srclarkla

Error Code 0F00:136C, usually refers to 'blank media or no media is present in optical drive'. The optical drive requires a blank disc inserted, for the drive to be tested.

Try running Dell diagnostic's extended test, read, write, verify, on the hard drive, not the quickie express test.

Bev.


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Thanks Bev, for the quick reply.  I have done that, and all of the tests pass, indicating that the media is there, and I am sure that it is not blank.  I have a feeling that the boot sector has somehow been corrupted.

 

I took a quick lunch break and I am in the process of running the diagnostic again, this time in the cumstomize mode.  So far it has passed the confidence test, self test, read test, seek test, S.M.A.R.T. test and is working on verify test.

 

Stan

Hi Stan,

 

Bev was referring to your optical drive (CD, DVD, etc) on the error.  The error was related to the optical drive not the hard drive.

 

Where you able to boot into Windows after you removed the external device?

Hi Ryan (and Bev),

 

I am sorry for the confusion.  I did find out that the reason for the failure was that I did not have a disk in the second cd drive from which the program needed to read.

All HD and memory diagnostics say that the HD is OK.

It seems that I need to re-install the HD controller. Unfortunately, the setup menu says that it is BIOS controlled.  The BIOS does tell me that I have a Maxtor internal and describes it properly.

I have contacted Maxtor and I am waiting on their reply to find out what they suggest.

No, removing the external drive did not do anything.  I am at bare bones with just the mouse, keyboard and monitor connected.  I have tried a DOS startup disk, but even booting with it, the HD is not recognized.

 I even went to the Geek Squad to ask what they recommend.  Startup disk on a floppy with a new driver was the answer that they gave.

 

I am still open to suggestions.

 

Thanks for the response.

 

Stan

 

Stan,

 

If you're referring to Windows Setup claiming no hard drive then you're probably in AHCI mode and would need to obtain the AHCI driver for your platform.

 

If you go into the BIOS and change your SATA Mode Operation to ATA then the Windows CD will pick up the drive.

 

Installing in ATA mode will limit the functionality of the SATA drive, but it's not a huge performance decrease. (some SATA power management functionality, Native Command Queuing, etc)

 

If you post your system type then we can look on support.dell.com for your SATA driver.

Ryan,

 

The Dell tech walked me through changing the BIOS configuration a couple of times before he gave up and said that I just had to have a new HD.  I feel that the problem is in the MBR.

I cannot get to the Recovery Console.  I have used the OS restoration disk to get to fdisk /mbr, that did not work

 

My system details are as follows:

Dell System 8400

BIOS A00 (06/17/04)

Processor - Intel Pentium 4

Clock 3.00 GHz

Bus 800 MHz

HD Controller - Serial ATA

Maxtor 6Y080M0

(note in BIOS - This drive is controlled by BIOS)

Other Drives:

CD-RW Sony CRx216E

DVD +RW GRA - 4120B

 

 

Stan

Stan,

 

Ok, first I would update your BIOS to make sure that all necessary system fixes and patches are applied.

 

Bev, I'm sorry that I chimed in (I just saw where the confusion with the CD error was and just wanted to make sure you guys were speakin the same language)

 

So, if you have any other suggestions please post. =)

 

 

Stan,

 

Are you going to attempt to reformat (getting rid of any data on the drive) or are you trying to get the system to boot to the original operating system again?

 

If reformatting then the OS CD should see the drive as long as the BIOS sees it.  If the OS CD doesn't see the drive then you could change the "Drive Controller" from "Normal" to "Compatable" in the BIOS (Press "F2" during Dell Logo).

Ryan and Bev

 

By all means, jump in whenever you feel that it would help.  In no way am I trying to limit my resources by addressing a single person!

Until this happened, I actually considered myself a computer geek -- now, just a geek.

 

I will try updating the BIOS, '04 is a long, long time ago.

 

Stan

srclarkla

Stan.

Are you trying to reinstall XP on a new SATA hard drive?

If you are not using RAID, enter the system setup, scroll down to drives, press Enter or + to expand the drive menu then down to "SATA Operation", press Enter.

Change the SATA operation mode to "RAID Auto/ATA" press ESC to save and exit the BIOS.

Then XP should install without a problem.

Bev.


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Bev,

 

What I am trying to do is to recover from a HD crash that resulted in the blue screen.  Dell tells me that I have done all that can be done as far as saving the data.  I was told that I need to replace the HD or reformat it.  I bought a new HD; it will be here sometime tomorrow.  I will hold onto this HD as long as necessary, either in or out of the tower to reclaim the data.

 

I updated the BIOS.  I now have 09  7/7/06 version.

 

I tried your suggestion, switching from RAID Autodetect / AHCI to RAID Autodetect / ATA. I received the rather ominous message saying that I might not be able to boot if I made the change -- it is ironic, really, since that is what I am fighting anyway.  I received the same blue screen and switched back to the AHCI, since that is the factory default.

 

I bought Acronis True Image 11 Home, which says that it can recover data from crashed HDs.  I have not taken it out of the box.  Any thoughts or are you familiar with the program?

 

Stan

Stan.

Yes, I have a copy of TrueImage Home 11, been using TI for several years, but never used it to recover data, only to image the primary hard drives to the secondary, as a backup, in case there's a hard drive failure and when replacing a hard drive, to save having to reinstall Vista and XP.

What I would do, is install the new SATA hard drive and load XP, after fully patching it and it's running to your satisfaction, install the 'old' hard drive as a secondary and see if it's recognized, then you can transfer the files you need to the new C:/ drive. Only data files and folders can be transfered, all programs and applications need to be installed from their CD's or from the publisher's site.

Bev.


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Bev,

 

Thanks for the information on the TrueImage 11.

 

Yes, that is what I had intended all along, install the new hard drive and try to open the old drive as a non-bootable data disk.  In the mean time, since I have time on my hands waiting for the new HD, I wanted to try every resource available to recover the data, in case my first plan did not work, I would have a head start on the retrieval.

 

I checked with several sources for data recovery and they are all beyond my means for lost photos of the last ten years.

 

Backing up a few post, I think that I was given a potental inexpensive souce to check out.  I will check into that is all of this fails.

 

I will keep this open, if you don't mind, until I get the data.

 

Thanks.

 

Stan

Stan.

Hate to say this, but the more you 'play' around with a crashed/failed hard drive, can make it harder to recover the data.

Bev.


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Bev,

 

I agree, I feel that I have done all that I care to do with it right now.  I have not removed TrueImage from the box. I'll save it for later.  I don't think that I have done too much to the HD itself, I have avoided using the fix type tools that may overwrite data to verify the integrity.

 

So for now if is wait until I have the new drivfe up and running.

 

Thanks,  it  is nice to know that there is a helpful and supportive netwok out there.  I appreciate the support from you and Ryan.

 

Stan

Me too. or er the daughter does. =)