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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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Sure, but it won't cure the base issues...
Feb 3, 2005 5:07AM PST

You'll still have the same hardware issues or bad CD.

My feelings on this? DON'T DO IT. Laptops are twitchy things that it's best to leave working units working and fix busted ones.

Too bad you weren't my neighbor. We'd clone that drive...

Can you find a KNOPPIX CD to see if you can boot that? (Hint: read google.com about KNOPPIX)

Bob

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I guess I wont then
Feb 3, 2005 5:14AM PST

I don't want to risk anything, so we'll have to look at other options.

Do you think maybe I could mail you the hard drive? I wouldnt mind paying for shipping both ways... should only be around $10...

I tried reading about this KNOPPIX thing and it confuses me. It has to do with LINUX, right? If I just need a CD burner, then yes I can get a KNOPPIX CD... unless you meant something else...

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I understand...
Feb 3, 2005 6:33AM PST

if you're busy, I just thought I'd ask. Happy

I'm checking out that NoteFix.com right now. I'll go through it to get an estimate. It asks for Symptom Problem... what should I say?

Hard Drive not spinning up
Can't read or write to the hard drive
Hard Drive doesn't format disks

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Strange...
Feb 3, 2005 7:39AM PST

Well, I figured I should give a try that idea where I put my hard drive in my sisters computer and see if the system restore cd will work in there. Well it did... at least I thought so at first. It went into the System Restore screen and asked me which language. After some more questions it just went to a black screen and said "Eject!" Then ejected the disk and restarted... what could that mean? This is really frustrating me...

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(NT) (NT) That one is "You got me" or "I dunno".
Feb 3, 2005 8:22AM PST
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Let's go back in time a bit...
Feb 3, 2005 10:52AM PST

Okay, if you're still with me I'd like to explain what happened at the beginning.

I felt that it was time to do a reformat. I popped in the System Restore CDs and everything was going fine, until my computer just suddenly shut off... I had no idea why this occured, but I continued doing the system restore, only to have the computer shut off again and again. On my last attempt (I didnt know it would be my last attempt at the time) I got all the way to disk 4 of the restore... but of course, it shut off. Now this time, when I restarted my computer, I got a bunch of errors and it would not even start the System Restore (kinda what its doing now). So after a couple days of researching and asking for help, I figured it would just be easiest to get a new hard drive.

We all know how that turned out... but here's what just happened. For one last ditch effort, I took out the new hard drive I just bought, and put in the old one. Turned on the computer, and to my udder disbelief, the system restore started. :-O

I didnt know why it started to work now, but I didnt question it. I didnt give my hopes up though, because of the troubles I've had thus far... and of course my suspicions where correct when the computer just shut off after getting through the first 3 disks of the system restore.

I now notice something, air is NOT coming out of the vent thing... but it does come out of my sisters. I figure this is why my computer has been shutting off, over-heating. Now, my question to you is, could my fan be broke and is this easily fixable? Or do you just think the vent is clogged or something?

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Fans are fixable.
Feb 3, 2005 10:56AM PST
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Saw that.
Feb 3, 2005 10:58AM PST

I just read that and replied. Im hoping that is the problem and not the fan.

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AHA!
Feb 3, 2005 1:08PM PST

YES!! I was able to get my old hard drive to work (better than nothing). I just blew on the vent a little, and that fixed it enough to now overheat. The restore is done, although I still get this error that says hard drive failure is eminent (great!). At least it will be easier for me to mess around with my new hard drive now.

Thanks for your help.

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Here's ONE LAST EXIT!!! DO read...
Feb 3, 2005 9:11PM PST
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Thanks
Feb 4, 2005 5:05AM PST

I'll look into it. Happy