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Botched windows reinstall

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  • 01-07-2004 1:06pm
    #1
    daggeredge
    Closed Accounts Posts: 228 ✭✭


    Have a dell computer that wouldn't boot windows (kept getting a bluescreen error) so tried to reinstall win xp home...unfortunately the CD was damaged so it didn't do a full reinstall of windows so I had to exit setup

    The problem is when i turn on the computer now it doesn't detect either the hard drive or the cd drive and because its win XP home i don't have a floppy disk 2 boot it up and the floppy drive is the only drive it detects on the system

    How do I go about fixing this problem and reinstalling windows?
    Cheers
    DE


Comments

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    #2
    ColmOT [MSFT]
    Closed Accounts Posts: 545 ✭✭✭ColmOT [MSFT]


    IF it can't detect either your HD or CD-ROM, it's not a Windows issue.

    Check your BIOS (press F2 when you see the DELL logo) and make sure that they are properly configured in there.

    A failed Windows install will not prevent your PC from detecting the HD or CD-ROM.


  • Options
    #3
    leeroybrown
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,563 ✭✭✭leeroybrown


    As Colm said, the OS does not affect the BIOS' ability to boot off a CD. Check the BIOS settings. Clean your WinXP CD (it could help) and try to install off it again.

    In future, if your XP install messes up, boot off the XP CD and use the recovery console to attempt to fix the install.


  • Options
    #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,807 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Go in to the BIOS ( press Del. or F2 whatever) and check what it says about the HDD / CD

    Press ALT-F to reset defaults reboot, then switch off for 5 minutes then restart. - then check BIOS again.

    If you have not opened the case ring DELL - If you have opened the case then reseat the cables, disconnect drives so only one connected - see if it is deteected.


    DON'T FORGET if the boot sequence/priority is HDD then CD, and the boot sector on the HDD has a problem all you will get is a black screen and it won't try the CD.


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    #5
    daggeredge
    Closed Accounts Posts: 228 ✭✭daggeredge


    It must have erased the drivers because I had to d/load the 6 floppy boot disk! it then started working no probs...
    alright lads thanx 4 the help
    DE


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