You need to go into Setup (bios) by pressing F2 at the first Dell screen and put the cd drive first in the boot order so you can boot to the Windows cd and do a repair, reinstallation or use the Recovery Console to check and repair your hard drive and boot record. Instructions to enter the bios are in your online manual
here. How to use the Recovery Console is
here. Here is more reading about your problem:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822800
Before you use MaryG's good suggestions, reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Go to Utilities partition and run the extended hard drive tests. Make note of any error messages.
Thank you both for replying to help me. Really bad trying to do these tests here. I've just started the Extended test again for the second time. Running of the Express test resulted in quite a bit of Error codes such as:
IDE device failed-Incompatible CD for testing Error Code: 0F00:133D
(Incompatible CD?? This is the Dell Diagnostics CD??)
Error: 0F00:1344
Msg Block 232044304 Uncorrectable Data Error or Media is Write Protected (Had quite a few of these)
Error Code: 0F00:1332- Time out waiting for reply
Another write protected 0F00:1344
I had to stop the Express test with 93% completed due to this Error Code: 0F00:1344 Write protected it wouldn't let me continue the test, kept repeated the same error message over and over. With no recourse to skip and continue.
Mind you..this Express Test took a couple of hours.
In running the first Extensive test...forgive me but I've not clue where the "Hot Keys" were located and just bypassed that one.
Testing in the Floppy Drive A, formatted diskette resulted in inserting a second one before I could get the test to continue--the first one resulted in this error:
1100:0121-System Disk BIOS operation failed with error code of 02h
Inserting another floppy and the testing continued.
IDE CDRW test, Error: 0F00:0244 Uncorrectable data error or media write protected
Was able to get past this only to get another error code a half hour later that was blasting write protected over and over... I unfortunately hit "no" for the continuation and that's all she wrote. I am now doing this all over again and doubt I'll get past this point.
Am I headed into a computer hard drive that's no longer? This is so frustrating especially because the desktop hadn't been turned on for a couple of days and then all of a sudden with one stroke...
Some of those error codes are caused because you don't have a CD in the optical drive.
Keep it simple, just run the Extended Hard Drive test from the Utilities partition. Or go here and download Dell's 90/90 hard drive test onto a bootable floppy disk. Boot from the floppy and run the test on the hard drive.
Hi Ron, many thanks again for helping me--it's very much appreciated!
Right now I'm working off my Apple iBook G4 laptop and unfortunately do not have a floppy in this machine. What I'll try to do is run over to my local library and try to copy the floppy from the Dell site where you sent me to and attempt a copy from there and do a bootable disk. If there is another way with the Apple and you can push me there it'll be great, otherwise I'm hitting the library as soon as it opens and I'll post back with my results. Thanks again :)
That link also gives you the files to create a bootable CD with the 90/90 hard drive tests, but I suspect you'll need to do it on a PC (I know nothing about Mac!).
<>Maybe you can burn the CD on a Windows PC in the office? Ssssh - don't tell the boss I said that. ;)
I have the diskette running but ran into a problem with it being for Windows 95 and I have XP...I had a hard time at the library finding the "Download" and did a search for the exe file a couple of times before I got a direct download.
It's in the hard drive now--am I in trouble for running this?
Update...I must be challenged to do this, I couldn't get the diskette to run a Hard Drive Diagnostics, it went a couple of minutes and then just stopped with an A: blinking cursor???? I'm stuck :(
Initially it said: Device Initialization Failed-System Not Recognized
Ron, trust me I'm really not trying to make this hard ;) at this point you are my only hope. Imagine how frustrated I am, I have a nephew who works for the Geek Squad and was praying he would be able to come down here and fix the stupid thing. He only gave me a couple of choices as I followed by removing the darn Logitech Webcam USB cord. I'll be throwing that thing into the ocean. I also unplugged the Printer USB so that only the mouse, keyboard, monitor and my DSL are connected. If I don't have the DSL--there goes the wireless to the laptop here for help. My nephew said to run the Windows Repair or do a re-install of Windows. I'd "really" rather wait to see if all my options are exhausted here and trust me I'm not looking at doing a re-install with 5 years of updates and SP2 :smileysurprised:
I try to do everything by the letter with advice and instructions--if I don't understand something I'll research it here on Google. I am really feeling helpless and hate to have to throw this hard drive in the garbage :(
I also feel bad 'cause I think this thread should possibly be in the Hard Drive section? But you couldn't imagine how thankful I am to have at least this help!!!
I know, I know...PCs can be such a pain in the [censored]!
While you're waiting to see if any of the smart people around here have suggestions, you could go to the Western Digital website and plug in the model of your hard drive. They should have a specific diagnostic utility that you can run from a floppy or CD.
