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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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I'm here again - which means I'm the cr*p with my comp again!
Dell Inspiron 1525 (my stepson's) Model PP29L, running Vista with 120gig HD and 1gb RAM (as Dell sold it!).
This Laptop suddenly refused to boot - immediately giving the message -
Windows Failed To Start - and a load of instructions on how to use the Windows Disc to fix it (which you don't get with a DEll !). On the same screen it says -
FILE\BOOT\BCD
Status 0xo000000f
An Error Occurred Whilst Reading BOOT Configuration.
Unable to get past this I decided to scrap Vista and load my XP Pro Disc on it. The trouble is that having set the boot to 'from CD', it goes through a process of loading files (into RAM I presume), then announces that there is no hard drive installed ! If I go into Setup at booting it shows the drive correctly as 120 gig.
Assuming the HD was messed up, I got an identical drive (but 200 gig) and fitted that. Same result - and yet Setup 'sees' it !
Has the motherboard failed? If so, can I install an HD in another way to get it to boot from?
Any ideas? (Other than selling it in bits on Ebay!)
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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BurrWalnut
Chippendaler
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3729
Loc: England
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XP
Boot from the XP CD and select the first repair option (R) which will take you to the Recovery Console.
Type fixboot c: (note the space) and press Enter. Restart the computer.
VISTA
Boot from the Vista DVD, answer a few questions, navigate to the Repair Option and choose Command Prompt, then:
Type BOOTREC /FIXMBR (the capitals are for clarity only) and press Enter.
Type BOOTREC /FIXBOOT (the capitals are for clarity only) and press Enter.
Restart the computer.
EDIT. I forgot that you don’t have a Vista DVD, you can download and create a Recovery Disk x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) here http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ After downloading the ISO image to your hard disk, burn it to a CD (a DVD is not necessary as the x86 (32-bit) version is 120MB and the x64 (64-bit) version is 148MB).
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The Chippendale Society
Edited by BurrWalnut (Thu Oct 15 2009 03:19 PM)
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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Cheers Burr Walnut - but no good I'm afraid.
Downloaded the x86 .iso (I assume that's the right one for a std Dell) and booted from it.
Selected 'Repair'
I put in the code as requested
and got the following message -
Cannot open E\Sources\Install.wim. The file does not exist. Error Code 0x80070002
(God I hate Windows !!)
Would the .wim file be on the HD? Although Setup can see the HD - I have a feeling that Windows can't.
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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BurrWalnut
Chippendaler
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3729
Loc: England
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1. I haven’t looked up the error message but the filename suggests it’s an install file, or the ISO burn is corrupted. You could try burning at a slower speed.
2. What is the code that you keyed in? This is the sequence of events when repairing and there is no requirement to enter a code:
Windows is loading files, select language, time/currency and keyboard and bottom left is Repair. Select Repair then select the OS to repair. The choices are Startup Repair, System Restore, Backup Restore, Memory Test and Command Prompt. You should choose Command Prompt and type the two bootrec commands above. You could also try chkdsk /r and also the Startup repair in the menu.
3. I’ve seen an F8 option on Dell that runs the recovery options. Try tapping F8 when you switch on.
4. If the above fails, try the XP CD and the Recovery Console.
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The Chippendale Society
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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In answer to the above - the code was the Windows Key Code (it asked for it). The sequence you describe is different to the one that came up - so I downloaded the other .iso and ran that.
This time it was you describe - I ran through the Command Prompt commands and both completed OK.
Did a restart - and it promptly went to the Repair Screen again - so I let it run that automatically. Another restart and it came up with the Welcome and then User Select Screen (Admin or John). Select John - and it says 'Preparing Desktop' and then 'Logging Off' and returns to the User Screen ! This continues (it seems) forever. It looks like the John profile has been corrupted.
If I select Admin it starts the comp - but there are no programs listed under all programs except Media Player - and that doesn't run! Even Windows explorer and Paint aren't there. Control Panel (add/remove progs) lists all the programmes though. Is it possible the comp is starting up using just memory?
I don't know if the Progs would show when the Administrator is logged in - but what worries me is that at no time during the whole process of the repair did it blink the HD light, and it doesn't blink on startup either.
It seems very odd.
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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spiraleye
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 243
Loc: Hither Green, London
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Quote:
Any ideas? (Other than selling it in bits on Ebay!)
If you are fed up with Windows, you could try using a Linux OS. Linux Mint can be downloaded and copied to a CD for free.
Windows being what it is, it doesn't recognise the existence of other OSs but Linux does and you should be able to boot from the CD to try it out (Your changes within Mint won't be saved). If you think it is better than nothing, you can click on Install to have it as your main OS and Windows won't bother you no more.
A lot of people are trying this with older PCs and laptops and are pleasantly surprised. Help forums are plentiful if you need advice. 
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BurrWalnut
Chippendaler
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3729
Loc: England
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Jimfuk
Several things that spring to mind:
1. Sometimes the Startup Repair has to be run several times.
2. Have you run chkdsk /r from the command prompt.
3. Have you tried setting up a new account when logged in as the administrator. You will be able to copy over your previous account's documents.
Keep us posted.
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The Chippendale Society
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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Ran chkdsk/r and it says -
The type of the file system is NTFS
Cannot lock current drive
Windows cannot run disc checking on this volume because it is write protected
I tried using the XP CD repair function (even though it's Vista) and it said no hard drive detected!
Also - if I let it just boot up by itself it has returned to the 'BOOTMNR is missing message - and yet last night it actually got the desktop.
Wierd!
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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Further to my comments above - I'm now certain that Windows can't 'see' the hard drive.
I looked on the Dell site and they list a problem with some seagate drives 'locking out'. I put the comps number in and it said it was unaffected.
Looks like I'm stuck.
The trouble is that F2 on startup shows the drive correctly - it just doesn't access it.
I pulled the drive out and started the computer - it then gave a message that the internal HD was not found - showing that the computer can 'see' it at least.
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
Edited by jimfuk (Fri Oct 16 2009 10:47 PM)
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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A bit more information for you -
Ran the Bios Diagnostics and it threw up - 'HD1 Self test Unsuccessful - Error 2000-0142 - Status 74'.
Also connected the drive to another laptop via USB reader and I can read the contents.
Fitting a new SATA drive and trying to load XP Pro gives a message of No C Drive Detected.
Wriggling the drive in its seating makes no difference.
I seem to be completely stuck now!
If the comp just can't detect the drive how on earth can I get it run? Is there any other way?
I'm not averse to taking it to bits - but am I likely to see a fault or have components or the power supply to the drive failed?
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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BurrWalnut
Chippendaler
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3729
Loc: England
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It may seem obvious but have you actually formatted the new drive?
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The Chippendale Society
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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Oh bugger - more later!
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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No go - formatted the drive on my XP desktop and put it in the Dell. Booted from XP CD and, after loading lots of files, it announced that no hard drive is present!
Once again the laptop never once blinked the C drive light.
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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RichieP
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4959
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There's a setting in the BIOS that you need to change.
I can't remember the exact wording but it's something to do with RAID. It needs to be set to IDE mode.
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 OK OK I can't go any faster! aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
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jimfuk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 241
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Brilliant Richie - loaded XP a treat. Hopefully that ends a rather long and tedious game with the Dell. Needless to say my stepson is overjoyed.
Many, many thanks.
Mark as resolved!
Jim.
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Never give an idiot anything that can't be used as a hammer.
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RichieP
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4959
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You're welcome. Glad you got it sorted.
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OK OK I can't go any faster! aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
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