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Resolved XP pro won't install

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Spanner, 2012/10/25.

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  1. 2012/10/25
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Windows XP pro
    Have damaged 80GB hard drive (Master) with XP Pro installed,also 250GB (slave) partitioned in two sections.
    Master drive will not System Restore, or complete a defrag , we have therefore decided to do away with the faulty master and convert the Slave to Master only. . Having trouble with the boot up sequence,and installing Windows XP
    We have at present the sequence as Advance Bios Settings=
    Quick boot 'enabled'
    Anti virus 'enabled'
    Boot Sequence High Performance 'Enabled'
    1st boot HDD-o
    2nd boot HDD-1
    3rd boot Hdd-2
    Boot other device 'Enabled'
    We have tried various permutations, We have landed up with is the boot stopping at 'Verifying DMI Pool Data' It goes no further.
    We have had it 'Boot from CD' but this continued to request 'Insert System Disk and press Enter' all that did was to keep trying to install Windows XP
    Where do we go from here please.
    Spanner
     
    Spanner,
    #1
  2. 2012/10/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    A few questions ....

    Have you removed the faulty hard drive and jumpered the original slave drive to master and attached it to the end of the IDE cable? (I'm guessing that you have PATA drives and not SATA. Can only guess as you have not filled in your System Details) Your boot sequence suggests that both drives are connected.

    If you have done that there is no way the computer will boot as there is no OS installed, so you need to boot from the XP CD and make a clean install with format on the first partition of the new master drive. Remember to back up any data on that first partition as it will be lost by formatting.

    If you succeed in installing XP remember to install the chipset drivers, etc, all of which should be available on the manufacturer's web site.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2012/10/28
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you PeteC, Faulty Master has been removed, Slave converted to Master only, no jumpers required according to info on drive, new master (was slave) connected to end of IDE cable. Will have to check what drive it is PATA or SATA, PC not mine
    We have only one drive installed. Master only what should the boot sequence be?
    How can we back up the first partition where we are trying to download XP. before formatting?
    THanks
    Spanner
     
    Spanner,
    #3
  5. 2012/10/28
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If the drive is connected to the end of an IDE (flat ribbon) cable it is an EID (PATA) drive - SATA Drives use very narrow flat (or round) cables and the end connectors are entirlly different to EID.

    Boot sequence should be CD-ROM > Hard drive so that you can boot directly from the install CD when it is in the CD/DVD drive.

    Re. backing up the partition which is to be formatted .....

    If the PC will boot up with the faulty hard drive installed then it is a simple matter of either copying the data from the first partition of the second drive to the second partition if there is room or copying to external media such as an external drive or burn to DVD.

    If the PC will not boot up with the faulty hard drive installed your only option is to connect the second drive to another computer as slave and copy the data off there.

    From your initial post I get the impression that the computer will boot from the original drive.

    Have you considered checking that drive with the manufacturer's disk diagnostic software (DOS version from a bootable CD) ......

    Disk Diagnostic Software ....

    ExcelStore

    Hitachi/IBM

    Samsung

    Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum

    Western Digital

    Toshiba

    If the drive passes a Repair of XP (requires a retail CD at the same Service Pack level as the installed OS) may solve your problems.

    Clearly your friend does not have a backup :(
     
    PeteC,
    #4
    Spanner likes this.
  6. 2012/10/28
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks, then it is a PATA drive. We will have to connect drive we are converting to Master to another pc and and download 1st partition to 2nd partition before formatting 1st partition. I will let you know result.
    The message we get when trying to boot-up with defective drive is words to the effect " Damaged hard drive, download/save files , urgent, remove drive. drive could effect pc " or words of similar nature , so we have .
    No my friend does not have a backup cd, in fact I am surprised he got this far.
    The drive is SAMSUNG 80GB. I may stick it into one of my own PC's and do a diagnostic check, could find something useful.
    Thanks
    Spanner
     
    Spanner,
    #5
  7. 2012/10/30
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I'm away now for 3 weeks and have asked Team Members to keep an eye on this thread.
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2012/10/30
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I agree, the Diags should be the first step.

    (If the hard drive is worn out, there is no "fix ").
     
    SpywareDr,
    #7
  9. 2012/10/30
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    I would hook that harddrive into your PC as a slave drive and backup any important data on that drive as soon as possible. It looks like the harddrive's failure is imminent and could fail catastrophically which could take all the data with it.

    You should still run the disk diagnostics from Samsung but most likely it will tell you what you already know about the drive.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2012/10/31
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks guys you are scaring the pants off of me, but yes, as SAP I will check the HD , but what causes an HD to malfunction to the extent suggested?
     
    Spanner,
    #9
  11. 2012/10/31
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Because it's a mechanical device, with moving parts.

    Moving parts cause wear.

    And when they're worn enough, the device can no longer function as designed.

    I.e., it's simply worn out.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #10
  12. 2012/10/31
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Like any hardware device it wears out over time and will eventually fail.

    Harddrive's can wear out faster than other hardware because they have more moving parts. The constant spinning up and down of the harddrives platters over time will reduce the harddrives life span as well as excessive fragmentation of the drive.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #11
  13. 2012/11/01
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Not only the spinning platters, but the reciprocating read/write heads constantly being yanked back and forth.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #12
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  14. 2012/11/06
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Correction to make of drive, found it to be a Maxtor 80 Gb . I have a Seagate Diagnostic disc, from the list by PeteC, Maxtor seems to be same as Seagate ?, I will give it a try.
     
    Spanner,
    #13
  15. 2012/11/06
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Now I am confused, removed slave from system, had Maxtor as Master only. did a Short Seagate Test, No Problems, then a long diagnostic test, No Problems reported.
    What programme will diagnose the PC and/or software?, in other words what do I do next Please?. Apparantly the PC used to work ok untill the owner downloaded a card ( Birthday Etc ) making programme. I have uninstalled all I can find that may be the cause.
     
    Spanner,
    #14
  16. 2012/11/07
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    SpywareDr,
    #15
    Spanner likes this.
  17. 2012/11/11
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    To SpywareDr, thanks get back to you with results SAP.
    Spanner
     
    Spanner,
    #16
  18. 2012/11/11
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Ok, keep us posted.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #17
  19. 2012/11/12
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Best of luck.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #18
  20. 2012/12/08
    Spanner

    Spanner Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry for delay in completing this thread, other problems have got in the way, PC owner has decided to buy a new PC. so thanks to all for your help, I feel like marking this " Abandoned" But will mark it Resolved.
    Thanks again and Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year to all.
    Spanner
     
    Spanner,
    #19
  21. 2012/12/08
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Thanks for the update. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #20
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