When you went to the Dell utilities partition on this hard drive, wasn't there a separate listing on the first menu for the extended hard drive test? Or if you ran the hardware tests, wasn't there an option to run only a specific test so you could choose the hard drive, and you won't get unrelated errors?
If it were me, I would start with a replacement of the hard drive data cable. If there is another device connected to the same data cable as the hard drive, disconnect it temporarily.
Then boot from a XP CD, enter the recovery console, and see if the recovery console can see the drive, if it does, try a fixmbr, see #7 in this article
Normally initializing a hard drive is done prior to partition and format, so if you re-initialize a drive, it will wipe all data and partition structures, so this initialization error tells me the MBR is damaged and unrecognizable, the data cable is bad or the drive has some sort of damage to the electronics and cannot communicate properly with the hard drive controller on the motherboard.
Last night I did a Custom Test on both the Hard Drive and System Memory. System Memory passed. The Device Self Test on the Hard Drive passed. The following did not due to the same error codes as mentioned before: Confidence Test, Read Test, Seek Test, S.M.A.R.T test and the Verify Test. All of those were aborted by "Test Exiting" IDE Device failed-Timeout waiting for drive not busy 0F00:0228 or 0F00:0462 Device Initialization Failed-Test Exiting. Test took 4 hours only to start getting the same blocks and error codes I received before on both Extended Test and Express.
I will check Western Digital and then will just run the Windows Recovery Console-Repair and see what happens. Only problem is I'm not 100% what to do other than check the fixmbr mombodog posted. Unfortunately I don't have the $$ to get another Hard Drive data cable. If I get anywhere I'll post what happens. I guess I should be happy that I got 2 more years off this Dell system than I got on the HP.
The SATA HD data cable, at places like newegg, is typically less than $10. Maybe you can buy one from a store that has a good return policy, so you can test it out and return if it doesn't fix the problem?
It's going to cost a bit more if you need to replace the hard drive... :(
Mary G
4 Operator
•
20.1K Posts
0
May 2nd, 2008 14:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
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May 3rd, 2008 02:00
Before you use MaryG's good suggestions, reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Go to Utilities partition and run the extended hard drive tests. Make note of any error messages.
Ron
journee
31 Posts
0
May 3rd, 2008 18:00
Update on second run of the Extensive Tests--could not advance any further and testing was exited by command. This was as far as I got:
SATA Disk S/N = WD-WMAET1447266 Testing 0000064768 of 0234374999
Various Error Codes:
0F00:1A28
Msg. Code: 64768 Timeout waiting for drive not busy
Timeout waiting for IRQ
92% Overall Progress
IDE device failed-timeout
Test exiting Error Code- 0F00:1A62
Msg. Device initialization failed.
Can I assume the 4600 hard drive is toast?
Thanks for any help :(
journee
31 Posts
0
May 3rd, 2008 18:00
Thank you both for replying to help me. Really bad trying to do these tests here. I've just started the Extended test again for the second time. Running of the Express test resulted in quite a bit of Error codes such as:
IDE device failed-Incompatible CD for testing Error Code: 0F00:133D
(Incompatible CD?? This is the Dell Diagnostics CD??)
Error: 0F00:1344
Msg Block 232044304 Uncorrectable Data Error or Media is Write Protected (Had quite a few of these)
Error Code: 0F00:1332- Time out waiting for reply
Another write protected 0F00:1344
I had to stop the Express test with 93% completed due to this Error Code: 0F00:1344 Write protected it wouldn't let me continue the test, kept repeated the same error message over and over. With no recourse to skip and continue.
Mind you..this Express Test took a couple of hours.
In running the first Extensive test...forgive me but I've not clue where the "Hot Keys" were located and just bypassed that one.
Testing in the Floppy Drive A, formatted diskette resulted in inserting a second one before I could get the test to continue--the first one resulted in this error:
1100:0121-System Disk BIOS operation failed with error code of 02h
Inserting another floppy and the testing continued.
IDE CDRW test, Error: 0F00:0244 Uncorrectable data error or media write protected
Was able to get past this only to get another error code a half hour later that was blasting write protected over and over... I unfortunately hit "no" for the continuation and that's all she wrote. I am now doing this all over again and doubt I'll get past this point.
Am I headed into a computer hard drive that's no longer? This is so frustrating especially because the desktop hadn't been turned on for a couple of days and then all of a sudden with one stroke...
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
May 3rd, 2008 21:00
Some of those error codes are caused because you don't have a CD in the optical drive.
Keep it simple, just run the Extended Hard Drive test from the Utilities partition. Or go here and download Dell's 90/90 hard drive test onto a bootable floppy disk. Boot from the floppy and run the test on the hard drive.
Ron
journee
31 Posts
0
May 4th, 2008 13:00
Hi Ron, many thanks again for helping me--it's very much appreciated!
