computer will boot from absolutely nothing

T

tmurphy12

New Member
i recieved a persons computer running win 2000, they were recieving the inaccessible boot device error...the computer would boot to windows 2000 and go through the first black and white screen with the progress bar on the bottom,...get past there and go to the second screen which displays the 2000 logo, is in color and has the progress bar on the bottom, once there it will get someway through and go to the blue inaccessible boot device screen....i put in winerd to check out the hdd and was unable to boot from...this copy is bootable and would boot on other boxes...ive tried floppies cds nothing will boot...keeps saying searching for boot record...not found....
ive rearranged cables, tried with somethings unplugged and nothing...ANY help would be greatly appreciated
 
It sounds like a bios problem where the drves are not being seen by the bios itself. With an older system something like this will usually happen if the lithium battery on the board grows weak or the bios simply needs a good update.
 
The bios showing the drives is a good sign there. It means the drive cables are good and a running floppy show the bios cloppy contoller is working normally. You will have to check to see if the drive is mastered at the end of the cable. If that is set correctly try the cable select position.

You may have to try the "fdisk /mbr" command at the dos prompt after booting from a startup floppy. The master boot record could be the problem there. If the battery on the board itself is weak that can see boot up and other startup problems as well. The age, make, and model of the system as well as the make and model hard drive could help here.
 
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