BOOT DISK FAILURE

[Guest]

Ok, I just built a new PC and put XP on it. Im currently running an ECS
NForce4M-A 1.1 motherboard with an AMD Athlon X2 3800 processor, an IBM 20
gig hard drive as my C drive with no slave installed, and a lite-on CD
burner. Ive reviewed and taken the steps that ive seen in regards to my
problem, which is when starting up, the pc wont boot unless the windows xp cd
is in the drive. I messed with jumpers, boot sequences, boot.ini, IDE ports
on the motherboard, even took the CDRom off the ribbon cable. If I take the
CDRom off, remove the hard drives jumpers, or set them to certain master
positions, it tells me the boot sequence has changed and wont load. If i set
the jumpers to master, it does nothing. The CDRom jumper is set to slave, and
the hard drive is set to a non-denoting position. This has been the only way
I can get it to load. Are there any other tips you guys can throw at me? Oh,
and I checked for manufacturers software for my Hard Drive. IBM doesnt have
it. I hope ive been specific enough. Thanks to anyone who helps for their
time.

 

[Guest]

As with all MB (new),or if youve confused the system (BIOS),unplug pc,remove
the battery,locate the CMOS jumper pin on the MB & move from 1-2 position to
2-3 for .45 seconds or so,then back to 1-2,replace battery,start pc.On
start -up
you'll need to reset basic BIOS settings (date/time),load optimal
defaults,then set
for add-ins.Also,set the hd as 1st boot priority,the jumpers on the hd
should be
set to master or slave,best to mount seperate on IDE cable,only set as master
or slave.save and exit BIOS.Also,read the owners manual.....

 

[Ron Martell]

Ok, I just built a new PC and put XP on it. Im currently running an ECS
NForce4M-A 1.1 motherboard with an AMD Athlon X2 3800 processor, an IBM 20
gig hard drive as my C drive with no slave installed, and a lite-on CD
burner. Ive reviewed and taken the steps that ive seen in regards to my
problem, which is when starting up, the pc wont boot unless the windows xp cd
is in the drive. I messed with jumpers, boot sequences, boot.ini, IDE ports
on the motherboard, even took the CDRom off the ribbon cable. If I take the
CDRom off, remove the hard drives jumpers, or set them to certain master
positions, it tells me the boot sequence has changed and wont load. If i set
the jumpers to master, it does nothing. The CDRom jumper is set to slave, and
the hard drive is set to a non-denoting position. This has been the only way
I can get it to load. Are there any other tips you guys can throw at me? Oh,
and I checked for manufacturers software for my Hard Drive. IBM doesnt have
it. I hope ive been specific enough. Thanks to anyone who helps for their
time.

Change the hard drive jumper to "Stand alone Master Drive" (some hard
drives have another setting for "master drive with slave present" but
this is only relevant when there is a second hard drive connected as
slave on the same cable. CD/DVD devices do not count).

Leave the CDROM set to slave.

In the BIOS setup configure the boot drive priority to CDROM first,
hard drive second.

Boot the computer with the Windows XP CD in the drive and boot from
the CD. Choose the Repair (Recovery Console) option and when it has
finished loading and stops at the command prompt enter the following
command:

BOOTCFG /REBUILD

That will create a new BOOT.INI file that is correct for the current
drive configuration and should resolve the issue. Remove the
installation CD and reboot the computer.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

Ok, I got the HD to a master with the jumpers, as there are several jumper
settings of the master without slave (15 head, 16 head, 2gig) the 2 gig is
the only one that works. Anyways, Ive done the boot.ini thing before, but I
shall try again now that I have that done.

 

[Guest]

I thought about using seperate IDE cables for each, unfortunately I dont have
an extra at the current time. However, I will try resetting the bios as you
have suggested and see if that helps. Thanks.

 

[Andy]

Ok, I just built a new PC and put XP on it. Im currently running an ECS
NForce4M-A 1.1 motherboard with an AMD Athlon X2 3800 processor, an IBM 20
gig hard drive as my C drive with no slave installed, and a lite-on CD
burner. Ive reviewed and taken the steps that ive seen in regards to my
problem, which is when starting up, the pc wont boot unless the windows xp cd
is in the drive.

This means the operating system is bootable. Your task is to determine
which disk drive contains the system partition, and to set the BIOS to
boot from that disk. Disk Management identifies the partitions, e.g.,
system, boot, paging.

I messed with jumpers, Not necessary.
boot sequences,

Very important. Check the Hard Disk Boot Priority. The disk that has
the system partition must be at the top of the list.

boot.ini,

Shouldn't be necessary unless disk order changes.

 

[Ron Martell]

Ok, I got the HD to a master with the jumpers, as there are several jumper
settings of the master without slave (15 head, 16 head, 2gig) the 2 gig is
the only one that works. Anyways, Ive done the boot.ini thing before, but I
shall try again now that I have that done.

What is the make and model of this hard drive? Most hard drives just
have a 3 or 4 position jumper block (master alone, master with slave,
slave, cable select).

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Anna]

What is the make and model of this hard drive? Most hard drives just
have a 3 or 4 position jumper block (master alone, master with slave,
slave, cable select).

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

Ron:
In all likelihood the OP is using an old IBM Deskstar that came with that 2
GB jumper limitation.


Idnmaster:
I'm right about that, yes? I'm really not sure that jumper settings are at
the root of your problem judging from your description of your problem.
Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. Like most everyone else, we had more than
our share of problems with that old IBM Deskstar (or "Deathstar" as it was
known in the business) - assuming that's the drive you're working with. And
that's the real purpose of my post...

From your previous description, you've built yourself a very nice PC. Why
cripple it with an inadequate HDD which you're intending to use as your
day-to-day booting HDD? Since modern PATA HDDs are so relatively cheap today
and whose performance is so far superior to that IBM you really can't afford
*not* to get yourself one.
Anna