Member Avatar for war3n3xt

Hiya Im new to all this fixing computers stuff, I do the websites at work normally but blagged this extra job fixing the damn things.. everythings been fine so far. I do a bit of lurking here and bang problem sorted.. not this time I have a dell (details to follow) that needed a wipe due to bsod. so i went to run a boot disc to wipe it but it wouldent recognise the disc.. so i took out the sata drive piggybacked it into an identicle machine and formatted from windows.. put it back and set the bios to boot from G/windows xp disc.. now i get bootmgr is missing ctl-alt-delete for endless cycle..
please please help me .. ive spent hours googling and trying bare bones method.. still nothing.. now im starting to look like a right -----? please help
your befrazzed pal
jode.......

the machine is:-
DELL DIMENSION 5100
SERV TAG:- 314MQ1J

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Bob_180_Bob

Dani AI

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Quick follow-up and practical checklist based on ’s thread and ’s pointers. The problem you hit is a common one when moving, wiping or reinstalling Windows on a drive that was prepared on a different machine or with different controller settings. The short advice below focuses on reliable prep, what to check before you swap drives, and rescue options if a system refuses to boot.

  • Verify firmware sees the drive first. If the BIOS/firmware does not list the disk the OS installer or rescue tools cannot touch it.
  • Match storage mode to the OS. Older installers (Windows XP) may need the controller in IDE/compatibility mode or require separate mass‑storage drivers during setup. If you cannot load drivers during setup, create install media with the needed drivers integrated (tools such as nLite can help).
  • Keep partitioning compatible with the target machine. Legacy BIOS + older Windows expect MBR/basic disks; GPT or dynamic disks created by newer tools can prevent a BIOS/XP machine from booting.
  • When preparing a drive on a different PC: avoid using proprietary or newer filesystem/partition features that the target OS does not support. Also check cables/ports and mark the correct partition active.

If the machine fails to boot after a swap, boot a rescue environment (Windows PE, Hiren’s or a vendor rescue ISO) to confirm the partition table, active flag, and that the OS files are present. Use recovery tools from the original OS media or a trusted rescue disk to repair the boot environment or restore a working MBR/bootloader. When dealing with SATA/AHCI issues or driver loading during install, slipstreaming drivers or using a rescue ISO that already contains them will save time.

References and useful tools:

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Member Avatar for gerbil

Oops, wrong thread!!

Member Avatar for Thinka

Hey there, have you checked the Microsoft website, or maybe given them a call? I can't think of any other way to get your bootmgr, oh, or Dell. Sorry can't be of much help.

Member Avatar for gerbil

Jode, bootmgr is Vista, right? You might try the piggyback again but format using Windows XP, not Vista. Reason is that format clears the file tables, writes in the file system structure and the MBR for that partition. If you do a normal format that partition's disc structure is also checked for errors, whereas with a quick format it is not checked. These are both high level formattings. Neither of them are data erasures!
Are you certain you got the boot order correct? Try F11 during startup POST. Start the Recovery Console from your XP cd, format [quick or normal, no mater here] and fixboot.

Member Avatar for war3n3xt

Jode, bootmgr is Vista, right? You might try the piggyback again but format using Windows XP, not Vista. Reason is that format clears the file tables, writes in the file system structure and the MBR for that partition. If you do a normal format that partition's disc structure is also checked for errors, whereas with a quick format it is not checked. These are both high level formattings. Neither of them are data erasures!
Are you certain you got the boot order correct? Try F11 during startup POST. Start the Recovery Console from your XP cd, format [quick or normal, no mater here] and fixboot.

Haa Yes.. I did quick format the drive on another machine but with vista installed.. Duhhhh..
thanks i shall try again .. full format.. and let you know how i got on thanks..
*slaps head*
jode

Member Avatar for war3n3xt

thanks .. all soeted was indeed due to re-formatting hdd with vista then trying to install xp.. thankyou

Member Avatar for gerbil

It's a complicated world out there....
Cheers, glad you're sorted.

Member Avatar for war3n3xt

hey gerbil thanks mate.. i do have another problem if your around to help its at
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread115309.html much appriciated.. english was a tad bad due to sleeping with the sound of bleep codes running through my mind... ;)

Member Avatar for Klippies

A wekk or two ago we installed a new Hard drive on a friends computer, somehow the boot priority got turned around.

1. Open tower.
2. Disconnect new Hard drive.
3. Re- start PC
...
.....
All back to normal ... Before we did this I tried everything to change boot sequence... This was the only way ...

Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

Hi,
You have jumped on an old thread, you should have started a new one.
What were the boot priorities, what are they now, what did you do to try and change them.
QUOTE"
1. Open tower.
2. Disconnect new Hard drive.
3. Re- start PC"
What did you get the PC to boot to ? without a hard drive in it?
Something has to change in the BIOS for the boot priorities to change, you can not do it by booting without a hard drive.
Now, what is it you want from here? I do not understand what advice you are looking for.

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