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metaldeth_shredder
10-14-2007, 10:37 PM
Hi all,

do you like puzzles?

sometimes I do, other times I don't have much time for them

Most times prefer playing my Instruments(guitar and bass :thumb: ) rather than doing puzzles,

resolving this issue by research may take a considerable amount of time it is looking like,

for the most part I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers both from a Software perspective as well as a Hardware perspective,

meaning the majority of the time I can solve just about anything,
(btw I'm humble too) LOL :D

with research I WILL figure this out, but since I know many of you are quite knowledgeable, wanted to hear your educated/experienced thoughts



here's the hardware/software issue:

a couple of days ago a friend of mine was moving out of town, and asked if I wanted a computer that he had stored in his garage, because he "didn't have room for it when moving"
his mother had bought this computer at a garage sale, and he had never used it. I told him I already had 2 computers, one very good one, and 1 computer that is average as a backup.
I asked what this computer was, and found out it was a pentium4, which was a better cpu than my backup computer :thumb:

so yeah I said I would take it, worse case scenario I figured I could use it for backup parts

FYI:
I've opened enough computers up to know what I"m doing, and not let static electricity harm computers





here's what happened,
after powering my friends computer up it says the harddrive listed
(also FYI the harddrive is listed in the Bios when you go into the bios)

and that the harddrive is the primary master (that's the 1st initial black screen)
goes to the second black screen and brings up this msg
Non-System Disk or Disk Error

ok,

so made sure all cables were checked, even switched cables to make sure none were bad, also I virus scanned harddrive via Dos system and it said no virus noted,

still got the same msg,

floppy drive is empty and works fine

unplugged anything that wasn't needed, to simplify troubleshooting

so lets try a harddrive that I know for sure works which is my average backup harddrive,

I attach my backup harddrive into my friends computer and it brings up the same message,
Non-System Disk or Disk Error

FYI:
both harddrives are making appropriate sounds when booting up, without abnormal noises,
so they sound like they are working properly

so lets go try my friends harddrive in my backup computer,
yep brought up the same msg,

then to my unpleasant surprise
worse yet when I plug MY backup harddrive back into my backup computer now it is giving the same message
Non-System Disk or Disk Error

whoa, this was not expected :chucks:



to summarize,
good backup computer and it's harddrive now presenting msg:
Non-System Disk or Disk Error

ran 2 different virus programs, thinking it Might be some kind of unusual BOOT VIRUS, both programs say no virus,

went to DOS ran FDisk/mbr, fixboot,
ran bootscan says no virus

fdisk choice number 4 says there is a partition for each harddrive,

but still msg:
Non-System Disk or Disk Error

on 2 seperate harddrives on 2 seperate computers


luckily I have a good computer which neither of these 2 harddrives are going near, LOL

your thoughts?

P.S. forgot to say I'm running WinXP operating system

slicer
10-14-2007, 11:48 PM
well that is strange/scary how your good drive got written/corrupted :dunno:

have you tried formatting friends drive in friends pute?

that might test if bios is corrupted? :headscratch:

regards,
jim.

metaldeth_shredder
10-15-2007, 12:11 AM
thanks for the reply Slicer,

FYI:
forgot to say friends computer had OS system, win98SE

quote:
"have you tried formatting friends drive in friends pute?

that might test if bios is corrupted?

yes did that, it formatted fine, but upon reboot same message

is there something that tests if the bios is corrupted?

Pod God
10-15-2007, 06:48 AM
Usually this error is one of 3 things...

-a floppy left in the drive
-a boot-sector virus
-the boot sector is damaged

Since you already ruled out the first 2, the hard drive’s boot sector, probably has been damaged. Windows Recovery Console has two utilities you can use to try to repair your boot sector: FIXBOOT or FIXMBR. FIXBOOT writes an entirely new boot sector, while FIXMBR repairs the MBR (master boot record) in the boot sector.

3fingers
10-15-2007, 04:05 PM
I would short the BIOS to clear it (it's a jumper, remove it and place it on one pin, and then put it back the same way). Select the defaults in the BIOS. Reformat again. Download the HD's diagnostics (from the respective sites i.e. Seagate, etc). See if you can do a low level format. Also if the power supply is not giving the proper +5v, it could corrupt things for the HD's you plugged in.

As for the "was-working" HD...I like Pod God's advice about the recovery console. Do that one in your backup PC. There are utilities on the "Ultimate Boot Disk" that may help you with BIOS problems.

http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/

metaldeth_shredder
10-16-2007, 12:49 AM
Hi PodGod(Charles) and 3fingers,

thanks for the advice,

shorted the bios and even took out the cmos battery and reset cmos,

also tried different power supply,

did fixboot, and fixmbr. fdisk/mbr

appreciate your responses, as I know you are very knowledgeable about computers,

unfortunately no improvement,

but I won't give up until I know what is going on(what caused this), and what the solution is :D

slicer
10-16-2007, 02:12 AM
tried "flashing" the bios?..any signs of phsyical damage on the mobo?..IDE cables seated properly?...id unplug/replug all cables.

regards,
jim.

bluesplayer
10-22-2007, 12:51 AM
Interesting , im guessing but i wonder if the power supply on the p4 pc was sending out dodgy voltages , which would mince any drives put in it .

Ultimately i would get hold of another old cheap shitty HD and try this again , if this drive goes up the swanny , i would change the ide cable , try it in ide 2 , and check the voltage on the feed to it which should be i think , 5 volt .:headscratch: .

Other than that im puzzled , but i do love a good computer puzzle .