HD 521-2W error

SammieM · 11-17-2008, 11:35 AM

We have an HP desktop machine running XP Media Center edition. There was a power outage and when it starts now it goes to the screen that give you startup choices (Safe Mode, Last Known Good, etc.). No matter which I chose, it rebooted and started this same thing over and over. I finally ran System Recovery and after the Short Self Test I got the HD 521-2W error.
In another thread about that same error message, the reply said that the boot.ini file might be messed up and it suggests booting from the XP CD. HP didn't give us the install disks, so I don't have the XP Media Center CDs, but I do have XP Home and XP Pro. Would either of those work?

If you think that the boot.ini "diagnosis" was incorrect, I'd love to hear any other solutions you could offer. The problem computer is (was) running the router, printer, etc. and this whole thing is very frustrating.

**TriggerFinger** · 11-17-2008, 11:55 AM

Surely looks like hardware failure. Run HDD diagnostics using HDD brand diag tool. If HDD diags show hardware error, consider replacing the drive.

SammieM · 11-17-2008, 12:11 PM

What are HDD diagnostics and where can I get it/them??

**TriggerFinger** · 11-17-2008, 12:14 PM

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

SammieM · 11-17-2008, 01:28 PM

Tried ES_Tool_For_CDR. The computer doesn't acknowledge the CD--it just keeps on with its reboot circle.

dai · 11-17-2008, 06:42 PM

did you set the bios to boot from cd first
download the iso version
then burn it as an iso

SammieM · 11-18-2008, 11:21 AM

I don't know how to set the bios to boot from the CD first.

**TriggerFinger** · 11-18-2008, 12:48 PM

Boot into BIOS Settings, go to BOOT sequence/order tab or page... make sure CDROM is top of the list. Instruction on how to move the device up the list should be on that page too..

11-17-2008, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
SammieM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP Media Center Edition	HD 521-2W error We have an HP desktop machine running XP Media Center edition. There was a power outage and when it starts now it goes to the screen that give you startup choices (Safe Mode, Last Known Good, etc.). No matter which I chose, it rebooted and started this same thing over and over. I finally ran System Recovery and after the Short Self Test I got the HD 521-2W error. In another thread about that same error message, the reply said that the boot.ini file might be messed up and it suggests booting from the XP CD. HP didn't give us the install disks, so I don't have the XP Media Center CDs, but I do have XP Home and XP Pro. Would either of those work? If you think that the boot.ini "diagnosis" was incorrect, I'd love to hear any other solutions you could offer. The problem computer is (was) running the router, printer, etc. and this whole thing is very frustrating.

11-17-2008, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,823 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: HD 521-2W error Surely looks like hardware failure. Run HDD diagnostics using HDD brand diag tool. If HDD diags show hardware error, consider replacing the drive. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

11-17-2008, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
SammieM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP Media Center Edition	Re: HD 521-2W error What are HDD diagnostics and where can I get it/them??

11-17-2008, 12:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,823 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: HD 521-2W error http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

11-17-2008, 01:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
SammieM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP Media Center Edition	Re: HD 521-2W error Tried ES_Tool_For_CDR. The computer doesn't acknowledge the CD--it just keeps on with its reboot circle.

11-17-2008, 06:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,487 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: HD 521-2W error did you set the bios to boot from cd first download the iso version then burn it as an iso __________________

11-18-2008, 11:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
SammieM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP Media Center Edition	Re: HD 521-2W error I don't know how to set the bios to boot from the CD first.

11-18-2008, 12:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,823 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: HD 521-2W error Boot into BIOS Settings, go to BOOT sequence/order tab or page... make sure CDROM is top of the list. Instruction on how to move the device up the list should be on that page too.. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE