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    Installed new hard drive Issue

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 12, 2010.

  1. xxwolfsrainxx

    xxwolfsrainxx Newbie

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    Okay So I installed a new hard drive into the secondary slot, installed an OS and all the drivers to it. Before I whiped the hard drive it would let me choose between which Windows 7 to open, between the hard drives. Then I Whiped the hard drive that comes from dell. Rebooted and it says, Cannot find operating system. I tried changing the boot disc prioirty to the other hard drive using - and nothing changed. I still receive this issue. Anyone know how to fix it with out opening it up and switching the hard drive spots?
     
    xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 12, 2010
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  2. xxwolfsrainxx

    xxwolfsrainxx Newbie

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    I also updated to A05 bios. I have no idea if this effects any of it but just thought it would be helpful.
     
    xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 12, 2010
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  3. nzgeek

    nzgeek Notebook Evangelist

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    When you install to a secondary hard drive, the Windows installer doesn't create a boot record. It just updates the boot record on the primary drive.

    What you need to do now is to boot up off your Windows install DVD and use the bootrec tool to create a new boot record. Microsoft have a KB article saying how to do it.

    Once this is done you should be able to boot up no worries.
     
    nzgeek, Aug 12, 2010
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  4. xxwolfsrainxx

    xxwolfsrainxx Newbie

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    So I wish I had know that earlier because I just reinstalled windows on it. That fixed it but now it only recognizes the first hard drive within windows. I cannot access or do anything to the dell hard drive. Know how to fix this?
     
    xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 12, 2010
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  5. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    You can type "disk management" into the start menu and it should bring up "create and format hard disk partitions" This is what you want to reformat the secondary HDD so that it will be recognized in windows. May as well wipe it and reformat it and use it as a storage drive.
     
    DR650SE, Aug 12, 2010
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  6. xxwolfsrainxx

    xxwolfsrainxx Newbie

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    DR that fixed it. But now I am having another issue. For some reason, when I go to restart and it is before the windows loading screen, it is stuck on black screen with flashing "_" then I have to hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and then it reboots bios again and then it loads up windows fine. Anyone know this issue?
     
    xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 12, 2010
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  7. xxwolfsrainxx

    xxwolfsrainxx Newbie

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    Okay I noticed something. It acts like its giong to the boot menu and then it just has that _ bar blinking. I think it's trying to go through CD or diagnostics or something before the hard drive. Hmm. But my device priority within the bios says Hard drive first. Know how to fix this issue?
     
    xxwolfsrainxx, Aug 13, 2010
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  8. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Hmm, is this the M17x R1? Try this, it was posted in another thread months ago. Me and another guy had the same issue, and worked to resolve it for quite a while till he found this. This was his post,

     
    DR650SE, Aug 13, 2010
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