Major Problem reinstalling windows

E

Empress

New Member
My computer was really slow (Win XP was having frequent total freeze so something isn't right) so I put in the System Restore disk (IBM) to erase everything. Halfway through that, I get Write error. Ever since that, I just keep on getting "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk And Press Enter". I put in the WINXP PRO disk (which was supposed to be bootable) but I get the same message. I tried FDISK and it keeps on doing that Verifying disk integrity thing [it'll go from 0% to 100% then all over again repeating infinitely]. Now it's telling me master hard disk failed in the initial screen.

Anything I could do to fix this or does this mean my HD is gone?

HELP! :(
 
My computer was really slow (Win XP was having frequent total freeze so something isn't right) so I put in the System Restore disk (IBM) to erase everything. Halfway through that, I get Write error. Ever since that, I just keep on getting "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk And Press Enter
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Ok what happened was that when you start the installation, it formats your drive (i.e., everything gone) and starts to copy WindowsXP to your computer. Only if the installtion completes successfully can your computer boot all on its own. SInce it failed, only "half" of the files were copied thus meaning you cant boot (and explainign why you get those error messages)

I put in the WINXP PRO disk (which was supposed to be bootable) but I get the same message. I tried FDISK and it keeps on doing that Verifying disk integrity thing [it'll go from 0% to 100% then all over again repeating infinitely]. Now it's telling me master hard disk failed in the initial screen.
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You can try to install WindowsXP again although I think the drive might have failed. Would it be possible to try the drive on a different computer? :)

Anything I could do to fix this or does this mean my HD is gone?
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Your HD might be permanently gone but dont give up yet, it's the worst case with a whole bunch of stops along the way there where you can save your data/drive. :)
 
Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately no second comp I can try it on. I tried to reinstall XP again but when I put in the XP CD, it won't detect it (as it's supposed to auto boot with the XP disc).

Data is not as issue as I saved it all already. I just want to make it a working comp again. :(

Any ideas what I can do next? Thanks again.
 
(as it's supposed to auto boot with the XP disc).
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Autoboot? Make sure the bios is configured to boot off the cd before the hdd because when you installed the first time and some of the files were copied, enough files were copied so that the drives can begin to boot but not enough files for it to completely boot.

As for your drive, with the master drive failure, I suspect the drive has indeed failed (meaning a new drive). Can BIOS detect it or does it not even get that far?
 
The BIOS can't detect it. I tried auto detect and it shows 'none'. The other thing is when I did FDISK, it wasn't successful (keep on going 0%-100%) so I don't even have a C:\ or D:\ ... yet. So I am guessing the first installation didn't copy any files at all and it corrupted my HD.

P.S I did configure it to boot off CD before HD. I get something like ATARI CD ROM BOOT: Failure.
 
Unfortunately i think its safe to say the drive is toasted. You can try connecting the drive to another IDE channel and/or using a different cable. Another thought: do you have a lot of devices on the same power cable as the one powering the HDD ... heavy fluctuating power is bad for hdds and that actually might be the problem :)
 
you could try getting a low level format utility online thats designed for your type of hard drive. it will usually allow you also to run a test and determine if anything is funky. even if it does or does not i would try to low level format it and then run fdisk. if that doesnt work im pretty sure its toast like praetor said.
 
Sheesh I forgot all about low level formats! (it's been awhile since ive played with SCSI heehe). Good call! :)
 
if you have 2 cd drives insert your cd in the second one. like praetor said you need to
go to the bios and set cd as default boot drive and save that seetings.

if it fails again goto autodedect drives.

it does'nt make sense to get another hd while you don't have any access to your cd cuz you'll need it anyway for your xp cd. solve your cd problem that will clean the other too.
 
i am thinking there is somthing wrong with your xp disk(s) a scaratch or somthhing so it cant detect it try cleaning it with somthing i normally breath on it really hard like exhale and it creates fog! whoa and then wipe it off i doubt that is the issue but its worth a shot
 
Thanks guys. I have a CD ROM but not a floppy. The setting is currently detect CD Rom first but it still doesn't work. :(

Might have to try the low level format.
 
The drive might not necessarily be toasted, I had a virus that did exactly that to me, it prevented me from reinstalling XP, and no matter how I tired XP pro wouldn't complete the install.

I solved it by using an old copy of Win98 SE, which I used to reformat my hard disk to fat32 , I installed Win98 and then restarted my attempts with windows XP Pro and it worked like a charm. I've reinstalled XP a couple of times since then with no Problems. BTW, make sure your install disc is clean or undamaged.
 
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