Computer reads HD as removed

roy2000 · 08-09-2005, 08:52 AM

I have a 3 yo P3 with WinXP sp2 installed.
The HD is 120 G and has 6 partitioion. The OS is loaded on D - not C - this has not been a problem.
Last night when I turned it on I got a failed to boot screen. It does not see the primary or secondary HD.
The bios was set to auto, I change it to HHD and still no HD at boot. I reset it to default settings (auto). No change.
I put in Norton Systemwork Recovery disk and it says D is a removable drive and not installed. I can see the other drives and folder/files.
I tried to reload WinXP but it would not install - the install screen says computer errors need to be fixed.
I'm posting from work so any questions on screen info will take awhile to answer.
Any ideas or is the HD fried?
thanx,
roy

~~whodat~~ · 08-09-2005, 09:25 AM

welcome to tsf

do you have your xp cd

if so, change the boot order to cd first and see if you can boot

if so post back [actually, post back regardless]

roy2000 · 08-09-2005, 09:45 AM

I do have the xp cd.
When I put it in to reload XP it would not install. I didn't know it would act as a boot disk? I can try this tonight.

If it does work - what should I do about resetting D so its not seen as a removeable drive?
Any other ideas - I'll try them all after work. I can log in on my son's computer tonight.
thanx
roy

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodatknocking

welcome to tsf

do you have your xp cd

if so, change the boot order to cd first and see if you can boot

if so post back [actually, post back regardless]

~~whodat~~ · 08-09-2005, 12:02 PM

hello again

forget about the norton message for now, you need to address the errors

i am assuming you cannot get into safe mode...tap f8 on first start?
or "last good configuration" from the same menu?

in safe mode do a disk error check if you are able.

if not, make your rom first choice on boot up in bios, hopefully bios is available.

try a sfc repair first after you achieve a windows desktop
we also need to check for viruses, with 2 of the links below eiwdo and avg are nice, picks up things norton might miss at times.

roy2000 · 08-09-2005, 02:58 PM

I'm pretty careful about virus/spybots etc and I ran virus scan from the NU Systemworks 05 recovery disc but it is surely outdated. I will go to the site suggested and use dl the software.

I will try the F8 - I didn't know that safe mode was available - I was very familiar with it in Win98.
NU recovery disk had a couple of options I thought should work but because it thinks the disc is removed it doesn't see it so you can't fix anything.

A guy at work said "sounds like bios" - an area I have never really gone to. I did what little I thought was safe and then set it back to default.

Another piece of info I should have included in the first post - I have the OS on D and it was running out of space about 2 weeks ago. I got warnings and delete files or move programs from the Program Files directory to make space. Does that help?

Thanx a lot
roy

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodatknocking

hello again

forget about the norton message for now, you need to address the errors

i am assuming you cannot get into safe mode...tap f8 on first start?
or "last good configuration" from the same menu?

in safe mode do a disk error check if you are able.

if not, make your rom first choice on boot up in bios, hopefully bios is available.

try a sfc repair first after you achieve a windows desktop
we also need to check for viruses, with 2 of the links below eiwdo and avg are nice, picks up things norton might miss at times.

roy2000 · 08-09-2005, 03:41 PM

What is a sfc repair?

"try a sfc repair first after you achieve a windows desktop"

~~whodat~~ · 08-09-2005, 08:12 PM

if you can get to desktop

Run the System File Checker

Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:

sfc /scannow ( sfc if not reconized)

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem. You will need your Windows cd.

roy2000 · 08-09-2005, 09:48 PM

I never get to a windows screen - I never get past the boot screen that says no primary or secondary hd installed. When I go to bios is does not see a hd.
I pulled the hd and put it in my son's computer and I get the same errors, When I add it as a slave to his hd I can see 4 of the 6 directories - but not the one with the operating system or one with a bunch of files.

I think I need a new hard drive.
Any thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodatknocking

if you can get to desktop

Run the System File Checker

Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:

sfc /scannow ( sfc if not reconized)

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem. You will need your Windows cd.

08-09-2005, 08:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
roy2000 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6 OS: winxp	Computer reads HD as removed I have a 3 yo P3 with WinXP sp2 installed. The HD is 120 G and has 6 partitioion. The OS is loaded on D - not C - this has not been a problem. Last night when I turned it on I got a failed to boot screen. It does not see the primary or secondary HD. The bios was set to auto, I change it to HHD and still no HD at boot. I reset it to default settings (auto). No change. I put in Norton Systemwork Recovery disk and it says D is a removable drive and not installed. I can see the other drives and folder/files. I tried to reload WinXP but it would not install - the install screen says computer errors need to be fixed. I'm posting from work so any questions on screen info will take awhile to answer. Any ideas or is the HD fried? thanx, roy

08-09-2005, 09:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	welcome to tsf do you have your xp cd if so, change the boot order to cd first and see if you can boot if so post back [actually, post back regardless]

08-09-2005, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	hello again forget about the norton message for now, you need to address the errors i am assuming you cannot get into safe mode...tap f8 on first start? or "last good configuration" from the same menu? in safe mode do a disk error check if you are able. if not, make your rom first choice on boot up in bios, hopefully bios is available. try a sfc repair first after you achieve a windows desktop we also need to check for viruses, with 2 of the links below eiwdo and avg are nice, picks up things norton might miss at times.

08-09-2005, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
roy2000 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6 OS: winxp	What is a sfc repair? "try a sfc repair first after you achieve a windows desktop"

08-09-2005, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	if you can get to desktop Run the System File Checker Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in: sfc /scannow ( sfc if not reconized) This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem. You will need your Windows cd.