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Dimension 4600 - big fail - HDD-
here's one...
Virus killed the HDD and maybe the CD and CD-DVD drivers. In any case, none of these is bootable. The HDD spins-up and is visible but a system file was compromised - so no boot.
I have made a bootable USB/flash drive which acts as the C-drive. But this isn't really useful as I can't see the HDD to do any fix - at least with my limited knowledge.
Of course with the CD-CD/DVD out - no way to boot w the Windows disk. I've tried all the various BIOS setting/boot options.
I would like to get the files off the HDD, but mainly want to figure out a way to make the system work again w/o taking to a shop and big $$.
Ideas?
THANKS
shesagordie
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August 21st, 2009 14:00
bgw-88
Is the power button LED, solid green, blinking green, solid amber, blinking amber, or off?
What is the Sequence of the DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS on the Back Panel?
You may be able to recover the files and folders, by removing the hard drive from the 4600 and use an adaptor like THIS and attach the hard drive to a working computer and see if you can transfer the files and folders to it.
Is the hard drive in the 4600, recognized in the system setup?
Have you tried running diagnostic extended test on the drives, for the optical drives a data CD/DVD disc needs to be placed in the drives for the test?
Bev.
bgw-88
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August 22nd, 2009 14:00
Thanks Bev.
Lights front & back are all green and solid. HDD works fine I think, except for the missing/corrupted system file. Diagnostics = ok. The real issue appears to be that the CD/DVD drives aren't functioning, or I would just throw in the setup disc and do a repair. The lights come on and blink as though they're reading but they either don't spin-up, or are just spinning slowly. It's just strange that they both fail at the same time... though they are both very old, beat up, and have had intermittent probs before.
What about sticking in another cd drive? I guess I'm not fully clear on the driver-load sequence. Clearly, the CD/DVD has to work w/o the HDD functioning (before all drivers load), so does it run right off the bios?
The adapter idea is good. The potential challenge I see is that the system file it says is missing/corrupt is just the first of hundreds, so I'll be replacing files all day/week long.
Thanks!
shesagordie
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August 22nd, 2009 20:00
bgw-88
Are the CD/DVD drives recognized the the system setup?
If there are two optical drives installed, try using the drive connected to the end of the IDE data cable and make this, the first boot device in the system setup.
If this does not correct the problem, then try a new IDE optical drive.
What was the exact 'missing/corrupted system file' error message?
Bev.