Dell Latitude D600 Error: "no bootable devices found"

A friend brought me this Dell Latitude D600 with a boot problem. At the end of the boot process, it would display "no bootable devices found ". The bios found the hard drive, just couldn't boot from it. I tried a repair install....same problem. I tried using recovery console to run chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, bootcfg /rebuild, and nothing worked. He said he didn't need anything on it, so I formated and reinstalled Windows XP. After installing all the drivers and removing the CD, it still does it. I used a different Windows disk, same thing. After a lot more fiddling around, I discovered if it had the Windows install disk in the DC rom, it would load Windows. I have to choose to boot from CD, then when it says to press any key to boot from CD, I do nothing. It loads Windows! I poked around a little and find it's fairly common with this laptop, but can't find a definite solution.
I'm open to ideas.

Blufx

 

Hi, just a thought - is BIOS set to boot from HDD? Neil.

 

Oh yeah. One of the first things I checked

 

I would try running the manufacturers hard drive diagnostics. It sounds as if it cannot read the MBR from the hard drive, may be some damaged sectors which chkdsk should have found but the manufacturers diagnostics will do a more thorough test.

ExcelStor: http://www.excelstor.com/eng/support.php?sub_id=3

Hitachi/IBM: http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html

Toshiba: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities

Seagate, Maxtor & Quantum:http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Western Digital:http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en

 

Try going into the BIOS at startup and setting it to Defaults (it should be in the general instructions at the bottom of the screen, usually by pressing the F9 key).

Did you use the Windows disk that came from Dell? Otherwise the correct drivers might not be installed.

If you are happy to start again, use the Windows CD to delete/remove the Windows partition, then remake the partition, format and install again.

Matt

 

I just had another thought, how old is this PC, might be worth checking the CMOS battery.

 

Hmmm, Not bad... I've already let him take it home with instructions on how to boot Windows. I'll call him today and ask if his date and time are remaining accurate. It does have a little age on it.