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| Thread ID: 60832 | 2005-08-14 10:18:00 | After reformat - HD not detected | Strommer (42) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 380938 | 2005-08-14 10:18:00 | Opting for a clean install of Win XP Home, I reformatted the PC. Booting from the WinXP CD and choosing Install Windows, an error message appears that "Setup did not find any HDD"... and mentions a "diagnostic or setup program" that may need to be run. Is this referring to the 6 floppy set up boot disks, or is there something else to do? I have been reading several web pages on how to reformat and reinstall, but am stumped at this stage. Thanks. A screen shot of the error message is here. (i8.photobucket.com) |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 380939 | 2005-08-14 10:23:00 | Does the BIOS detect the hdd?? Show the name/brand of the hdd? If u check primary/sec ide in the BIOS? Is this an IDE or a SATA hdd you're trying to install XP onto? |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 380940 | 2005-08-14 11:01:00 | I'll check tomorrow - PC at my friend's house. Delete key for BIOS during boot up, right? |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 380941 | 2005-08-14 12:03:00 | It could be delete F1,F2 to get into the BIOS. Depends what the mobo is. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 380942 | 2005-08-14 22:32:00 | Thanks Speedy. I hope all goes well today. We are ready to push the PC over a cliff...!! Reformatting and resinstalling should be effortless, or at least I had thought. In fact, installing new RAM should be easy-peasy..... this is what started the MESS that we are in now.... seems PB Technology sent incompatible RAM which corrupted the OS. And it was I who told my friend that adding more RAM would make his PC better - he had only 256 Mb on WinXP and wanted it to work better. Now I wonder what will happen if the BIOS does, or does not, detect the HDD....??!!! |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 380943 | 2005-08-14 22:45:00 | Umm well HOPEFULLY your mates mobo can take MORE than 256mb . It depends on how OLD or how RECENT/Modern the system (well the mobo is) . Can't say I've heard of incompat ram corrupting a system tho . It may crash the system, or not run at all, thats about it . Well if the BIOS doesnt detect the hdd at all, then u have another prob . There will be NO way you'll get XP on it, if this is the case . Normally, more RAM does help with XP . The more the better . |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 380944 | 2005-08-15 01:23:00 | Sounds like its either not connected properly or is sATA on one of those old boards. Check cables, BIOS etc as Speedy has said. If its sATA and the board is not new, you'll need to do the F6 thing during install and have the sATA MB driver ready for XP. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 380945 | 2005-08-15 10:03:00 | New questions: Does this (screenshot) ( . photobucket . com/albums/a50/nz_man/HD_Status_BAD . jpg" target="_blank">i8 . photobucket . com) error message indicate the HD about to die? See the bottom lines on the screenshot . This error message appeared after WinXP Home was successfully installed after reformatting the HD (partition) . On the screenshot, near the bottom, it also says DDR333 downgraded to DDR266 . What is this about? Is the RAM installed (original stick of RAM) 266, but is supposed to be 333, or is it running slower, at 266 for some reason? Is there a freebie download that will test the HD? Maybe on the manufacturer's website? HD data from BIOS: ST380021A; and from the screenshot above: Ultra DMA Mode ATA/100 . How do I get into Disk Management so that the (non-Windows) partition can be formatted? I managed to partition the 80G HD, but only formatted the one partition - where Windows is located . Somewhere a screen told me that I would have to format the other partition but I forgot how to get back to do this . . . is it simply booting from the WinXP CD - then SETUP - then SELECT the PARTITION ? Or is Disk Management somewhere else? I don't want to bugger up what I have already achieved, or it will be "pushing it :badpc: over the cliff"! Newcomers to this thread: the PC is my friend's, 2 GHz, 256 RAM . We added 512 RAM which apparently was incompatible, corrupting the OS, resulting in the need to reformat . Speedy, et . al . - I checked the BIOS and figured that the HD was being detected, then simply repeated what I did yesterday, booting from WinXP CD, and easily got to SETUP, created the first partition, then installed Windows . Have added a few things and even got the external modem to work - having had to download the drivers on my PC first . I don't have a clue why I could not get Windows to load yesterday . Must have been global warming :stare: or something . Thanks . |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 380946 | 2005-08-15 10:08:00 | Yup thats what it means. Its ready to, or going to die! Disk Management - Control Panel / Admin tools / Comp Management / Disk management. Highlight the partition / hdd right mouse format. I think thats the reason, why it failed after u got to the setupp/install screen. It was having trouble, reading that hdd. And its ready to kick the bucket. Replace it. Do you know what the speed of the ram is/was thats on the mobo? |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 380947 | 2005-08-15 11:38:00 | Do you know what the speed of the ram is/was thats on the mobo? Don't know, and not sure how to find out. Do I have to physically remove the RAM and look for a label? Thanks for the Disk Management info. Just tried it on my PC - good stuff. :cool: And its ready to kick the bucket. Replace it. Well, my friend is going to love to hear this happy news! :lol: He told me that it has a 5 yr warranty, which seems about 3 years longer than what I would have thought. I will show him :nerd: the Status Health report on Disk Management. Glad it is not my HD going kaput, and glad I have two HDs on my newish PC. Thanks again Speedy. Will let you know our progress. |
Strommer (42) | ||
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