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Thread ID: 114780 2010-12-16 18:33:00 Can't boot from Hard disk after a power outage Sirus (16133) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1162618 2010-12-16 18:33:00 Last night I had a sudden power outage. Since then I cannot boot from hard disks. I have 2 hard drives and they are both read in BIOs, they're just skipped over in the booting process. Is this a hardware issue or software? It can't boot from either hard drive. Sirus (16133)
1162619 2010-12-16 19:43:00 most likely something got corrupted on the hdd, so software. How far into boot does it get ? does windows try to start ? You could try:
booting into safe mode and running scandisk
booting of the windows CD and running chkdsk from repair console
booting of windows CD and doing a repair install
booting of a linux live CD to check disks are ok.. someone else can suggest which one.

A hardware problem is possible though.
dugimodo (138)
1162620 2010-12-16 20:03:00 run chkdsk /p /r .
Then if still a problem, do a repair install
pctek (84)
1162621 2010-12-16 20:20:00 Thanks for the replies. It doesn't even get to windows startup, so maybe the issue is with windows or something. I can't do much other than get into Bios.
Looking for my windows CD now. I'll update on what happens.
Sirus (16133)
1162622 2010-12-16 22:02:00 unlikely but...
Could be bios is trying to boot the wrong HD.
Remove the 2nd (non Win C:) HD & try again
on boot, press F12 (or whatever) to choose boot device & choose HD
Any strange noises coming from the HD ??

How often is this PC ever restarted??
depending on age: could just be a faulty motherboard (again unlikely since it POST's & detects HD's)
1101 (13337)
1162623 2010-12-17 00:41:00 Is your computer usually turned on all the time?

If so, you probably have a flat BIOS battery and the settings were lost when power was cut.
Agent_24 (57)
1162624 2010-12-17 02:01:00 check boot order! SolMiester (139)
1162625 2010-12-17 03:45:00 Well as I said, BIOS can read both hard drives perfectly. I boot from the windows install and that is where things get confusing. It's like it doesn't recognize a partition at all. It says "if your operating system isn't listed, click Load Drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks."

I click load drivers and I get into my computer.. sort of. it shows the boot CD and my 2nd hard drive which has all its memory on it. But not my main drive with windows. I have a western digital 640gb. I believe its the caviar black. I can't find drivers or anything on their website. I'm stuck here. I have no re-images either.

It is possible for a power outage to completely erase everything on my main drive? Is their still hope? Sorry that this is getting even more technical.
Sirus (16133)
1162626 2010-12-17 03:51:00 I've checked my boot order and there is nothing wrong with it. It skips over the HDD and goes straight to CD ROM. When the CD ROM is unplugged it just fails to boot.

My computer is on frequently. Sometimes overnight. Most nights I put it in sleep mode. It's been awhile since its actually been off off.

It's frustrating too because I just fixed a BSOD driver issue. Then the power surge the same day I fixed the issue and my computer doesn't work anymore. This is by far worse.
Sirus (16133)
1162627 2010-12-17 06:03:00 A power issue could cause damage to your PSU which may in turn do damage to other things.

Do you have another PSU you can try?
Agent_24 (57)
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