Hi, I am a newbie hoping not to sound too ignorant. I hope I can relay the problem so that I can get this problem fixed. I have an HP pavillion 7480 with xp media edition, I had a 300gb hard drive that was working fine untill my children started touching it. I suspect that a few files have been deleted, not the least of which, ntldr.
I even went so far as to follow another websites advice and replaced the 300 with a 500 and it wouldn't allow windows to be installed either....
I have checked the bios, it is seeing both of the hard drives, the bios is current, but still we have issues...

Here is what it is doing...
on boot with nothing in drives to assist...I get a xp logo flash, then blue hp startup screen and immediate flip to the black screen that offers startup with safe mode, safe mode with command, or last known...no option works have tried all... just keeps looping..

then I put in the xp installation disk, and get the message to press any key to boot from cd.. I press enter setup begins, files load, things look temporarily happy...
Setup is starting windows, I click r for repair I get c propmpt...
I tried fixboot, I get can not find system drive or drive is not valid.
I tried chkdsk, it says that the volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems.
It isn't recognizing that there are two drives in the computer at all...

I have also tried to hit f10 with xp installation disk in cdrom bay....everything begins to load as normal...

I have even tried to use a windows 98 disk and that didn't work either...
so I am at a loss... admittedly I am not too familiar with programming or repair, but I am willing to try anything to avoid putting the computer in an overpriced shop only to have another bad experience and tins of lost data..

I have even tried removing old drive and just trying to get new one to accept xp...no luck.
I tried to make a boot disk, I can't get anything to work, I know I must be missing a step or doing something wrong...

I am hoping that someone could give me step by step instructions, in simple terms. I am willing to try anything...

I am grateful for any assistance anyone can offer.
Sincerest thanks,
Joyce

Hi Joyce

A few files the best thing to do as your not sure what has been deleted is to perform a complete reinstall using the XP disk "backup all you can "if you have the means" and boot from the XP disk and follow the on screen instructions

Cindy X

I tried doing a full install, it wont recognize either drive when windows looks for a place to install....for all four possible positions, it says "Unknown Disk, there is no disk in this drive"... I have rechecked that all cables are connected and all power is as well...any suggestions?

Just a question is the intended HDD IDE or SATA ?

It is Sata

Hi Joyce

I asked because i was wondering if you had installed the SATA drivers ?, some reading > SATA

Cindy

It is a Western Digital 500gb Sata that came with the installation disk, I used the disk and still no luck, it just isn't recognizing the drives, even the old drive is recognozed by the bios, but not during the steps to repair xp.
I have switched out power supplies, swapped cords, still nothing.

OK Joyce

Lets start at the root of the Computer, can you switch off all power and disconnect the power cable from the back of the Computer and leave it disconnected for a full 45mins when you do this press the on button "this will drain any power left in the system to the LEDs / Fans", then remove the Motherboard battery (and please do follow ESD - "Electro Static Discharge" guide lines, leave the battery out for 15mins.
When the time is up power up the Computer and check your hardware is showing in BIOS if all is showing try the XP disk from boot again.

ok, tried that and it is still not recognizing either drive outside of the BIOS... anything else I can try?

Are the drives not showing in my Computer ?