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Resolved Question

Acer Aspire Laptop - Hard Disk Error

by Dec 14, 2012 5:40AM PST

Hello, and thanks to whomever responds,

I'm having a crazy problem with my Acer Laptop. Let me give whatever background I can first. I bought this laptop two years ago, and have had zero problems with it. I currently use McAfee software for anti-virus assistance. The OS is Windows 7 64-bit. I was trying to log in to my work server via Internet Explorer, and I wasn't able to, my computer was running EXTREMELY slow (took forever to bring up IE). I shut my laptop and chalked it up to ... whatever. When I got home later that evening, my computer wouldn't boot up. It takes me to a screen where it reads:

Broadcom UNDI PXE-2.1 v12.2.0
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM.
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key

I've tried a few different things, and when I try to resolve the issue using my computers 'self-fix' system, it brings back the message about the hard disk: A Hard Disk Cannot Be Found. If One Is Installed, It Cannot Be Detected.

I've tried changing ADHI to the other thing and rebooting (sorry, i'm not computer literate, go easy on me). I've tried going into the screen where I can use the 'self-fix' and rebooting the computer back to factory settings (I have all of the CD's I created when I got the computer originally, as well as a Windows 7 repair CD), but both options where I can start this process are greyed out and I can't click them.

Any help on this issue would be extremely helpful, please let me know if you have any ideas.

Thanks!!

Configuration: Windows 7 / Internet Explorer 9.0

Discussion is locked

DonJuan58 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
9 Posts
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Best Answer

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I can't tell if you tried?
by Forum moderator Dec 14, 2012 5:59AM PST

Did you unplug and plug in the HDD to try again?

Did you try a new hard drive?

Bob

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Acer laptop
by DonJuan58 Dec 14, 2012 7:48AM PST

Thank you both for the speedy reply. I should've noted, at the BIOS screen?, my hard drive is being recognized (a hitachi something)

Would unplugging and plugging make a difference? When I try to fix the computer 'automatically', there's a box area where I can upload drivers. Would this be my HDD drivers? Could those have been erased? Thanks for all of the help, I appreciate it.

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yes. it takes me less than a minute to do this.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 14, 2012 7:50AM PST

Beats a repair counter or new drive.

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I will try this tonight and see.
by DonJuan58 Dec 14, 2012 8:24AM PST

Thanks, I'll try tonight and see! Hopefully good news to follow.

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Didn't work!
by DonJuan58 Dec 14, 2012 11:14PM PST

Well, I tried removing the HDD and plugging it back in, and that did not work. I have all of the CDs to install, or restore, my computer to factory defaults, but I can't seem to get them to begin the process (or how can I?) Any ideas anyone?

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If the HDD is bad, the restore process should fail.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 15, 2012 1:27AM PST

I can't tell if you tried a new HDD or did any research on HDD testing.
Bob

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Tried to restore...
by DonJuan58 Dec 16, 2012 9:33AM PST

I tried to update/restore my machine to a previously saved image on the last disc of discs that I created when I got the computer. The process started, but I was promptly given the message: Error Details: Windows did not find any fixed disk that can be used to recreate volumes present in backup. Ensure disks are online, and disk drivers are installed to access the disk(s). 'Diskpart.exe' tool with list disks command can be used to see the list of available fixed disks on the system.
Any ideas??

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Yes.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 17, 2012 12:05AM PST

We've shared that a bad HDD would fail like that on install/restore and more.

I can't tell if you tried a new working drive.
Bob

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Answer
Re: hard disk error
by Forum moderator Dec 14, 2012 5:59AM PST

In such cases, we start with replacing the hard disk by one that isn't broken. Then we go back to factory conditions from the recovery media we made.

If that fails, the positive side is that it isn't the disk but the motherboard that needs to be replaced, so you still have all your data. The negative side is that replacing a motherboard in a 2-years old laptop is a doubtful investment, so you should seriously consider buying a new one.
But given that extreme slowness it's not unlikely it's only the disk.

Kees

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