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General discussion

Need Help Installing New Hard Drive

Feb 2, 2005 4:34AM PST

Hi, I just got my new hard drive today and I'm having some problems.

I took the old drive out and put in the new one. Now I turn on my computer with the System Restore CD in, but it doesnt go into System Restore... instead it says this:

First it says:
"Initializing MBA. Press Ctrl+Alt+b to configure...

Then goes to this screen:
"Argon PXE Boot Agent v2.01 (BIOS Integrated)
(C) Copyright 2002 Agon Technology Corporation
(C) Copryight 2000 3Com Corpororation
All rights reserved.

Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE)
(C) Copyright 1999 Intel Corporation
All rights reserved."

Then adds this under it:
"PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable"

Then finally goes to this screen:
"Operating System not found"

Anybody know what I'm doing wrong and how I can get it to do the System Restore?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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That's a blank hard disk. It's supposed to do that.
Feb 2, 2005 4:54AM PST

Many think it's more like that SPARE TIRE for your car. It's not.

Have you installed an Operating System before?

I ask so I can gauge where you are in the "seasoned" scale...

Bob

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I'm glad to hear it's supposed to do that. :-)
Feb 2, 2005 5:24AM PST

I thought something was wrong.

But no, I have never installed an operation system before. I just thought I would have to put in the new hard drive then do system restore and everything would be fine... so I need an operating system cd?

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Yes. That's one way.
Feb 2, 2005 8:20AM PST

It all depends on...

skill, what effect you want, how much you are willing to pay and if you have another machine to help out.

For instance, I often take both laptop hard disks to a desktop machine, connect one drive each to each IDE channel with $3.65 laptop drive adapters and then use Norton's Ghost (under 99 bucks) to clone the drive. I'm sure there are other solutions, but this is what I use.

If you have the laptop restore CDs, then you put that in and if the machine is set proper then it will install the OS as if the machine was new.

Bob

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Hmmm...
Feb 2, 2005 8:26AM PST

Skill: Not much
Effect: Just want to restore it and start fresh
Willing to pay: As much as need... but would really like to not spend any more
Other machines: Sisters laptop (same as mine), Family

The way you said you do it sounds way too complicated and expanisve for me...

By laptop restore CDs... do you mean the SystemRestore CDs? Cause I have those. I have the first one in my drive when I started up my computer and I still got those same messages... it wouldnt load into the sytem restore...

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I feel we are close.
Feb 2, 2005 10:41AM PST

Next we need to double check the BIOS is set to boot from the CD. I can't tell you how since I don't know your machine.

Bob

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BIOS, eh?
Feb 2, 2005 11:23AM PST

Are you referring to the order? If so, the current order is:
Removable Devices
CD-Rom Drive
+Hard Drive
Built-In LAN

If this isnt what you are talking about, could you explain some more? I can give you any info on my computer you would need.

Also, if you have time do you think we could chat on an instant messenger client? I think it would be easier and quicker.

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Make the CDROM first.
Feb 2, 2005 11:50AM PST

As to chat, check my profile. I consider chat clients a security risk. And others in the forum won't be able to follow along.

As to make/model... The forum tip notes what you need to supply "for a speedy resolution."

Hopefully your Restore CD will boot.

Bob

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Make the CDROM first?
Feb 2, 2005 12:00PM PST

What did you mean by that?

As for the specs:
Compaq Presario 2100
Windows XP

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Make the CDROM the first boot item.
Feb 2, 2005 1:00PM PST
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Got ya. :)
Feb 2, 2005 1:14PM PST
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Sorry, that's still the model line.
Feb 2, 2005 8:53PM PST

I was hoping you could provide the exact model from the link I provided. Most Compaqs have the same install routine, but I'd like to be sure.

Bob

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Oh, I see what you mean now
Feb 3, 2005 12:53AM PST
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You need to clone the drive from what I read.
Feb 3, 2005 1:09AM PST

This note -> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&tool=setupCategory&lc=en&product=374028&dest_page=setupCategory&cc=us&docname=c00035559 shows Compaq restores from the hard disk and not the CD.

This page -> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?dlc=en&tool=setupCategory&lc=en&product=374028&cc=us&dest_page=setupCategory&os=228 lists all the downloadable drivers if we were to install a FULL RETAIL version of Windows.

As it stands you need to clone the drive. Use the chat with support buttons to see if they offer any other way.

