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General discussion

Cannot boot from storage drive

May 19, 2010 4:50PM PDT

Ok, I recently got a bigger hard drive(260GB SATA) that replaced my extremely small 22GB main drive (CHappy.....but before I did that....I downloaded a program that imaged my main drive (CHappy to my storage(1TB SATA) drive(EHappy...funny....right after I imaged it, my PC crashed....but now I have no idea how to boot from the storage(EHappy drive!!! I already installed my new hard drive & I see the PC recognizes it... Can someone guide me? My PC is down!! I was running on Vista but I do not have the Vista CD

Discussion is locked

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Windows does not do that.
May 19, 2010 8:30PM PDT

Boot from USB, Firewire is not possible with the standard issue Windows. Even if you had the Vista DVD that is not supported.

Let's say you moved this new drive to inside the PC. Since it crashed we're not sure if the clone is any good.

Looks like you should set that drive aside since it may have your LAST COPY of your files and get another drive to go inside the PC. Next you need to find, acquire the missing Vista DVD (it never came on CD) or install UBUNTU (see google) until you get it sorted out.

But here's the bottom line. We don't want to touch that 22GB or 1GB drive until we are sure we have our files safe.
Bob

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Cannot boot from storage drive
May 20, 2010 8:20PM PDT

Ok, I really don't know about Linux!! Yes, I Googled it!! Thanks so much for your input...but I just may have access to a Windows cd....which I can boot from...I just have to figure out how to go into BIOS & tell the PC to boot from the cd drive....oh, the clone is on my 1 Terrabyte drive (which is my storage drive [E:]) ...my storage drive did not crash...it was my main drive (CHappy that crashed....but thanks again.

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You don't know Linux (and never should have to.)
May 20, 2010 9:09PM PDT

Read http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives2004/0401/2004-Jan-11.htm

That was SIX YEARS AGO and it's gotten better since then. This is all about gaining access to your machine and your files again. You can do this TODAY with Ubuntu and a LIVECD (google UBUNTU LIVECD).

I see no need for you to know it's Linux.
Bob

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Instruct PC to boot from CD/DVD
May 21, 2010 5:50AM PDT

since u say you can get a hold of windows CD/DVD. while your machine powers on, it would flash the hot keys for entering into bios(namely:DEL/F2/F12...) Wwhen you are sure of the hotkey, restart the machine again, press the hotkey(s). while in bios,you should see an option/tab called boot or boot device or boot order, select that option use the designated keys to tell the pc to start from cd first.
if you cant get the hotkey, let us know the type of computer.

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Cannot boot from storage drive
May 22, 2010 6:06AM PDT

ok....I went into BIOS but it's not giving me an option of booting from my cd rom....i went inside, unplugged the cd rom for a while then tried again...still....BIOS isn't giving me an option of booting from my cd rom...which means the pc isn't recognizing it!! Thanks again, cause I'm giving up! Sad I will just put it in the shop...but you can help me out for future reference...thanks a bunch..

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not detecting?
May 22, 2010 9:15AM PDT

is it that the computer doesn't detect the cd at all? does the LED on the cd/dvd rom/rw drive light up at all? if ur answers to the above questions are yes. then when you go to the BIOS, you wont see "BOOT FROM CD" expressly stated. you would "see boot order" or something like "boot devices" or simply "boot". when you select this option. you would normally see a top-down list namely:
hard disk
floppydisk
cd/dvd rom
network boot
you now have to take the cd/dvd option to the top of the list. then save changes and restart.
if you answer to the previous questions is NO, then try changing the DVD drive and follow the above steps.hope i'v been of help 2 u? if you cant do it, send me the type of computer ,model etc..

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Cannot boot from storage drive
May 23, 2010 5:17AM PDT

yes, I have done all of the above. My PC was re-built. I had an IDE motherboard but I changed to a SATA motherboard & as you already know, I changed both of my hard drives to SATA hard drives...but however, I know that at least one of my cd/dvd roms are IDE, but I already put it in the shop! Sad I will DEFINITELY let you know what the problem was when I pick it up. When I took my PC to them, I also took my old 22GB IDE hard drive to them & they may even be able to clone my programs to the new 260GB SATA hard drive...I am really hoping so because I never wrote down my product key number which was on that old drive...if they can't clone it, I will be forced to purchase another product key! I will keep you informed...Thanks!!

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goodluck
May 23, 2010 6:01AM PDT

hope it all works out well.goodluck