INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

DEL 707 · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:33

Got a wierd little problem with my Dell laptop, the hard drive died, so I replaced it and attempted to reinstall, however near the beginning of the win2k professional setup, I get a blue screen with the message.

INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

I've tried another hard drive but get the same message at the same spot, only other thing Ive tried is a memtest, which it passed.

Any ideas?

bloodline76 · 14 Dec 2006 at 13:46

Could be that the hardware isnt put in just right. Try taking it apart and put back again.

L33 · 14 Dec 2006 at 14:34

Did you format the drive(s) and install windows from scratch?
That message is usually when windows does not have the correct drivers for the hard disk controller installed (i.e. taking a disk from one machine and putting it in a machine with a different controller will cause this blue screen)

Curiosityx · 14 Dec 2006 at 15:12

Have you checked/changed the BIOS configuration so that it matches the new disk?

Occasionally the values are fixed at the factory to match the geomatary of the disk and need to be changed.

DEL 707 · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:10

Its a new drive.
I've tried doing it completly blank, I've also tried partitioning it and formating on another machine then sticking it in.

Curiosityx said:
Have you checked/changed the BIOS configuration so that it matches the new disk?

Occasionally the values are fixed at the factory to match the geomatary of the disk and need to be changed.

I checked the bios, but there's no kind of option to change the hard drive, no auto detect, settings etc.

Curiosityx · 14 Dec 2006 at 17:26

Is there a BIOS update for the Laptop?

Have you got another OS disk that you can try?

Do you have the ability to download and create the manufacturer's hard disk diagnostic utility?