Bob

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Clone the drive...
Feb 3, 2005 1:17AM PST

What exactly is that? Is that easy to do and would I need to buy anything?

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Also...
Feb 3, 2005 1:35AM PST

Do you know why I can't just pop in the QuickRestore System Recovery CDs? Shouldn't that contain the OS? That's all I thought I would have to do, but it looks like I'm in for a doozy. Sad

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You tried that.
Feb 3, 2005 1:38AM PST

The quick restore CDs didn't work for you. Unless you were waiting for step by step instructions to try?

-> About cloning the drive. I'll be repeating what I wrote earlier but my method involves any old PC with a pair of 2.5 inch drive adapters ($3.65 each) and a copy of Ghost (under 99 bucks). For me, this is what I use.

Bob

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I know, but...
Feb 3, 2005 1:42AM PST

Isn't that supposed to work, or is that for something else? I did try it but it just gives me the same messages and wont go into the system restore... I just was wondering why?

About cloning, thanks for the info. I guess I'll try to figure out another way first because I really dont want to spend $100+.

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Oh yeah
Feb 3, 2005 1:48AM PST

I forgot to mention, I bought this new hard drive because my old one wasnt working anymore. Whenever I was to boot up it said Failure was emminent and some other errors. Would I still be able to use Ghost? Or could I just use my sisters hard drive for the clone?

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I've ghosted a few with errors.
Feb 3, 2005 1:57AM PST

As to it supposed to work, some don't The restore CD turns out to be defective or the CD drive has aged and no longer boots. Many factors (mostly aging of parts) work against us. We get to figure it out if we are trying to fix it ourselves.

Bob

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I've used the CDs before
Feb 3, 2005 2:13AM PST

and they worked fine, and my cd drive is in fine condition as far as I know... but your saying it's probably my cd drive? So if thats the case and my cd drive is bad, after all this I would need to replace that??? This is turning into a nightmare. Sad

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What if...
Feb 3, 2005 2:39AM PST

I tried the reformatt on my sisters comp. I just popped my hard drive in her computer and see if the system restore will start? Do you think that's a good idea, or could that be harmful to her's in any way?

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No harm, no foul.
Feb 3, 2005 2:57AM PST

Worth a shot.

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Cool... I'll try it.
Feb 3, 2005 3:01AM PST

Ignore my question about it not being worth it to try it because I didnt see this responce. I'll try it in a sec, but you're sure no harm can come from this? I would hate to somehow mess up my sisters computer... my sister and dad would be furious.

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Well...
Feb 3, 2005 4:03AM PST

I actually just tested my cd rom drive instead. I put my sisters Hard Drive into my computer, powered it up, and the cd rom drive read the CD i put in... so I dont think its the CD ROM Drive. I might put the System Recovery CDs in my sisters computer just to see if the CDs work...

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Not a valid test.
Feb 3, 2005 4:35AM PST

One must boot off the CDROM drive. Your system hasn't done this yet. And its a common failure in older drives. To repeat... Many old drives will "work" but can't "boot".

Bob

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Use may work, but boot may fail.
Feb 3, 2005 2:56AM PST

I've had aged CDROM drives that "work fine" but lose the capability to boot. I have to swap the drive out to see if that's it.

How about this. What OS CDs do you own?

Can this machine boot from diskettes?

Too bad you don't have a geek friend that can clone that drive for you.

Bob

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So, it's not worth trying?
Feb 3, 2005 3:00AM PST

What OS CDs do I own? I'm not sure. Most of the stuff that my laptop came with is currently at my dads work place, and I'm having him check the box to see if theres any CDs in there. I'm sure I could find an XP CD though, even if I had to borrow one from one of my relatives.

No, my laptop doesnt have any diskette drive.

LOL, I do wish I had a friend who could do that for me, but sadly most of my friends are more clueless than I am when it comes to this stuff.

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???
Feb 3, 2005 6:03AM PST

Would having a Windows XP CD help? I can probably find one, so if that would help or solve the problem, let me know.

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A XP CD can answer one issue.
Feb 3, 2005 6:06AM PST

If you can or can not boot it.

Sorry, but I'm fairly busy and will note www.notefix.com...

There's also Ken at ikenfixit that you find in these forums. I can't vouch for him yet.

Bob

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"Not a valid test"
Feb 3, 2005 4:54AM PST

Oh, I see what you mean. So it would still be worth a shot to put my hard drive in my sisters computer with the system restore cd in and give that a try?