult.
480-615-1310

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