Cascade Crew

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject: pc guru question (laptop)

So I got ahold of an alienware 51/766 laptop. But it has a small harddrive in it. So I went and got a 250gig one to plug in. But I cant get the alien recovery disk to recognize it, or a true windows xp-pro disk.

Any suggestions?

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject:

What do you mean you can't get a recovery disk to see it? The Windows setup utility doesn't see it as partionable?

Does the bios auto detect it correctly?

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:44 am Post subject:

Uh, dunno on the bios. Will have to re-install it and figure out how to get into the bios tonight.

Didnt think of that, was in a hurry and started getting pissed off.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:13 am Post subject:

Brought it to work with me.

Yes bios recognizes a WD 250gig hd.

Even with the recovery cd, it wont seem to boot from the cd. Yet bios says to boot from cd before HD. Any way to force a load from CD?

Dewey316 · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:36 am Post subject:

Remove the HD from the boot order.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:00 am Post subject:

I'm starting to wonder if this cd drive is bad. Every time you turn it on it does something different. UGH.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

Do you have another PC? You could get a usb laptop harddrive enclosure and load windows onto it. Then put it in your laptop with the cd drive removed. Might get it to boot up and get driver installs going.

CD drives that are bad in laptops can definitely cause alot of problems.

Xophertony · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:41 am Post subject:

Paul makes a good recomendation, however before going through the work of trying to get drivers installed on an already installed copy of windows, i might try finding a USB CDROM drive and trying that. failing an actual USB CDROM a sata or IDE HDD TO usb adapter will work with a CD Drive plugged into it.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject:

Actually, the drive has xp loaded onto it already. I wonder if thats whats causing problems. I had it mounted into another laptop that I was going to fix up. But got this one for less then I was going to have fixed up into the other. Then figured I could "easily" slap this hd in it. WRONG!!!

This thing has option to load from external device. I was thinking of formating one of my usb thumb drives for boot option, and copy my xp disk to it. Should that work? I dont know anyone who has an external cd drive.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:17 am Post subject:

found someone who had an external cd drive. Acts like its not even on it. But does recognize it when booting up.

Rolling Eyes

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:48 am Post subject:

holy crap. I am not even understanding the way to make a bootable thumb drive. I thought it would be just format the thing with the /s command, then loading the xp disk onto it. Man was I wrong!!!

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:45 am Post subject:

No you can't just format with the system files, making USB bootable is a pain in the arse.

Do some searching, there are a couple share/freeware tools for creating these.

--John

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:11 am Post subject:

yea, I'm seeing several different ways, and having to download several different programs.

Makes me want to go back to p-120's, win 98, floppy disk Laughing

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:18 am Post subject:

If the CD-ROM drive works at all, you can boot from a floppy, then start the windows install from the command line.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:59 am Post subject:

No floppy drive Laughing

Its a laptop.

I tried using http://www.pctipsbox.com/installing-windows-xp-using-a-usb-flash-drive/ looks like the one file is no longer downloadable anywhere. Even google searching.

Can you provide me a link to a good method where I can acutally get the programs.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:33 am Post subject:

tried this one

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=4900

dunno if I did it right or wrong. No boot.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:26 am Post subject:

I cant believe this. Wipe the cd laser lense off, installs. Evil or Very Mad

But I still think this cd drive is going out, its clunking alot. Would not work well playing a movie on.

Xophertony · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:01 am Post subject:

at least you got it going, welcome to the hell that IT people like John and I live at least weekly.

google 'SATA drivers needed for install of XP' and just thank the maker you did not have to deal with that.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject:

LOL. Its not a sata drive. But I know you gotta have drivers for everything Rolling Eyes

I still dont know if I did the jump drive properly..... need test machine Twisted Evil