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Author Topic: Need a bit of help with my comp.  (Read 645 times)

Offline trigger2

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Need a bit of help with my comp.
« on: October 30, 2009, 08:40:13 PM »
So I recently acquired a used Dell Optiplex GX280, only problem was the harddrive, easy fix, grabbed one of my IDEs and installed XP on it (deleting the current Windows ME partition). Then crap, forgot to grab the drivers! So, at school, got my drivers on a flashdrive, got home, hooked up the HD, and now I'm getting an error on start-up.

It's telling me that the Primary Hard Disk Drive 1 cannot be found, then it goes on to say that the Secondary Hard Disk Drive 1 can't be found, but yet it's registering in the BIOS. I hit F1 to continue as it says, but it then proceeds to tell me that NTLDR is missing.

I'm lost as to what to do now, the XP installation was sucessful, and it was running last night (with no internet :D). Keep in mind this computer isn't going to be our primary, this is going to be one in my room, not really used for gaming but more or less the random internet browsing I'd do.

Thanks!
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Offline Meatwad

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 09:03:32 PM »
Was it a clean format (delete the primary partition and install XP?)

NTLDR think it means the OS is corrupt and needs reinstalled. If the board is  not recognising the HDD's, maybe either the cables are not seated right, damaged, or your IDE controller is shot. If you have a PCI type plug in IDE controller board, use that and see if it works
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2009, 09:37:49 PM »
Did you hook up the HD in the same channel with the same jumper setting as before? Also, don't boot the computer with the flash drive plugged in or it may attempt to boot from it. If both of those requirements are met, at this stage I'd say simply reinstall the OS. The NTLDR is part of the chain that calls the OS to start up. It can be repaired through the Recovery Console, but unless you wanna play with coad it isn't worth it on a fresh install.
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Offline trigger2

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2009, 09:44:58 PM »
Quote from: Meatwad on October 30, 2009, 09:03:32 PM
Was it a clean format (delete the primary partition and install XP?)

NTLDR think it means the OS is corrupt and needs reinstalled. If the board is  not recognising the HDD's, maybe either the cables are not seated right, damaged, or your IDE controller is shot. If you have a PCI type plug in IDE controller board, use that and see if it works

Yes it was a clean format. It's not the slaves, I've gone through every single one of them I have (plus a brand new one I got for free :D). I think I'll just try to reinstall it later, at this point, I'm to lazy to do it all over again right now. ;) Thanks.
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Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only
need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the
WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
*TAs Aerofighters Inc.*

Offline batch

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2009, 10:45:49 PM »
as ooz suggested........ NTLDR is what reads from the boot sector...... there are 2 files that you would have to reinstall from a command prompt to get it working right....... just as easy to reinstall the OS and be done with it
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Offline Stalwart

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2009, 11:21:10 PM »
Hiya Trigger,   
I love the old Dell Optiplex machines.  The four I own have been dependable stable workhorses for my family.  I Read your post and though I'd offer a few notes and opinions.  Good luck with the machine.

 :salute
Stalwart

First:
Did you get the DELL OEM Windows OS setup disk with the machine?  Windows setup on a Dell BIOS is easier with this tool.  For one thing it will let you breeze right by the Windows product key, and won't require you to 'activate' the OS with Microsoft.  The DELL OEM CDs are supplied by Dell, licensed from Microsoft for this purpose.

Second:
You can get all the drivers you need for the GX280, motherboard chipset, on-board audio, on-board NIC, etc. from the Dell Support website:  http://support.dell.com/support/downloads

Third:
If you decide to punt and re-install the OS, consider taking an additional step before you go through all the trouble of building your OS, programs, and settings back up.  Wipe the drive clean with a security tool.  In my experience maintaining several Dell GX260s this preparatory step has resolved some OS load issues.  Here's an AH board thread that discusses some tools for a security wipe: http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,273790.0.html

Finally:
Depending on your level of comfort with such things, you might wish to verify your BIOS version is the latest recommended version supplied by Dell for the OS you're using.  You can get the BIOS from the same Dell Support link above.  The installation is not quite as straight forward as a driver installation though, so proceed with caution.  If you decide to tackle this task, do it before you do all the rest.
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Offline trigger2

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Need MORE help...
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2009, 02:37:40 PM »
So, was going to reinstall the OS, and when starting to boot, I'll go through the "Primary hard disk not found" stuff, hit f1 to continue, and I'll get the "Press any key to boot from disc", the only issue is that the keyboard gets disbled ONLY on that part. It's got me stumped, the keyboard will work for everything (entering BIOS, in BIOS, everything) except for this one critical time. In the BIOS I have booting from the IDE CD Drive set as primary. I'm stumped... Thanks.
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Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only
need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the
WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
*TAs Aerofighters Inc.*

Offline Chalenge

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2009, 03:03:23 PM »
Is it possible you have both IDE drives set as masters?
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Offline trigger2

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2009, 03:58:31 PM »
Quote from: Chalenge on October 31, 2009, 03:03:23 PM
Is it possible you have both IDE drives set as masters?

Wasn't the problem, for some reason, the BIOS had USB disabled. o.O Iunno, kinda weird. Formatting the HD, then will reinstall the OS, will keep updated.
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Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only
need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the
WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
*TAs Aerofighters Inc.*

Offline Stalwart

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2009, 04:31:35 PM »
Remove all but one drive in your initial build.  Get that working, then add the other.  :old:
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Offline trigger2

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2009, 07:17:42 PM »
Quote from: Stalwart on October 31, 2009, 04:31:35 PM
Remove all but one drive in your initial build.  Get that working, then add the other.  :old:

I only have 1 HD in, the disc drive was what I needed to boot from.

New problem though, whenever I format the HD during the installation process, it "needs" to restart, and then I have to restart the installation process, so, it's a never ending circle of format, restart, delete, repeat...  :headscratch:
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Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only
need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the
WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
*TAs Aerofighters Inc.*

Offline trigger2

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2009, 08:18:54 PM »
Yes!

Just a little FYI, I'm typing this from the Optiplex. The only issue I have is that it seems that the OS installed twice on the same partition, so it makes boot a little, different, and our spare mouse seems to have epilepsy, randomly jumping from one corner of the screen to the other, but, other than that, all operational. :D
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Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only
need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the
WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
*TAs Aerofighters Inc.*

Offline Stalwart

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2009, 06:02:04 PM »
Quote from: trigger2 on October 31, 2009, 08:18:54 PM
Yes!

Just a little FYI, I'm typing this from the Optiplex. The only issue I have is that it seems that the OS installed twice on the same partition, so it makes boot a little, different, and our spare mouse seems to have epilepsy, randomly jumping from one corner of the screen to the other, but, other than that, all operational. :D

Unless you have data on one of the partitions that must be saved off drive, wipe the whole thing clean with a utility, re-partition the drive, then load the OS.  My last 2c.
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Offline Nemisis

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Re: Need a bit of help with my comp.
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2009, 06:09:34 PM »
I had a problem simmilar to yours where it said the hard drive was missing, but it was regestering in the BIOS, and it turned out the hard drive was damaged.
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