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C drive kaputt?
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Posted by: sabcalk
hi -- i can only start the computer (dell xps t500, w98se) w start-up disk, when i want to do anything on drive c, it tells me that there is no fixed disk present.
the comp has recently been giving me messages about errors on partitions, i ran the fix it thing once but at the next boot, i got that message again. ultimately it seems to have died. i was considering fdisk and format to start over, (this is a back-up computer) but now c: seems to have vanished.
anything i can do - besides installing a new hard drive?
TIA, sabine
Posted by: goranpaa
Have you been into BIOS, and checked if the HD is present in the harddrive list there?
Check the IDE cables and power cables to the drives.
Do you hear any clicking noise or grinding noise from the harddrive?
Posted by: sabcalk
hello goranpaa - no, haven't checked the bios, and there are no clicking or grinding noises. at startup i hear some weak beepbeeps.
i tried loading windows from the cd drive and it tells me that it cannot be loaded since i do not have a hard disk, or it is not functioning correctly.........
how do i check the bios?
Posted by: matt.modica
If you can boot up and log on see if the hard disk is in the device manager.
Posted by: sabcalk
how can i get to device manager from the a: drive?
Posted by: uh...ok
 Quote:
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Originally Posted by sabcalk
how can i get to device manager from the a: drive?
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Very good question - you can't. I don't think matt understood that your C: drive is missing, and that you can't boot into Windows without the C: drive. 
You can usually enter the BIOS by pressing DEL, F12, or F7 on boot these days. Right when you turn your power on, the computer should be initializing its memory, and during that time there should be a "Press the (something) key to enter Setup".
Be careful not to make any unintended changes in the BIOS. Make sure you leave without saving changes unless you're sure you made the correct changes and nothing else.
Additionally, you should try goranpaa's suggestion for checking the IDE and power cables to your hard drive. If anything, though, it seems like your hard drive is probably dead, and you may need to replace it.
Posted by: redwench
given your earlier problems, i think the time has come to say:
"It's dead Jim."
Posted by: chainlink
If you really need to keep the PC it's time to say goodbye to about £30 and get a new 80GB HD, hope you didn't have any data you wanted to keep on the old HD.
Posted by: jrpm
Off the wall, since you are using Windows98SE, it implies the computer is several years old (>5).
Have you checked your CMOS battery? The disk may be ok but CMOS flaky.
Posted by: matt.modica
Quote:
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Originally Posted by uh...ok
Very good question - you can't. I don't think matt understood that your C: drive is missing, and that you can't boot into Windows without the C: drive. |
Then how are you posting this question? I guess I assumed you were able to boot in some form to access the internet.
If BIOS and everything say there is no hard disk, there is probably a disconnected cable.
Posted by: sabcalk
matt and others, i have several computers, in fact 2 identical dell dimensions xps t500. one i bought in 12/99 for $2000, the other i bought a few months back for $80 !!! YIKES! the latter comp is the one i've been fiddling with, removed the old HD, installed a new/used one; it died so i re-installed the original 12 gig HD; turns out it had only 2 gigs usable of 12, thanks to you all, i fixed that - repartitioned and reformatted and reloaded........ but the comp was SLOW!! (same as the other one now) so i bought a new CMOS battery, removed the original one for approx 6 hrs and
>>>>>>>>>after replacing it w the new battery, i have a NEW PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!
The COMPUTER WON'T BOOT UP AT ALL!!!!
grrrrrr. now what? i tried the emergency boot disk, but all i get is 2 beeps and then nothing but the dell screen......
please HELP ME get past this issue.
Posted by: goranpaa
1-1 beep, means memory problem(s)
Quote#
Your computer has memory problems. First, check video. If video is working, you'll see an error message. If not, you have a parity error in your first 64K of memory. Check your SIMMs. Reseat them and reboot. If this doesn't do it, the memory chips may be bad. You can try switching the first and second bank memory chips. First banks are the memory banks in which your CPU finds its first 64K of base memory. You'll need to consult your manual to see which bank is first. If all of your memory tests good, you probably need to buy another motherboard. End#
If you have more than one stick of RAM? Take out one at the time and try to boot.
If you have just one? try different RAM slots. And if possible try that stick in another PC.
Posted by: uh...ok
Quote:
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Originally Posted by matt.modica
Then how are you posting this question? I guess I assumed you were able to boot in some form to access the internet.
If BIOS and everything say there is no hard disk, there is probably a disconnected cable.
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The same way anyone else woud post this question: using a different computer.
If the BIOS doesn't detect your drive, it's not necessarily the cable. You probably want to check these in the following order:
1) Make sure the BIOS is set up properly.
2) Check to see the hd cables are plugged in.
3) Check the jumper settings on the hd.
If none of those work, as redwench says, "It's dead, Jim."
Posted by: sabcalk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by goranpaa
1-1 beep, means memory problem(s)
Quote#
Your computer has memory problems. First, check video. If video is working, you'll see an error message. If not, you have a parity error in your first 64K of memory.
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i still get the beep beep....... :-( -- i did all of the suggestions you mentioned; i have 3 chips in 3 slots and tried many variations, including just one chip........ can't believe they would all three die on me.......
video -- i only get the dell screen, and even holding down ctrl doesn't work. it seems to check the drives, even clicks to start the boot disk in a: and then 'beep beep' and nothing but the blue dell screen........
could i have shorted out the motherboard when i removed the battery? i have done
some work on computers and never been all that careful about the static problem. to get the battery out, i pretty much opened the tower and yanked the battery out w a little grip tool.... not touching the case, as far as i remember...
new motherboard........... hmmmmm. why would it suddenly give up on me?
and why is my other computer so painfully slow that i could pull may hair out waiting for it to open just one miserable program??? and why would the computer #2 do the same even tho i had just freshly loaded everything.... they are both the same age, both bought in 12/99 - that is why i decided to replace both batteries, but now i'm afraid to change the one in my main computer....
any more thoughts on this????????? thank you very much for your help!!!!!!!!
sabine
Posted by: redwench
why wouldnt the motherboard suddenly give up on you? you have some pact with motherboards that none of us have?
Posted by: BlackSphinx
If the computer you're messing with is really the $80 one, then i'm sorry to say...you got what you payed for.
But for something maybe helpful, 2 beeps is, as said before a memory problem. The odds of all 3 memory sticks going bad is not good, but you might want to make sure the contacts are clear on the mobo and the memory. Don't take soap and water to it, because that will break everything. A last ditch effort would be to unplug everything and reconnect it all.
One last thought. Did you happen to remove the memory while the computer was still plugged in? I assume not, but that can cause bad problems.
I once blew a mobo with static. Luckily, only a couple capacitors were hit, so the local shop replaced them. I'm just throwing out ideas. Maybe something I said was aimed in the right direction.
Posted by: P0nix
blew a board replacing cmos the other week 
Try using the clear CMOS jumper and remove the battery again and replace, see if it makes a difference. That's all you can do.
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