Need some computer help! - DPChallenge Forums

05/29/2006 03:47:10 PM · #1

A few weeks ago one of my computers went down. I finally started fooling with it and I always good a boot error that tells me to inset boot diskette.

Well I thought it was just that the hard rive went bad. So I swaped with a know good one and still the same error. I tried different RAM and strill the same error. I swaped the hard drive and CD ROM and still the same error. All things are pointing to the motherboard being bad. Everyone else think this is a possibility? Or any other suggestions before I buy a new one.

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/29/2006 03:50:57 PM · #2

What OS?

No, from experience I don't believe it to be the Mobo.

Is there a floppy in the drive. Many times people will leave or kids will put a floppy disk in the drive and if the boot order in bios is wrong will try to boot from floppy.

Andy

Edit: Is the error you are receiving "OS not Found, please insert a system disk"? If so mobo sees the HD and you have other issues.

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 15:54:03.

05/29/2006 03:52:35 PM · #3

there is a floopy drive. Nothing in it though. I can't even get past the error.

It is running Windows XP Pro.

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/29/2006 03:56:20 PM · #4

Originally posted by rex:

there is a floopy drive. Nothing in it though. I can't even get past the error.

It is running Windows XP Pro.

With nothing in the Floppy drive and nothing in the CDRom drive...what is the exact error message?

05/29/2006 03:57:57 PM · #5

Invalid Boot Diskette
Insert BOOT Dickette in A:

I also disconnected the power to the A: drive

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/29/2006 04:11:05 PM · #6

What were the events that led to the condition?

Power Surge? Power Outage? Computer was unplugged from power for an extended period of time?

Sounds like BIOS is confused and or boot sector on your hard disk has issues (just don't recognize it).

Turn off and back on, Press Del or F1 or F2 (depending on the system) to get into BIOS. Is the clock (near right), if it has been set back to Jan 2001 or something like that then BIOS got reset somehow (it happens).

We need to find out why it insists on starting from floppy.

Check your IDE Cables on both the Mobo end and the HD end.

If you have recently removed (or added) a second HD as a slave (on the same IDE ribbon cable) you may need to change jumpers on one or both of the drives to tell the mobo which is master and which is slave.

If you can tell me the Model PC or mobo I can probably get you through BIOS settings.

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 16:11:41.

Fibre Optix

05/29/2006 04:11:55 PM · #7

What is the BOOT drive in your BIOS?

Is it your HD or your Floppy?

05/29/2006 04:18:11 PM · #8

Well when I put in the Windows XP CD it tells me it can't detect a hard drive. I haven't installed another drive on this computer.

IT is in setup now..........

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

05/29/2006 04:23:17 PM · #9

Ok I went into BIOS and set the first boot device to the Hard drive and the same error pops up?

Ironworker

Nikon D70

05/29/2006 04:25:49 PM · #10

try replacing the cmos battery. It is located on the motherboard, & looks like a watch battery. Radio shack, & jewelry stores generally have them.

Bobster

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/29/2006 07:04:00 PM · #11

have u tried replacing the Cables?

is the drive set to the right setting ?

ie. if the HDD is the first on the cable it should be set to Master..

is your CD/DVD drive on the same channel or is it on IDE2?

05/29/2006 07:06:19 PM · #12

Originally posted by Bobster:

The CD Rom is on IDE2.

Both the Cd-ROM and the hard drive are set to master because the both have their own IDE cable.

This thing worked fine the last time it was on. It was turned off and has been giving me this error every since then. I am thinking bad motherboard.

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 19:06:35.

fotomann_forever

05/29/2006 07:37:09 PM · #13

Actually, from what I'm reading, I'm thinking bad HD. Do you have access to another sytem you can put that hard drive into to test it?

05/29/2006 07:44:45 PM · #14

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Actually, from what I'm reading, I'm thinking bad HD. Do you have access to another sytem you can put that hard drive into to test it?

I have put 3 other hard drives into this unit. And yes it works fine in another system.

fotomann_forever

05/29/2006 07:50:33 PM · #15

:-( you're probably right about assuming it's the motherboard, then.

Katmystiry