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83172
October 3rd, 2009 08:00
Dell Dimension 2400 lost operating system, primary drive not found, cannot boot from CD, cannot format C drive, cannot reinstall windowsXP.
I think I need a lot of help.
I think my computer got a virus somewhere along the line and it was freezing at the desktop with no icons or task bar. The only way to do anything was to Ctl-alt-del, to get the task manager to open. From there I could view all my files but could not access anything.
I tried to install Norton Internet Security 2010 from disk, did a scan, but it did not pick up anything.
In sheer desperation to get something to happen, I have been trying to repair the Windows XP program but that hasn't been working either.
Now the machine won't go past the Boot device menu which I get when I press F12 on start up.
I choose option 4 IDE CD-Rom Device with the Xp disk in the drive, but it just goes back to the message - Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility. Nothing happens when I press F1 and F2 just takes me back to setup, I am going nowhere.
My machine is a basket case and I am quickly becoming one too!
My only concern is that I have an internal storage drive E, which I hope has not been affected with all this mucking around.
My Drive configuration settings in setup are:
Primary Master Drive......Hard Drive (which is actually my storage drive; it doesn't have the operating system on it)
Primary Slave Drive........Unknown Device ...Drive type....auto (is this my drive c with the operating system on it?)
Secondary Master drive....CD-Rom Device...Drive type...auto
Secondary Slave drive.....Off
Are these settings OK?
Has my drive c and drive e changed places?
Have I wiped my drive e???
I need help please.
Mary G
4 Operator
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20.1K Posts
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October 3rd, 2009 10:00
You must have the operating system installed on your main hard drive, which is Drive 0. Primary Master Drive. If the computer doesn't find the OS on that drive, you cannot boot. When the drive without the OS is listed first in the boot order, Windows will stop looking for the boot files. Enter Setup (bios) by pressing F2 and and check the Boot Order and rearrange. You could put the cd drive first ahead of the hard drives and then try to reinstall windows on the correct drive. Your best bet is to get help from someone.
knavester
2 Posts
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October 3rd, 2009 17:00
Hi Mary, in Bios. Primary Master drive is showing my storage drive, Primary Slave drive is showing unknown device (on auto). In boot sequence, I have tried to boot from the CD Device, but I am ending up at the same message..F1 to continue, F2 setup etc, but nothing happens when i hit F1.
joekbit
5 Posts
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January 2nd, 2010 07:00
Hi
I am having the exact same problem. So far I have not resolved the issue. If you have could you pleas send me the solution. Whats even funnier is my problem started about the same time as yours.
Thanks
joekbit
5 Posts
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January 3rd, 2010 09:00
Joe here again
I found the solution to your problem and mine. You have a corrupted boot sector on your hard drive. Restart your system and enter the boot menu by pressing F12 repetaedly as soon as the dell logo comes up. Select your CD drive from the menu and insert the XP CD then restart the system. It will then boot from your CD. You want to enter the recovery console by pressing "R" In short you must get to the C:> prompt. This procedure is for advanced users but don't be intimidated it really is quite simple. At the C prompt you will need to type the command FIXBOOT, It may require FIXBOOT / C:, . It will repair the boot sector on the hard drive. You can type "HELP" and it will list the commands. When I did it the system gave me a message stating that my boot sector was in fact corrupted and it repaired it.
This link has the instructions
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
FIXBOOT
Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system partition. In the command syntax, drive name is the drive letter where the boot sector will be written. This command fixes damage in the Windows boot sector. This command overrides the default setting, which writes to the system boot partition. The fixboot command is supported only on x86-based computers.