Dell computer Help

CCPS

CCPS

New Member
I got a dell computer running 512 and about 150 hdd. i switch hdds and cleaned the old one. well when i get to install windows vista or xp it says this blow in this picture:
dell.jpg

then i cant boot anything up. I have NO FLOOPY it didnt come with one. so i thought i could install and boot from cd but i was wrong. i dont know if there a reformat the bios or something please help.

computer picture:
dell2.jpg
 
Did you remember to change the boot order in the bios to see your cd/dvd listed as the first boot device? If you simply reformatted a drive and left the boot order set for the hard drive the failure to find boot device would be automatic. Once you boot from the Windows installation disk the installer will partition if needed and format the detected drive to copy the installation files onto.

Upon the eventual restart Windows will then be seen in the installation phase. But you will probably need to reassign the hard drive then as the first in the boot order to see the installation completed. Don't forget the board drivers once Windows is up and running.
 
i tryed but still getting that error. i dont know what to do . i dont want to buy a hole new board if there a way. but the problem is when i set up the bios for the cd rom it says CD rom not installed but it is . i dont know.
 
no i dont have a floopy drive , so that means i gotta reformat it again. because my dell never came with one . so i dont know its checking for one.
 
When you swapped hard drives what position was the old drive's jumper set at? Was it seen at master or cable select? If you have the jumper set wrong that would explain why the bios isn't detecting the hard drive. Also recheck the ide cables to see if those are plugged in correctly.

The hard drive should be seen at the end of the primary set as master or cable select with the optical drive set as slave on the middle connector. If the optical is on the secondary cable as a stand alone it should be at the end and set to master there.
 
And because you have no floppy drive, you have to make sure it's set to "Disabled" in the BIOS. Otherwise it will always search for a floppy.
 
You wouldn't necessarily disable floppy controllers only the floppy search setting in the bios to prevent wear and tear on the drive as well trying to load anything on a disk you happen to leave in the drive instead of booting the OS.

If the jumpers on the drives are set correctly you may a plug pulled out a little not to be noticed or simply need a new cable. Ribbon cables are notorious for quitting on you without warning. Even some cheapie round cables aren't that good either from what I've seen. :P
 
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