Hi. When my computer starts up I get an "error auto-sensing secondary master hard disk drive". then it gives me options to run diagnostics, try again or see some complicated system menu operated by arrows only. I ran the diagnostic and it said it couldn't find anything.
I am able to get the computer to start up if I unplug to shut off and then plug back in and start it up. When done like this, it starts up correctly.
A tech at work said the computer is about to fail and to replace the hard drive. so i backed up my computer, got a new hard drive, and put it in. As soon as I turned the computer on I got the same error message. I thought maybe it needed to have the os software installed, so I used the reinstallation cd for vista. It installed, but everything looked funny, and nothing really worked. It couldn't find the internet card, etc.
I then tried to install the drivers, but I got an error message that there were missing files. It was a long and complicated message that I didn't understand.
At this point, I had to put the old drive back in in order to use my computer at all.
FYI, this computer came with XP and Vista installed. I opted to start with Vista for the reinstallation this time. Do you think that is possibly the problem? That maybe the computer is looking for information that is on the XP disc? Keep in mind, the Vista cd is not an upgrade but a full install.
I thought I would try to install XP but didn't know how to get rid of Vista first (off the new hard drive).
So a couple questions:
What do you think the original problem is and was a new hard drive the answer?
How do I get rid of Vista on the new hard drive so that I can install xP and will that work do you think?
thanks everyone
I am able to get the computer to start up if I unplug to shut off and then plug back in and start it up. When done like this, it starts up correctly.
A tech at work said the computer is about to fail and to replace the hard drive. so i backed up my computer, got a new hard drive, and put it in. As soon as I turned the computer on I got the same error message. I thought maybe it needed to have the os software installed, so I used the reinstallation cd for vista. It installed, but everything looked funny, and nothing really worked. It couldn't find the internet card, etc.
I then tried to install the drivers, but I got an error message that there were missing files. It was a long and complicated message that I didn't understand.
At this point, I had to put the old drive back in in order to use my computer at all.
FYI, this computer came with XP and Vista installed. I opted to start with Vista for the reinstallation this time. Do you think that is possibly the problem? That maybe the computer is looking for information that is on the XP disc? Keep in mind, the Vista cd is not an upgrade but a full install.
I thought I would try to install XP but didn't know how to get rid of Vista first (off the new hard drive).
So a couple questions:
What do you think the original problem is and was a new hard drive the answer?
How do I get rid of Vista on the new hard drive so that I can install xP and will that work do you think?
thanks everyone