HDD Problems

Hello there to all.

I have an 80Gb Hard Drive that I had to uninstall from my PC because it kept on starting up without getting into Windows. All it did was get to the title screen and restart. I have tried to reinstall Windows and I get a message saying that I have an NTFS.SYS error and can't continue. I have even tried to install the HDD as a CD Drive so I can format it, but to no avail. I am not too worried about the HDD but I do want to know if it's fixable and if I can get it to run normally again.

Thanks Heaps

Luke

 

Hello Luke, welcome to Major Geeks.

You need to do some preparatory work and give us some more information.

You tried to reinstall Windows.
Which Version?
Describe the CD?

If it is a genuine M/soft or some OEM version you should be OK to proceed.

You need to reset the boot priorities in BIOS (also called setup).
You get there by repeatedly tapping a key as yo uswitch on. Usually this key is F2 or Del but it may be different. Watch the screen.

When the BIOS screen opens look for something like boot priority or boot order
and follow the instructions to set it to CD first. Your mouse may not work in this mode.

When you have done this restart the pc with your windows disk in the CD drive.

Watch the screen

When it says press any key to boot from CD, hit the space bar.

When the first screen opens you have control of the pc and can re install windows.

Post back if you need further help here.

Some details of your PC would also be helpful next time.


Studio T

 

Here Are My Stats:

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/15/2007, 21:39:43
Machine name: SATAN
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIAK8_
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 405MB used, 1853MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

The Installation CD is an original and it great condition.
I have tried to reinstall by converting my CD ROM as the boot drive so I can reinstall of Windows XP. Now, I am getting a "Error Reading Operating System" error. I think that I have messed up BIG. Predicting to what I know about computers, I am sure that there is one or some bad sectors and it's both not reading or writing to my NTFS. Oh well. Luckily I went out a bought another hard drive. Thanks for all your help Studio T. Much appreciated.

The version that I have is Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2). The CD is a genuine Microsoft Installation CD.