Windows wont boot

Kerplunk

Kerplunk

Kerplunk

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Bournemouth tbh
PXE - Media test failure, check cable
PXE - Mof - exiting broadcom.
Operating System not found
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This is the lovely message my mate gets when he boots up his laptop.

I have done the old Google, but I was really after with anyone who has experienced this error?

Lets start with what ive done, ive tried reseating all the cables and the HDD itself and have gone into the BIOS but the HDD is no longer in there, first assumption is dead HDD, probably is the case.

Is there anything I can try otherwise. Just putting the question out there.

Thanks
 
make sure the IDE (or whatever its called in laptops) is not set to disabled in th bios

take the hd out (don't blow on the connectors, this only works for nintendo:p) put it back in, see if that fixes it

otherwise, i'd suggest a new hard drive (test that one in a caddy if you can first incase its something more serious)

is the laptop still under warranty?
 
bledd. said:
make sure the IDE (or whatever its called in laptops) is not set to disabled in th bios

take the hd out (don't blow on the connectors, this only works for nintendo:p) put it back in, see if that fixes it

otherwise, i'd suggest a new hard drive (test that one in a caddy if you can first incase its something more serious)

is the laptop still under warranty?
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Hi, no the laptop isnt under warranty, its fairly old.

Ill try the above. :)
 
If you desperately need the data off, you might want to order an IDE-USB cable - most include a laptop connector too. Of course, if the hard drive is completely dead, then it's a no hoper, but sometimes hooking them up to these can work - enough to get the data off. For what they cost, it may be worth it.

Had this myself at work this week - kid brought a laptop in, and the hard drive was dead - hooked it up to the PC, and while it was recognised, it crashed explorer. So I fired up Acronis True Image, and let it backup the drive, when it detected a bad sector, I asked it to ignore them all. Now I can access the backup (which Acronis can mount as a virtual drive) and get all the data off - well probably not all, but certainly everything I need off it.

But yeah - laptops generally don't have cables come loose - 95% chance it's the hard drive.
 
Chances are it'll be the same - not recognised. You'll need a converter cable anyway, as laptops don't have the same connectors as normal desktop drives. Well, I'm sure some rarities do, but only very, very rare.
 
Well after some extensive work the HDD is dead, in the laptop, the HDD is just a standard IDE Hard drive, I plugged it into my pc and it just clicks then crashes my pc.

Will I benefit from Acronis True Image? in this scenario?

thanks
 
Kerplunk said:
Can the HDD not just be taken out and slaved off from an IDE cable in my PC?
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they have a smaller connector, it provides power and data through the tiny pins

just buy a usb 2.5" hard drive caddy, they're about £5-10 online
 
Kerplunk said:
Well after some extensive work the HDD is dead, in the laptop, the HDD is just a standard IDE Hard drive, I plugged it into my pc and it just clicks then crashes my pc.

Will I benefit from Acronis True Image? in this scenario?

thanks
Click to expand...

phwoar, must be well old!

does it crash it in windows or before that? (ie does the bios recognise it?) ultimatebootcd might have a tool on it that can help, but i wouldn't hold your breath.. -quick google, its a free download, all the packages on the site contain an ISO which you need to 'burn as image' or 'burn image' to disc..
 
Cheers bledd, ill give that a bash.

It crashes in Windows, reboot PC and doesnt appeaer in BIOS, so abit of both.

And yes, it is old. The laptop itself is huge. :p
 
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