Problem Installing Windows XP on new SSD for Dell Mini 9

Question

I bought a new 16GB SSD for the mini 9 because the old one all of sudden stopped working and I got the dreaded Operating System not found error.

I used the Windows XP restore CD to reinstall windows and I went through the process and when it went to reboot it came back with operating system not found.

When checking in Bios it does recognize the SSD and I think windows is on the SSD because I tried a second time to install widows and it told me that there was already a folder and installing windows again could be bad. So I choose the delete partition and reinstall and I chose the one for NTSF partition or something to that effect. And still unable to boot the computer into windows.

I am alright with computers but not an expert so I think I must be missing something.

Any help with the is issue is greatly appreciated.

Thanks In advance

LaptopKnight · Answer

When you're booting there are no other devices connected to the mini except the hard drive and the hard drive is set to boot first?

If that's true then it can't read from the boot sector on the hard drive and considering you tried two drives now it sounds the motherboard or BIOS is screwy.

jukus · Answer

Yes, that is the case nothing plugged into the mini. And the Bios is set for hard drive to boot first.

My current Bios is A04, there are updates available. Is there a way to update the bios without being able to boot the computer?

LaptopKnight · Answer

You might be able to boot a BIOS update from a USB drive: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/servers/f/956/t/19168993.aspx

But if SSDs were working before with A04 this sounds more like a hardware defect.

PudgyOne · Answer

jukus,   Try...   How to Run the Dell™ Diagnostics Utility   This should show up any problems. The extensive will take longer.     Rick

jukus · Answer

Thanks for all of the advice. I was able to finally solve the problem after about 5 days. I had no idea you had to enable a new hard drive in the BIOS. I was fooling around with it and noticed that it was disabled. Once I changed that everything worked fine.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.

mouchamiel · Answer

Mini Dell in - Inspiron 910

I realize this is an old post - but I have exactly the same problem, windows xp was working fine for 1 year until OS not found. reformating/reinstall was not possible

I bought a new SDD thinking mine was defective.. After re-installing fresh new windows from Dell install disk, windows was working fine I just need to re-install the drivers to go to the internet.

upon rebooting (wired laptop since the battery is dead)- OS not found. it appeared after repair that windows was installed but some booting file may have been damaged ?). repair did work and windows was working fine again- .

but rebooting recreated the problem. OS not found so I am asking: you are suggesting flashing the bios may not help and is possibly a Mobo failure?

or could it be a virus in the bios? in that case would flashing be helping?

(FYI : after that problem I retried re-install windows on the OLD SDD . it worked- Windows was running again !!!- but upon rebooting and OS not found was now refused to reformat- suggesting a bad drive...( not on the new one - yet ..) so the previous SDD may have been damaged indeed.

thanks

Pierre

mouchamiel · Answer

I went to Delll support to find the driver download page but it won't let me open the page, only the useless manual.

I call support to send me the file but I was told it would cost me an additional $50. thanks a lot Dell.

without driver I cannot reach the internet anyway with that particular laptop, finally, I tryed to set up the bios to zero and to my surprise windows was recognized. ... I bought a new SDD for nothing I guess...

so problem solved!

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Problem Installing Windows XP on new SSD for Dell Mini 9

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