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    Compaq c300 hdd problem

    Discussion in 'HP' started by mikehende, Dec 5, 2008.

  1. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    This laptop got infected with a virus, I bought a new HDD and I am trying to reload the Xp on it but it is saying that no HDD is installed so the unit does not seem to be recognizing the HDD but it's not only this HDD, I tried a few others and same result. Help?

    p.s. The HDD passed the system's Diagnostics Tool's test.
     
    mikehende, Dec 5, 2008
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  2. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    I also don't see the HDD being recognized anywhere in the BIOS, the boot order doesn't list a HDD, only cd-rom, floppy and Internal network adapter boot. Maybe I need to flash the BIOS?
     
    mikehende, Dec 5, 2008
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  3. S_P_Q_R

    S_P_Q_R Notebook Evangelist

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    Try formatting it.
     
    S_P_Q_R, Dec 5, 2008
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  4. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    formatting what, the HDD? I already said I tried to reload the OS but it does not get to the formatting option because it does not recognize a HDD.
     
    mikehende, Dec 5, 2008
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  5. S_P_Q_R

    S_P_Q_R Notebook Evangelist

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    Try booting from your disc then putting in the hdd back in, if not try connect the HDD to a desktop with these type of cables to format.

    This sceond option has worked for others with simular issues.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    S_P_Q_R, Dec 5, 2008
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  6. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    Don't understand the purpose of this please? At what point should I put the HDD back in? I will try the 2nd option but curious about the first?
     
    mikehende, Dec 5, 2008
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  7. S_P_Q_R

    S_P_Q_R Notebook Evangelist

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    Stop it trying to boot from the hdd, next reboot put it back in. You might have a backlog in the queue from the start sequence to the HDD and booting without the HDD might flash it. It's just a suggestion, it might work or might not.
     
    S_P_Q_R, Dec 5, 2008
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  8. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, regarding the 2nd option, I attach the HDD as a slave to my desktop HDD and when I put the OS cd in it will give me the option to choose which drive I wish to format, is this correct?
     
    mikehende, Dec 6, 2008
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  9. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    As usual, strange stuff going on here, the new empty drive does not show when I add it to my machine so I cannot format it, the old drive shows when I add it BUT when I place the old drive back into the laptop it does not show in the BIOS or in the boot options yet I can still go to windows and do anything as per normal so doesn't this suggest a BIOS problem?
     
    mikehende, Dec 8, 2008
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  10. mikehende

    mikehende Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, problem solved. After my last post, I decided to follow up on my earlier mentioned instinct that this was a BIOS problem so I did a search on the net for flashing the BIOS on this laptop which led me to a thread which mentioned:

    I did that and I ma presently finishing loading XP on the new drive, appreciate the help guys!!
     
    mikehende, Dec 8, 2008
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