T23 - Operating system not found.

Message

fredstev · #1 Post by **fredstev** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:42 pm

Well, I was copying a whole CD full of files over to my desktop, and all of a sudden I had a blue-screener, something about "media failure". Since then, when ever I try to boot up, the machine will get to the Windows XP screen and come up with the following:

Intel base code, PXE-2.1 (build 083)
PXE-E61: media test failure. Check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting intel PXE rom.
Operating system not found.

The hard disk is making a rythmic clicking sound. What do you guys think happened? hard drive go south or something?

Thanks for any help.

Marc_G · #2 Post by **Marc_G** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:52 pm

To me it sounds like a severe failure of part of the disk. The clicking sound is the main thing that worries me. You could also try removing the drive and plugging it back into the system, in case it's just poorly seated, but I doubt this will cure it.

I would get a new hard drive, restore from an image backup (you did back it up, didn't you

and then put the old drive into an Ultrabay adaptor and see if you can recover any files off of it that date since your last backup...

Good luck!

Marc

#3 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:56 pm

First, try making sure the connection between the hard disk and computer is fit and snug and that there is no dust in the connector.

Try running chkdsk or some other sort of diagnostic utility. That rythmic clicking noise, does it happen throughout the entire run of the computer or just at certain times? If it's the entire run time, then your drive is deader than Elvis. If it only makes that noise at certain times, then your drive has some new bad sectors that need to be marked off.

Either way, I wouldn't trust data on that drive.

fredstev · #4 Post by **fredstev** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:20 am

Well, this morning, I pulled the hdd out and re-seated it hoping to get lucky. It did fire right up and boot to windows. I immediately did a "disk cleanup" and selected chkdsk, then rebooted. It got to 7 percent while checking disk indexes, then started the rythmic clicking

sound. Pulled the battery and restarted, this time it made it to 15 percent before it crashed.

Sounds like a goner, eh? What do you folks advise for a replacement hdd? I see lots of them on Ebay in the 30 - 40 gig range which is more than adequate for me. Reliability would be the most important, this laptop is pretty much dedicated to running an embroidery machine & checking Email.

(yes, we had a backup, btw) Thanks for any advice.

Nolonemo · #5 Post by **Nolonemo** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:56 am

If reliability is a concern, I would not get a used drive from ebay. New hard drives are not that much cheaper on ebay than on online stores. Unfortunately for you, it's hard to find new drives smaller than 40GB now, 40GB driver are a little more than $70 at the low end. Also, since the prices are virtually the same, make sure you get a 5400 rpm drive rather than a 4200 rpm drive.

pipspeak · #6 Post by **pipspeak** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:07 pm

Definitely sound like your hard drive has died. I've had a laptop drive (Fujitsu) die on me and it just sits, spin, and clicks. And I've had a desktop drive (HP) fail - it simply stopped spinning one day on boot and the computer gave the "Cannot find OS" type message.

fredstev · #7 Post by **fredstev** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:36 pm

I've ordered a new Samsung 40 gig 5,400 rpm drive - should be here the middle of next week. I'll hold a funeral service for the old drive after the transplant.

Nolonemo · #8 Post by **Nolonemo** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:35 pm

fred - you can always try to sell your dead drive on ebay. I sold a sick 10GB drive a while ago and got good money. I was right up fron tin the description, - I gave the chckdsk stats showing hundreds of bad sectors and said that I was selling it because I didn't trust my data to it.

Got a price close to like new drives, and positive feedback from the buyer, go figure!

fredstev · #9 Post by **fredstev** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:55 pm

Nolonemo sez:
fred - you can always try to sell your dead drive on ebay. I sold a sick 10GB drive a while ago and got good money. I was right up fron tin the description, - I gave the chckdsk stats showing hundreds of bad sectors and said that I was selling it because I didn't trust my data to it.

<snip>

I'd never have the heart to do that to anyone, besides there is some semi-private info on it (nothing REALLY confidential, though). It is gonna meet Mr. ball peen after I swap out the IBM caddy.

MadeInJapan · #10 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:12 pm

Um....I was going to suggest a use for the HDD then realized it was a dumb idea...so never mind. But I definitely wouldn't sell something defective on eBay even if it was for cheap. If it's broken, then it's broken and it should go in the garbage or become some type of art or something.

T23 - Operating system not found.

T23 - Operating system not found.

Who is online