Boot problem with Compaq F700

I have a perplexing boot problem on a Compaq F753wm laptop. The hard drive tested bad, so I replaced it. Now I can't get it to boot to any device. When I first started work on it, it would boot to DVD but I didn't have the new drive yet. Later, sometimes it would, sometimes it wouldn't. I created a USB install memory stick. It worked once, before the new drive. Now that have replaced the drive, it won't. It won't boot from DVD or USB with the old drive either. I can change the boot order in bios, no difference. The option isn't there when I hit F9 for boot menu. It is in the bios however. Here's the clincher, the old drive is not only recognized in my other computer, but it'll boot up and load Windows. it still test as a bad drive though. I cloned the old drive to the new one, tried it in the laptop...it worked one time. Then it said no OS found. Put in my desktop and it works fine. I've run CHKDSK on both with no avail. I've changed the DVD drive, and memory. Now I have a new hard drive for a laptop and no way to transfer or load Windows on it.
It seems like a nice little notebook, is the motherboard toast?

 

First thing I would do is to go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and get their testing utilities.

What program did you use to make the partition and format it? I only use a Windows disk or the hard drive manufacturer's utilities to build the partition.

You have used a cloning system and it seems the problem has been cloned to the new hard drive.

I would be very close to using the Compaq method of making a new installation of Windows, but if you have two cloned drives, you may as well run experiments on one of them.

You said you ran CHKDSK, did you use a boot disk? Booting from a Windows CD, you could try running the command FIXMBR. If the drive is "seen ", but Windows won't start up, you can use the command FIXBOOT. I take it you are talking about a Windows XP system?? Please post the system details.

My guess is that whatever you are using to build the partition does not work 100%. It might be giving the BIOS a headache, so that it won't boot to any other media either.

Try FIXMBR.

Matt

 

I first tried using a windows disk before any partitioning, but couldn't boot to it.

I tried using Paragon's Partition Manager to create a partition, but same problem.

It wouldn't boot to DVD whether or not a partition was there.

That's when I used Slysoft's HDClone to copy the original partition.

I've used it many times before with never a problem.

I thought about it copying the problem, that's why I tried running CHKDSK, but as I said, both of the H/Ds will boot to OS on my desktop.

As to how I ran CHKDSK, I did it while connected to my desktop.

Can FixMBR be run on the laptop drive while it's connected to my desktop?

Oh, this is a Windows Vista Home Premium system.

This look better Arie?

 

Can FixMBR be run on the laptop drive while it's connected to my desktop?

 

Mattman? Anybody?

 

Sorry to take so long, I "lost" my reply, now I need to remember what I said...

No, I would not try running FIXMBR while it is connected to another computer!

I will post this thread, in case I have further problems replying.

 

Forum Administration is doing some (major) upgrades which might relate to my time here in Australia, the reason for my last post.

That's good to "bump" your thread if you are waiting for a response. Often we are involved in many threads and that can notify us that we might have missed your reply. Just don't bump the thread without giving us time to come back online (I think you know, the time factor).

Anyway, I would not run FIXMBR from a different PC. It probably won't hurt, but computers (their drives) are set up with different MBR systems.

I would suggest getting the (testing) utilities for your hard disk drive. Seagate (SeaTools), I know, and I think Hitachi (Drive Fitness Test) have an option to "upgrade the MBR ". Some don't. Try running the hard drive testing utilities (you should be able to install the software on your desktop computer, then make a boot CD for your laptop). At least run the testing on your hard drive.

Booting to a hard disk testing utility CD should be "easy ". If not and you checked all the options in the BIOS, I might suspect that the media can't be read (try a different brand of CD/DVD disk) or there is a problem with the motherboard.

Matt

 

I can get the utilities disk easy enough. The problem is (and the subject of this thread) I won't be able to boot to it.
I've tried several different boot disk that are burned on different media.
I've tried using another dvd drive and USB boot device.
I've already considered the motherboard is toast, I just want someone to confirm that.

 

I can't confirm that, I haven't seen that happen before.

What I have come across is that boot drives can be put into, or taken out of, the list or drives that the BIOS will boot to.

Check AHCI drives versus ATA drives (which is something I forgot to add in my last post). Look at how the boot drives are described in the BIOS.

"Catching" a keyboard key to enable booting to another drive is sometimes difficult. If you have set the boot sequence in the BIOS, it should start up there, just watch you don't need to press a key or "press any key" to revert from a normal boot system.

If you want to reset the BIOS ( "Clear the CMOS "), remove the power sources, the charger and battery, then hold down the power button for 30 seconds or more. It should start up with the original date of the BIOS.

Matt

 

Already cleared bios long ago. F12 for boot menu. F9 for setup. Not hard to "catch. I put a 3 second delay on the option.

 

Since the booting problem started?

Did you get to check the AHCI/ATA? If you go to the SATA controller settings in the BIOS, you should be able to change it from AHCI to something like "compatible ". Try some tests using that. If I have drive problems, that is what I check.

Is the date correct in the BIOS?

A maybe, have you tried connecting an external keyboard?

I'm starting to get a bit low on suggestions. Have you searched at Compaq/HP website? They have forums. When I/we run out of suggestions, I advise going to the manufacturer's website. They know the particular hardware better than we do. Sometimes it is a common problem peculiar to the model.

Matt

 

Hey mattman, Sorry I haven't been around. I had to put that on the back burner and get some more work done. I checked the bios, and I don't have that option on this laptop. It's setup for one drive only. the date is correct. Keyboard? No, but I will. Nothing could surprise me at this point.

 

Thanks for letting us know how it's going.

Try what I suggested. Your computer should have SATA Controller settings.

Next stop would be the Compaq/HP forums. Look them up from the HP Support website.

Matt

 

Mattman, once again I'm sorry for taking so long to answer. I don't have any options for the SATA controller on this laptop. Here's a pic of the system configuration page in the bios. I don't have any control over the SATA. I'm still at a loss.

 

I can't see the other possible BIOS selections in the pic apart from the System Configuration, which you have selected. It might be in another one of the "tabs ".

I tried searching for the model you quoted at the beginning of the thread "Compaq F753wm ", but it doesn't bring up anything.

Go to the Compaq/HP website
www.hp.com/support
and find the webpage for that laptop (each model has it's own webpage on the HP website).

The model's webpage is the launchpad for finding a heap of information about the PC. Look up the manuals. One of the manuals will tell you about (explain) the BIOS settings. You can try searching around further in the BIOS, sometimes/often you need to go into sub-menus. Look at the instructions in the BIOS, they are generally at the bottom of the page.

I will try to help you as much as I can, but did you check the Compaq/HP forums? I don't know the exact Compaq model you are talking about. HP's forums discuss the model, but there might not be much "in-depth" information. Either way, you will improve your experience level, only just by trying to find out the information yourself. HP has one of the best knowledgebases of any manufacturer.

That might sound like a sweeping statement, but your answer is probably there somewhere. The HP forums could help you isolate the information you need.

Matt