Laptop on the edge!!!

[yankee34]

Can any one help??

 

My Laptop a Time 8375, has just crashed, firstly I got a System memory dump message, I rebooted the system as normal, I then get a message stating that my Hard disk had no Active Partition's, I attempted to reboot using the reload cd, nothing happeaned, I next attempted to repair windows with the original os cd, "nothing" I re-booted & attempted to re-install windows with the original cd, now I can't get passed the ""set up partition part"", I've attempted to re-format the hard drive but it won't let me do that either, I've tried all the above with another known working hard drive & still nothing. Can any one please help...

[Guest Wolfeymole]

The hard drive has died Yankee.

 

You have been most explicit on the action you have taken and as far as I'm concerned the drive is dead.

 

This does not mean the laptop is beyond hope as you may be able to install a new HDD, is the HDD removable and do you have a full Operating System install disk?

[yankee34]

Yes, to both : but what I don't quite understand is, that this has happeaned with 2 seperate known working hard drives, can there be a problem with my motherboard, I don't want to splash out on another hard drive to have the same thing occur....

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You must either obtain a new internal laptop drive or make sure sure that you can install XP, if that is what you are running to an external drive and make sure it is bootable.

 

Do you have the XP operating system disks?

[Tony D]

I can't see how it could be a motherboard problem. Maybe you're purchasing poorly made hard drives. What make hard drives have failed?

[yankee34]

Both Drives are Hitachi Travelstar 80GB IDE/ATA & were working fine in my other lattop yesterday, In fact both have been for quite a few months so can you see my dilema...

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Tell us exactly what's happening here.

Are you trying to insert a laptop hard drive containing XP that was created on another system?

[yankee34]

Yes?, I have 2 Identical Laptops, 1 is passed its best so the plan was to move the hard etc etc etc....... Edited August 2, 2008 by yankee34

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I wish it was so easy Yankee.

 

Taking the drive out of the first machine to put in the second simply won't work because the system parameters will have changed and therefore XP will not recognise the other laptop.

 

As XP has already been installed on the first laptop you will have to obtain a new copy to install on the second laptop even though you are using the hard drive from the first laptop.

[yankee34]

Many thanks, does this mean that the Hard Drives, are not beyond use, if so, I think I'm right in what you've said "purchase another copy of xp & it should load on either of the my 2 existing Drive's ? is there any thing else I can do....

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I'm a bit confused here Yankee, you have 2 laptop with 2 removable hard drives, have you installed XP on both those drives or something?

 

It sounds like 1 of the drives is dead on it's feet, is the other one ok?

[yankee34]

yes both Drives have XP loaded on them & both were working fine, my kids bought one each so they keep their stuff seperate, it's only been since I was setting up the Wifi connection etc, on the newer laptop, I got the system memory dump message then nothing....

[Guest Wolfeymole]

We are drifting off course here Yankee.

 

Let us speak of the Time laptop upon which the hard drive has no active partitions, this would be correct yes?

 

If this is the case then the hard drive has died and you need to install a new hard drive, NOT the hard drive from the other laptop ok.

 

You then need to install a version of windows that was originally on there via obtaining it from Time or via a new copy.

[yankee34]

Right I see what & were to go, many thanks for the moment.. Please don't go far as I will probably require your help again...

 

Thanks...Yankee 34

[yankee34]

Wolfeymole: tried all of the above & I'm no further on? I purchased a new hard drive & a new copy of windows xp, the o/s starts to load then it asks me to set a partition this I attempt but am not allowed to go any further, the first screen shows "unpartioned space" I attempt to create a new partition but am thrown back to the first screen, I attempt to load windows without a partition, again totally unsuccessfully, am I missing something???

[Seth]

Wolfeymole: tried all of the above & I'm no further on? I purchased a new hard drive & a new copy of windows xp, the o/s starts to load then it asks me to set a partition this I attempt but am not allowed to go any further, the first screen shows "unpartioned space" I attempt to create a new partition but am thrown back to the first screen, I attempt to load windows without a partition, again totally unsuccessfully, am I missing something???

 

No, you were correct in suggesting a motherboard problem. That was evident when you tried to install XP by numerous means on a working hard drive.

 

Look at the hard drive connector and make sure it's clean with no bent pins. Then go into the bios (setup) and restore the defaults. Make sure you save the changes before exiting. Then try the XP install on a known working drive. If it still doesn't work, you're in a whole new ball game.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

If you bought a brand new hard drive Yankee you must first format it either manually or via a new install.

 

What size is the drive and what size was the unpartitioned space?

 

I'm betting it equalled the whole drive size so depending on how much space you want to allocate to Windows you must format that partition to be Active.

 

You must also set the initial boot option to the cdrom drive so it can find the install files on the disk.

[yankee34]

Cheers guys for response's : Seth, I've already tried this & it didn't make a difference, what next, is the board saveable....

wolfeymole, yep I bought a 20gb & the unpartitioned space was 19736, I set intitial device to cd rom before attempting the new install, I've tried to format but get the bad command warning : help !!!!!!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

If the first boot option is the cdrom drive then make sure you save that setting in the bios and also making sure the XP disk is in the drive.

 

The next thing you should see are the words "Press any key to boot from cd"

 

DO NOT press any key to boot from cd when it asks again.

[yankee34]

ok : guys & girls, I bought yet another laptop & have been able to partition & install windows xp on both of my hard drives (which I believed were dead), both are now working like a dream.. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem was with my other laptop, I've again attempted to use a new hard drive & new copy of windows xp & it will not allow me to partition the drive or go any further with the installation??????????

[Guest Wolfeymole]

From Post #18

 

I've tried to format but get the bad command warning

 

What did that warning say exactly Yankee?