PCG-GRS170 ---> PXE-E61: Media test failure, check

Well guys I am new here & I have a problem. I recived a laptop as a gift. It's used but hey it'as a laptop. It's a SONY Vaio PCG-GRS170 Model. But I am having problems booting/installing WinXP on it. First of all the original HD died when I took it out hooked it up to my desktop(using 2.5 converter) it simply died. I went & bought a NEW HD Samsung 40GB 8m 5400RPM. Installed it but I keep getting error msgs:

PXE-E61: Media Test Failure, Check Cable ---> Now my CD-Rom dosen't have a cable it plugs itself into the motherboard

PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM ---> Whatever that means

Operating System not found ---> Obviously since there is no OS on the HD


I tried DISABELING the Network then I get only 1mgs:

Operating System Not found


Strange. I tried setting HD first then second in the BIOS Booting sequence. Dosne't matter same error. What should I do? Is there anyway to reset the BIOS? Somehow? PLS Guys I am in desperate need of making that laptop work.

PS: BIOS DOES NOT support boot VIA USB & since there is no floppy on the laptop I am ****ed. I even borrowed an external USB CD-Rom not use for it thou.

 

There looks to be some useful info at

http://www.nocrash.com/ncbbs/msgs/3247.shtml

I've got a two year old pc with lots of junk on it and as soon as I reformatted and reloaded everything, I got the same error message, so it looks like a glich in the software.

Regards

Martin Hogan