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Computer won't boot-up 1
- Thread starter woodswise
- Start date
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- #2
- Thread starter
- #3
The drive is the same size as the one I took out - 40G. I'm not sure how old it is, because it was given to me. All I know is its a Pentium 4 1300MHz RDRAM clock 300MHz. It tells me the original drive fails, but it doesn't see the replacement drive. Sorry, but I don't know how to get it to recognize it.
Ok, if it's a generic PC you will need to hit 'Del' to access the Bios (for other types look for a message on the boot screen), you need to look for a setting for 'autodetect hard drive' sometimes its as easy as highlighting the Primary Master and pressing 'Enter'.
Andy.
Andy.
- Thread starter
- #5
Its an HP Pavillion 7960, so I had to hit F1 to get into the BIOS. I did try to set the Primary Master on Auto, but it didn't make a difference. When I set it for User HDD it gave me an option screen, (press F1 for set up or press F2 to continue) I pressed F2 to continue, then it said "disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter" This is the same thing that happened with the original harddrive.
- Thread starter
- #7
I even un-hooked the CD-RW & the DVD - no luck. I also tried plugging in the cable on the board where the CD & DVD went - no luck. I guess I'm getting desperate, because I'm trying all kinds of crazy things. I'm not sure what to do next, I think I'm just gonna pack it away for now. Maybe I'll get an idea when I'm not thinking about it so much. Thanks for your help though, I do appreciate all your suggestions.
try to find a motherboard utility and test the mother board it could be 1 or both of youre ide channels or you could be using the wrong type of ide cable for that hdd.
you generaly can find mb utills on the web for free try they might have one that you need for free or hell just download a trial at least it will tell you if the mb is faulty....
you generaly can find mb utills on the web for free try they might have one that you need for free or hell just download a trial at least it will tell you if the mb is faulty....
- Thread starter
- #9
Couldn't find that utility you mentioned for the motherboard on that site, but I don't really know what I'm looking for either. I know the hard drive and cables are good, because they work on my other computer. I even bought the Amazing Boot Disk, It's suppose to boot any computer with or without a hard drive. (It didn't work) Maybe the motherboard is shot?
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Go here
and get the Quick Restore CD...
read all about it there too
or completely erase the drive and start fresh, but make sure you have all the proprietary hardware d/l and burnt to cdr that's on the box first.
didn't catch the OS you're trying
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
and get the Quick Restore CD...
read all about it there too
or completely erase the drive and start fresh, but make sure you have all the proprietary hardware d/l and burnt to cdr that's on the box first.
didn't catch the OS you're trying
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
TekTippy4U
Technical User
Read This
And This Is More Specific TO Your PC
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #12
I just contacted HP and I'm waiting for a reply in regards to the motherboard. I contacted them earlier about the system restore disk, but they say its no longer available. The O/S is Windows Me. (try not to laugh too hard) I tried just about everything except replacing the motherboard. This may wind up a parts machine if I can't figure it out soon. I have other O/Ss available, but I don't think its a software problem. However until I can boot it up, I may never know.
TekTippy4U
Technical User
It may never boot.....![[sad]](/data/assets/smilies/sad.gif "[sad] [sad]")
Did you start out with it working.....you don't list sny details which brought you to this point in the First place.....did you reformat?...just get the pc from a friend?.....was it broken when you got it?
HP's and Compaqs have very strange BIOSs....some have it's BIOS code on a Sytem HDD partition and NOT in a chip on the Mobo, like usual mobos. Deleting this "partition" would cause these problems.
see
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
Did you start out with it working.....you don't list sny details which brought you to this point in the First place.....did you reformat?...just get the pc from a friend?.....was it broken when you got it?
HP's and Compaqs have very strange BIOSs....some have it's BIOS code on a Sytem HDD partition and NOT in a chip on the Mobo, like usual mobos. Deleting this "partition" would cause these problems.
see
TT4U
Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs
- Thread starter
- #14
- Thread starter
- #15
woodswise - is this still the same machine/problem from last July? Don't know about you, but on my machine TekTippy's post is extra wide - making it difficult to read this thread. Might be worth starting a new one - and restating the problem and what you've tried.
- Thread starter
- #17
Yes, its the same PC. I got frustrated, so I took a break and now I'm back at it again. I'm going to try to clear the CMOS by removing the battery for a minute and then powering it up. I think it may be the motherboard, because I've tried just about everything else that I could possibly think of.
How does a person manage to make the lines so large here, not that i would want to, just curious.
On your problem, if its an HP machine and set up similar to a Compaq then you have to install a rompaq to the hard drive or it will never boot. Compaq and maybe HP, i said maybe as im not sure, will put the bios on the hard drive instead of on the mobo and you need to put the bios on your hard drive or no go. Maybe you should check the website and see if your machine offers a rompaq, if it does then your problem will be solved, just follow the instructions, i have done many Compaq machines with rompaq's and the error message you are getting is the same error message you get when you need a rompaq. A rompaq is only a bios( or bios update) and the bios program itself (ami, phoenix, or award)plus a text doc telling you how to install it.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
On your problem, if its an HP machine and set up similar to a Compaq then you have to install a rompaq to the hard drive or it will never boot. Compaq and maybe HP, i said maybe as im not sure, will put the bios on the hard drive instead of on the mobo and you need to put the bios on your hard drive or no go. Maybe you should check the website and see if your machine offers a rompaq, if it does then your problem will be solved, just follow the instructions, i have done many Compaq machines with rompaq's and the error message you are getting is the same error message you get when you need a rompaq. A rompaq is only a bios( or bios update) and the bios program itself (ami, phoenix, or award)plus a text doc telling you how to install it.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
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