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dimension e520 won't start up anymore
my e520 w/ XP had been work fine the last 2.5 years until this morning when it hung at the end of the dell intro screen (the status bar DM 061 revision/ bios 2.4.0 was about 99% complete).
i tried again, same thing. and again, this time it got passed the initial dell screen then hung after the AHCI Bios Installed... Copyright with the curson blinking.
another reboot i then got a screen further, but hung on the "loading PBR for descriptor 2".
(basically on all subsequent reboots one of the three happen!)
i hit f2 and the SATA WD320 factory hard drive was there. tried f12, reboot to partition and i get "loading pbr for descriptor 1...done" but then it hangs on "loading DRMK Version 8.00..."
i also tried the dell dim. resource CD, couldn't get anywhere. same for the re installation XP DVD. both hang..
i took the harddrive out and connected via an enclosure on my laptop just fine, so i saved some of my data. perhaps a boot issue occurred somewhere, i have no idea.
also tried removing USB cables etc, but no difference.
bought a new harddrive, put it in but got nowhere using the reinstall dvd (guess i need to order the recover CD for that to work!).
anyway, i'm not sure what else to do. as i said at least i can get at my data in the HD, so that's good.
if anyone has ideas, thoughts, i'd appreciate it.
mik
oh yeah, only change i made yest was adding some new speakers to the system, but i cannot imagine that created this issue!
sorry bev, i'm a bit confused. are you saying i need to reinstall XP? i don't even have the recovery disks for that i don't think (guess i will need to order them).
i also just ran a chkdsk on my drive and it came back 0 bad sectors. (did recover 6 orphaned files if that matters).
shesagordie
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Posted July 20th, 2009 14:00
mikjax
You posted, that you purchased a new hard drive, if the new hard drive replaced the 'old' HD, then you would need to reinstall XP, using the Dell OEM XP reinstallation disks that was shipped with computer package.
This reinstallation disk is the same as the retail copies of XP, except it is tied to Dell's BIOS. Dell does not have a 'Recovery Disk', they only have the reinstallation disks.
Bev.
bev,
correct, the new HD (which i just bought this morning) would replace the old one which seems to be ok (per chkdsk).
however i never received any "dell oem XP reinstallation disks" with my original shipping. all i have is three blue CDs ("resource CD", "LCD Monitor CD" and a "Sonic Cineplayer") and a red one ("reinstallation DVD") which is labeled "OS already on your computer". dell did send me two "upgrade from XP to vista" CDs which i never used.
was i suppose to have received an XP orig CD? if so i didn't get it.
thanks for the help here.
shesagordie
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Posted July 20th, 2009 14:00
mikjax
The Reinstallation DVD could be the reinstallation disk, under 'Operating System already installed on your computer' it should say, 'Reinstallation CD or DVD' and under this, should be printed version of XP [or what ever].
But, if you don't have the disk can request a set of backup discs containing the factory-installed operating system as well as the device drivers and utilities specific to your system from HERE.
Do you have the procedures for reinstalling XP?
Bev.
thanks. yes, i have that disk, but when i put it in it just hangs with the old HD. nothing happens. and since it's for HDs with existing XP OS i guess i can't use it on a new drive (tried it and it did nothing).
so i went ahead and ordered the factory installation CDs earlier today.
any idea what happened to my system?
shesagordie
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Posted July 20th, 2009 15:00
thanks. yes, i have that disk, but when i put it in it just hangs with the old HD. nothing happens. and since it's for HDs with existing XP OS i guess i can't use it on a new drive (tried it and it did nothing).
so i went ahead and ordered the factory installation CDs earlier today.
any idea what happened to my system?
mikjax
The Dell reinstallation disk can be used on any compatible hard drive, whether the operating system is installed, or not
Are you installing XP on the new SATA hard drive?
If you are, first remove the 'Old' drive from the PC and install the new replacement and connect it to the SATA 0 connector on the motherboard.
From your description, it sounds like the 'old' hard drive has failed, did you run Dell Diagnostic's extended test on it?
Bev.
bev,
i tried the install disk on the old HD which was the orig right from dell. again, didn't do anything, just hung.
the new HD i picked up this morning is i think the exact same model, so when i get my disks from dell i will do a clean install on those.
i ran a chkdsk and as i said it was clean. how do i run a dell diagnostic test on it, keeping in my that the resourceCD wasn't able to boot up at all?
iamprateekjain2
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Posted July 20th, 2009 16:00
Hi,
Before you try to reinstall os try to reseat memory cards and cmos battery found on mobo of the system.
May be that helps
shesagordie
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Posted July 20th, 2009 21:00
mikjax
Trying Running Dell Diagnostic's extended [not the express version] test on the hard drive.
Restart the computer.
As the computer boots, pressWhen the Boot menu appears, highlight the Boot to Utility Partition option, and then press to start the 32-bit Dell Diagnostics.
Bev.
shesagordie
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Posted July 20th, 2009 13:00
mikjax
Prior to reinstalling XP, you need to disconnect all the peripherals from the system, except the keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Does the reinstallation 'Hang' at 'Press F6 if you need to install any third-party or RAID drivers' screen?
If it does try the following:
If you are not using RAID, or do not have an internal floppy drive, enter the system setup, scroll down to drives, press Enter or + to expand the drive menu then down to "SATA Operation", press Enter.
Change the SATA operation mode to "RAID Autodetect/ATA" press ESC to save and exit the BIOS.
Bev.