cannot find bootable hard disk after successful O/S install 1

[Designware]

I have a strange problem. I have a system that appears to have fried a hard drive. No problem, replace the hard drive with a new one, format, and re-install the O/S. The format goes fine, it reboots (on it's own) and finishes up the installation. I do a little input (user names, etc.), and the desktop shows and everything looks great.

However, when I am all done looking around, and decide it's time to reboot, it cannot find the drive. It tells me DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER.

So, I figured something went strange with the install. So I reformat, and reinstall the O/S. Install again appeared successful ... but when I reboot .... same issue again.

It is an MSI MS-6787 motherboard with 512 MB of RAM. The O/S being installed is XP Home. Did a RAM test ... appears fine.

Is this a motherboard problem? Why does initial install go well? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dale

 

[paparazi]

I've had this when I forgot to set the HDD in the boot sequence ie: set the CDrom to boot XP but took out the HDD from the boot list.
Yes it does install all the way to desktop but the first time you reboot the motherboard doesn't find the hard drive.
Martin


We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[wahnula]

Good one paparazi! Designware, was that it? Failure to set the boot device to HDD in the BIOS?

 

[G0AOZ]

The other problem might be that the partition wasn't made active. Start up PC with something like a WIN98 boot disk, run FDISK and check the partition is active.

G0AOZ - ROGER.

 

[Designware]

Thanks for your replies!

Paparazi, no, the Boot order in BIOS includes the HDD-0 (which is the hard drive installed). In fact, after I cannot boot anymore, I changed the BIOS to only boot off the hard drive to see if it would help. Same issue.

Goaoz, I always thought that if you created a drive partition though the Windows setup, then formatted and installed, the drive partition was automatically set to active. However, I booted off a Win98 boot disk, and ran FDISK, and yes the partition was active.

Any other thoughts?

Dale

 

[wolluf]

Try reversing the IDE connectors (assuming it is IDE drive) - ie, connect hard drive to secondary, optical(s) to primary.

Just wondering what might be wrong with your system from your original 'I have a system that appears to have fried a hard drive' statement.

Have you tried installing to another hard drive/running driver manufacturer's diagnostic on the one you're using? (sounds unlikely that drive is faulty, given it installs ok, but worth eliminating). Must admit it does sound like an annoying hardware fault - somewhere (probably motherboard component).

 

[JoeLan]

Can you see the drive in the bios? is it set to Auto? Make sure the IDE controllers are enabled in the bios. I would try resetting the bios to defaults and see if that works. My next check would be to use the manufacturers tool to check the disk.

Good luck

 

[wahnula]

Check those jumpers! Master/Slave problems are obtuse like this...

Tony

 

[Designware]

Thanks for the replies!

Wolluf, the drive I'm attempting to install is a brand new one. The old one is definitely fried, and is tossed in the garbage. Didn't try switching the IDE connections because a solution below worked.

JoeLan, yes, I can see the drive in BIOS. It is set to AUTO.

Wahnula, BINGO! There is a slave drive, and I set the drive to Master w/ slave. However, I disconnected the slave drive during this install to "make things simpler." Guess it didn't really make things simpler.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[wahnula]

Glad I could help, I am a mere mortal amongst gods here. Thanks for the star.

Tony