Right now I'm working off my Apple iBook G4 laptop and unfortunately do not have a floppy in this machine. What I'll try to do is run over to my local library and try to copy the floppy from the Dell site where you sent me to and attempt a copy from there and do a bootable disk. If there is another way with the Apple and you can push me there it'll be great, otherwise I'm hitting the library as soon as it opens and I'll post back with my results. Thanks again :)
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
May 4th, 2008 23:00
That link also gives you the files to create a bootable CD with the 90/90 hard drive tests, but I suspect you'll need to do it on a PC (I know nothing about Mac!).
<>Maybe you can burn the CD on a Windows PC in the office? Ssssh - don't tell the boss I said that. ;)
Ron
journee
31 Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 14:00
I have the diskette running but ran into a problem with it being for Windows 95 and I have XP...I had a hard time at the library finding the "Download" and did a search for the exe file a couple of times before I got a direct download.
It's in the hard drive now--am I in trouble for running this?
journee
31 Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 14:00
Update...I must be challenged to do this, I couldn't get the diskette to run a Hard Drive Diagnostics, it went a couple of minutes and then just stopped with an A: blinking cursor???? I'm stuck :(
Initially it said: Device Initialization Failed-System Not Recognized
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 17:00
You're not making this easy... :(
Hang on, I've called in the experts for some further suggestions.
Ron
journee
31 Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 18:00
Ron, trust me I'm really not trying to make this hard ;) at this point you are my only hope. Imagine how frustrated I am, I have a nephew who works for the Geek Squad and was praying he would be able to come down here and fix the stupid thing. He only gave me a couple of choices as I followed by removing the darn Logitech Webcam USB cord. I'll be throwing that thing into the ocean. I also unplugged the Printer USB so that only the mouse, keyboard, monitor and my DSL are connected. If I don't have the DSL--there goes the wireless to the laptop here for help. My nephew said to run the Windows Repair or do a re-install of Windows. I'd "really" rather wait to see if all my options are exhausted here and trust me I'm not looking at doing a re-install with 5 years of updates and SP2 :smileysurprised:
I try to do everything by the letter with advice and instructions--if I don't understand something I'll research it here on Google. I am really feeling helpless and hate to have to throw this hard drive in the garbage :(
I also feel bad 'cause I think this thread should possibly be in the Hard Drive section? But you couldn't imagine how thankful I am to have at least this help!!!
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 18:00
I know, I know...PCs can be such a pain in the [censored]!
While you're waiting to see if any of the smart people around here have suggestions, you could go to the Western Digital website and plug in the model of your hard drive. They should have a specific diagnostic utility that you can run from a floppy or CD.
When you went to the Dell utilities partition on this hard drive, wasn't there a separate listing on the first menu for the extended hard drive test? Or if you ran the hardware tests, wasn't there an option to run only a specific test so you could choose the hard drive, and you won't get unrelated errors?
Ron
mombodog
2 Intern
•
12.7K Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 19:00
If it were me, I would start with a replacement of the hard drive data cable. If there is another device connected to the same data cable as the hard drive, disconnect it temporarily.
Then boot from a XP CD, enter the recovery console, and see if the recovery console can see the drive, if it does, try a fixmbr, see #7 in this article
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6031733.html
Normally initializing a hard drive is done prior to partition and format, so if you re-initialize a drive, it will wipe all data and partition structures, so this initialization error tells me the MBR is damaged and unrecognizable, the data cable is bad or the drive has some sort of damage to the electronics and cannot communicate properly with the hard drive controller on the motherboard.
Run diagnostics on your memory also.
journee
31 Posts
0
May 6th, 2008 11:00
Last night I did a Custom Test on both the Hard Drive and System Memory. System Memory passed. The Device Self Test on the Hard Drive passed. The following did not due to the same error codes as mentioned before: Confidence Test, Read Test, Seek Test, S.M.A.R.T test and the Verify Test. All of those were aborted by "Test Exiting" IDE Device failed-Timeout waiting for drive not busy 0F00:0228 or 0F00:0462 Device Initialization Failed-Test Exiting. Test took 4 hours only to start getting the same blocks and error codes I received before on both Extended Test and Express.
I will check Western Digital and then will just run the Windows Recovery Console-Repair and see what happens. Only problem is I'm not 100% what to do other than check the fixmbr mombodog posted. Unfortunately I don't have the $$ to get another Hard Drive data cable. If I get anywhere I'll post what happens. I guess I should be happy that I got 2 more years off this Dell system than I got on the HP.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
May 6th, 2008 16:00
The SATA HD data cable, at places like newegg, is typically less than $10. Maybe you can buy one from a store that has a good return policy, so you can test it out and return if it doesn't fix the problem?
It's going to cost a bit more if you need to replace the hard drive... :(
Ron