Hi guys,
I reinstalled my dell computer using Dell's "Reinstallation CD" and it won't boot in windows after installation.
The CD didn't come with the computer originally; I requested them to send it to me for this particular computer about 2 months ago. The Dell 8400 was purchased 4 years ago.
I used the Dell reinstall CD to delete all partition and reinstalled the Windows XP Home (took me 2 hours). When it restarts at the end and boots & it will not boot into windows. I see the Windows Logo for 3 seconds, and it goes to the blue screen showing:
"Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK / F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer. "
What I have tried:
- Delete partition and reinstall windows xp 4 times (it runs everything and at boot up shows logo then blue screen)
- taken out one ram stick at a time and boot (blue screen)
- Recovery Console using reinstallation disc (it runs everything and at boot up shows logo then blue screen)
- Chkdsk c: /p (it shows a lot of numbers but doesnt say anything is wrong)
- Chkdsk c: /f (The parameter is not valid. Try /? fr help)
- Taken out my sound card that I installed after I purchased the computer
The only 2 things I am suspicious about are:
1. My Geforce 8600 GTS video card. I purchased this video card 2 years ago to upgrade from the dell video card. I don't know if this is the reason why I can't boot into windows. I no longer have that dell video card.
2. Dell's installation disc. Disc # P/N MP849. (I am suspicious because it's not shipped at the same time)
Also, sometimes after the window's logo at boot up, it will show the black screen saying to start in safe mode or normal mode and any options I choose on there will take me to the blue screen again.
Here are the Specs of my Dell Dimension 8400:
Processor Type: Intel Pentium 4
Processor Speed: 3 ghz
Ram: 1.25 GB (1 is 1gb, 1 is 256mb)
Boot Sequence: CD > IDE hard drive (not present) > Sata hard drive
Primary Video controller: PEG
Video Card: replaced the dell video card with Geforce 8600 2 years ago.
I 've read some forum about install Raid controller & I am not sure what it is and why would my situation needs it. But maybe that's something I will try next.
I am not very IT savvy, I learn most things through reading blogs. So please provide me instructions/steps on what to do or a link will help, truly appreciated your time!
Cathy :)
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Sime,
If you think 3rd party driver is needed, would you say that I can use the Dell Resources CD (drivers that came with the dell computer) that was sent to me ?
So does that mean I need to make a raid controller driver ?
How about the video card that I purchased ? that driver is not on the Dell's driver disc. Do I need to worry about my video card's driver? or the raid controller disc will help me to get into windows?
Thanks!
Cathy
The cd could have the driver you need, you dont actually need to make a raid controller driver, you can also add regular drivers to the installation even though it says raid. The easiest way to find what driver you would need, would be to goto: http://support.dell.com/su
That's good news for me!
So exactly how do I do it? If I can't get into windows to install driver, and the installation disc is already in the computer... how do I get the driver disc to load? and at when do i load it (at the beginging when it says hit F6 for raid? ) Sorry if my questions sounds too basic. I pretty much have no clue. THanks!
Its not a problem, you would do it at the begining, when you first put in the windows disc it will prompt you for 3rd party drivers, i think it is F5 but i am not 100% sure, as it has been a while that i have needed to do it. If you can the best thing to do would be to put the driver on a usb drive, and have it attached to the computer when you start to install
in that case, can you burn the drivers onto a cd? as you should be able to switch the cds to add the drivers in.
Also, i was thinking you may want to run the diagnostics on the computer, as you have a dell, i believe you can press F12 at the Dell splash screen and follow the prompts to run the scans to make sure that the hardware is working properly.
Hi -
If the system is booting from the CD (did you make change in BIOS?) & the CD is good, XP would load. No problem with the hard drive until post-reformat? I think the problem may be on your hard drive - files from the prior install on a hidden partition. Or possibly files ruined and left by the formats within XP. Wipe the ENTIRE hard drive with KillDisk</A> - make a bootable ISO CD with ImgBurn</A> and low-level format the hard drive. XP would see the prior install and could be giving you "false"" errors, especially if the 0x7b occurs during CD boot-up - there s/b nothing on the HDD to cause the 0x7b... I didn't see you mention anywhere that the BSOD occurred prior to the reformats, I believe. If BIOS is set correctly and the CD is being read 1st, it should give you option to "press any key to boot from CD..".
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by: sime1981Posted on 2009-05-26 at 12:01:47ID: 24476338
Cathy,
It sounds like the cd that dell sent you does not have the proper driver for your systems hard drive controler, as that is what normally is the problem when i see that error message. When you goto install windows you will have an option to add 3rd party drivers, which i would bet you will need to do, however i do not know what driver you would need to have added. Thats the tricky part, the only way to find that out would be to look up what specifically was installed on your computer on dells website.