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NO Boot devices found.
I have an XPS b___r system. Without warning I received "no boot devices found " on startup. I assumed that the Hard drive had just died unexpectedly, so I replaced the HD with a 40G Seagate. I used the installation cd that came with the drive and installed same without any problems. Proceeded to install my Os and all drivers for my peripherals. System was shut down and restarted several times. However as soon as I shut system down for an extended time (2 hr) I then received error of no boot devices found again. I plugged and unplugged cables, restarted several times and then drive was recognized once again. However once system was shut down overnight it then reported same no boot device error next day. More fiddling with cables, popping memory in and out and reinstalling new drive again with seagate installation cd, re-doing os and all drivers once again only to have same error again after system off for a period. Is the motherboard bad? memory bad? new hard drive bad? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Judy
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Posted December 13th, 2003 15:00
Im having the same trouble with a gx270. I replaced the motherboard, hard drive, and flashed the bios. Nothing fixed it yet. I removed the riser card and it seams to be working ok. After rebooting 5-7 times. If it happens again, im gonna replace the power supply.1169
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Posted December 15th, 2003 15:00
Sorry if this is a repeat post, having trouble getting reply to post. Bios date and time are accurate. I don't receive any battery errors. Could it still be battery? I used a new Ide cable that came with the new drive. Do I still need to change cables of Diskette and DVD ROM drives? Diagnostic code lights on back of computer are three green and last one yellow. Unable to boot with 98 boot disk as well. Drive not recognized in Bios when unable to boot. Thanks, Judy
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Posted December 16th, 2003 09:00
It seems there is a problem with Bios update try updating the bios by downloading the latest version from
Support.dell.com, if no go then run the Dell Diags using the Resource cd on the motherboard.
This will check if the harddrive slot on the motherboard is working fine.
Prince.
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Posted December 18th, 2003 00:00
HI, I do have the latest bios for my system. I reflashed the bios again just to be sure. I tried to run the diagnostics, but doesn't see the drive to test it. ???? I downloaded and ran seagate's drive tools. And when drive was recognized by the system it tested fine. Once computer off for a couple hors drive gone again!!!! No Boot devices found. I changed the battery as well to no avail. Anyone have any other thoughts? I wouldn't know how to change the motherboard. Judy1169
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Posted December 18th, 2003 06:00
Dosen't seems like problem with Hard drive before changing the motherboard I would like you to try one more thing
I want you to remove the hard drive completely and attach the cdrom or cdrw if u have on your computer on the hard drive slot on the motherboard and check if the same thing happenes with the cdrom's that do they dissappear from the bios after being first detected if they do then it is a slot failure else there is something else that is causing this.
Prince
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Posted December 18th, 2003 21:00
If I unplug the hard drive and plug the DVD ROM into that slot, the DVD ROM is still recognized. Do you think I may need a new cable? For as many times as I have lost hard drive and then had it recognized again, each time it is by a different action that results in the drive being recognized. As example I changed the jumper pin to maintenance mode then back again and then drive was recognized. Next time drive wasn't recognized that same proceedure did not cause system to see drive. Another time simply unplugging and then replugging cables will cause drive to be seen. Mostly I try several different things until something causes the system to see the drive. It is really driving me nuts. Judy1169
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Posted December 19th, 2003 07:00
That seems to be a good sign that the Dvd rom is recognised continously when plugged into Hard drive slot.
What you can do is get a Brand new IDE cable and change it with the current one DO NOT TOUCH JUMPER SETTINGS AT ALL KEEP IT AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEFAULT.
After you change the Ide cable clear Nvram this will definately fix ur issue..
Prince
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Posted December 21st, 2003 01:00
Hi, In my frustration over numerous attempts to get system to boot up, and checking online the price of a new IDE cable, I saw an add for a Western Digital hard drive on sale from circuit city with $50 rebates. I purchased the drive, installed it without any trouble and to my delight booted up after system was shut down overnight without hesitation. I just never figured that the new Seagate drive I purchased could have been bad, especially since when it was recognized by the system tested out as working fine. I don't know if the drive was bad, or it just wasn't compatible with my system. Both the WD and Seagate are ultra ATA 100 40 GB drives. I'm very happy to have my computer up and running once again, but still upset about all the hours I spent trouble-shooting my system (I know every page of my bios screen like my own name) when it was the new drive all along. Thank you for your time in assisting me...........Judy116
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Posted December 22nd, 2003 07:00
Cheers!! it's good to know that the issue has been resolved, dont be upset with the time you have spent on it just think how much you have learnt while resolving this issue. This is what I think every issue an challenge to solve it and you I think have done a gr8 job
to u.
Prince
ceri sheeran
2 Intern
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1712 Posts
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Posted December 13th, 2003 13:00
Hi,
Try a new BIOS battery, if the
Reset BIOS to defaults / clear NVRAM
New IDE ribon cables
Are the drives recognised in BIOS
Will the computer boot with a Win 98 boot floppy from http://www.bootdisk .com, download file and then run to create boot floppy.
Post back
hth
Ceri