OS/HD errors!!

S

scottsims1

New Member
So I have a Dell Dimension 8400 that I purchased a new HD for. I have had nothing but headaches trying to get this box up and running. Here is the scenario:
I bought a brand new HD (listed below) and have both XP and Win2k on cd. I tried to load XP and started off getting erros off the bat. A few great guys on here told me how to get past the errors around the HD and I got XP to go through the format process (though it told me my HD is a 130gig vs 500). I got through the format and the first reboot I get a NTLDR not installed error. I googled it and the fix was to copy over two files off the XP CD ( I think they were the ntldr and the ntdetect command.com). Well, same friggin error. I tried installing Win2k just for kicks, same deal. What in the World am I doing wromg folks? I have NEVER had issues doing such a basic job...
 
OK..I will paypal the 1st person who can provide a step by step soup to nuts guide to reformat my dimension 8400 with this HD and XP 25$.. I hope this entices help. I do not have a floppy drive FYI..
 
When you turn on the computer, hit ESC or whatever key you need to select to get into the computer BIOS.

On the first page of the BIOS, you should be able to see the hard drive properties listed. Ensure the properties match the drive you have installed.

If they aren't, you might have to rerun autoinstall or even manually enter the real data.

I see no data on the drive. Is it SATA or eIDE?
 
First off, you are only seeing 130GB of the 500GB drive because of the limitation. You must be using an XP disc with either no service packs or only SP1. I'd recommend downloading SP2 and SP3 and then slipstream the two service packs in.

http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd

If you still have issues installing it, I'd run a diag on the drive and make sure it's good. It doesn't happen too often, but sometimes drives arrive from the factory DOA.
 
It is a barracuda 500gig Sata HD. Ok let's make this more fun. Low and behold I went to check on it and Win2k loaded successfully. It ran past the format and all the way through the 2k install. Now this is funny right.. It gets better.. Follow me.. I finalize the install and it goes for the first reboot. I removed the CD since I shouldnt need it and was all prepared for the driver fun I was about to have. Ok ppl, check this out. The pc has power, I can hear the HD making noise the the CD drives spin, but no display nor power to keyboard or mouse. Can this really be happening? Any thoughts or should I just go put the thing 100 yards downrange and break out the rock river arms?
 
Probably just a resolution that the monitor won't support. Do you want to stay with Win2K or go with XP?
 
I just loaded Win2k for kicks. The display was fine up into and including the installation process. It was fine setting pc name, time/date, etc. It only died after the "finishing" reboot. And the nutty part is the keyboard/mouse doesnt get power now. Could a DOA HD produce this result? I read up on my HD, it is high middle end but should not have given me any of this issues (formatting was a BEAST and I had to trick it into formatting at all).
 
scottsims1 said:
I just loaded Win2k for kicks. The display was fine up into and including the installation process. It was fine setting pc name, time/date, etc. It only died after the "finishing" reboot. And the nutty part is the keyboard/mouse doesnt get power now. Could a DOA HD produce this result? I read up on my HD, it is high middle end but should not have given me any of this issues (formatting was a BEAST and I had to trick it into formatting at all).
Click to expand...

Reboot the machine. Just keep pressing F8 until a menu screen appears. Then choose "Enable VGA Mode"

scottsims1 said:
Sorry, wrong HDinfo. Here is what I have:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA/300 7200RPM 16MB Hard Drive
Click to expand...

Don't need that info.
 
Pressing F8 or any other key does nothing, the keyboard and mouse no longer retain power. The only time I ca neven see the lights illuminate on the keyboard is when I remove and replace the power cord. Could a HD produce this sort of issue?? Any other ideas? I thought about re-seating the video card, but since the keyboard/mouse do nothing I dont think it could be that. The USB lights for the mouse shows that it has power on the tower itself..
 
Just because the mouse lights up doesn't mean the power supply works 100%.

That is what this is sounding like now, a bad power supply.
 
The keyboard and mouse do NOT get power. It seems VERY strange that everything was fine right up into the after install reboot. Almost like something was changed during the install. I can power up/down the tower but the monitor, keyboard and mouse are dead.
 
scottsims1 said:
The keyboard and mouse do NOT get power. It seems VERY strange that everything was fine right up into the after install reboot. Almost like something was changed during the install. I can power up/down the tower but the monitor, keyboard and mouse are dead.
Click to expand...

Does the computer POST?
 
scottsims1 said:
The keyboard and mouse do NOT get power. It seems VERY strange that everything was fine right up into the after install reboot. Almost like something was changed during the install. I can power up/down the tower but the monitor, keyboard and mouse are dead.
Click to expand...

So the monitor is OFF even when you boot?
 
Since the monitor never displays, I am not sure if it posts or not. I would suspect not since I cannot hear the HD really do anything except make a very very low steady hum. The monitor goes from Off to "going into sleep mode".
 
Since the monitor never displays, I am not sure if it posts or not. I would suspect not since I cannot hear the HD really do anything except make a very very low steady hum. The monitor goes from Off to "going into sleep mode". Again just so you know everything worked fine while I was going through the install process. I was able to select date, time etc. and it wasnt until the final reboot everything went Black... And the keyboard mouse issue is driving me crazy...
 
scottsims1 said:
Since the monitor never displays, I am not sure if it posts or not. I would suspect not since I cannot hear the HD really do anything except make a very very low steady hum. The monitor goes from Off to "going into sleep mode".
Click to expand...

Try a different monitor... it could be your Motherboard also
 
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