HELP, COMPUTER DOESN'S RECPGNIZE HD

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

This is going to be a bit long so thanks to everyone willing to read
thru it.
A SERIES OF MISTAKES:
In April 2004 I bought a used Dell Dimension 8250(P4,2.4GHz,40G,512ram
with an upgraded video card) on eBay. It worked fine with only 1 small
problem.
It would not reboot using the restart. I had to manually reboot it
after the saving settings message went off and it said "windows is
shutting down". But I could live with that.
MISTAKE #1: I decided to upgrade to XP pro so I bought a supposedly new
version of xp pro on eBay. The new install went fine until I rebooted
after downloading SP2. I got an error message saying "Windows Explorer
was shutting down" and to report the error to Microsoft. No matter what
I did I couldn't get out of that loop. I couldn't get to the Start Menu.
MISTAKE #2: I had 2 partitions on the HD. A C for the OS and a D for
data. I am backed up on an external USB/Firewire HD. I tried to use
FDISK to reformat the C partition, couldn't because FDISK can't deal
with NTFS.
MISTAKE #3: I then called around and found a computer place that would
reformat my HD for $25 so I had them do it. Now, my computer cannot
recognize the HD. One of the 4 diagnostic lights on PC stays orange and
all 4 of them should be green.
I don't want to throw good money after bad, but am willing to try things
if there is a chance. I could buy a new HD relatively inexpensively,
but it may not be the HD??????????
Any comments, suggestions would be extremely welcome. Thanks ahead.
Robert

 

[Fitz]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Have you backed up your data? (My Documents, etc.)

If so, try reinstalling XP, not a repair but full install. During the
install process, select to delete existing partitions. I would assume your
copy of XP that you bought is legitimate, correct? By that I mean it's a
silver MS disk with logos, etc and you have the product keys with the CD
case.


"robert t" <nodak2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8orfe.9737$U01.8616@trnddc07...
> This is going to be a bit long so thanks to everyone willing to read thru
> it.
> A SERIES OF MISTAKES:
> In April 2004 I bought a used Dell Dimension 8250(P4,2.4GHz,40G,512ram
> with an upgraded video card) on eBay. It worked fine with only 1 small
> problem.
> It would not reboot using the restart. I had to manually reboot it after
> the saving settings message went off and it said "windows is shutting
> down". But I could live with that.
> MISTAKE #1: I decided to upgrade to XP pro so I bought a supposedly new
> version of xp pro on eBay. The new install went fine until I rebooted
> after downloading SP2. I got an error message saying "Windows Explorer
> was shutting down" and to report the error to Microsoft. No matter what
> I did I couldn't get out of that loop. I couldn't get to the Start Menu.
> MISTAKE #2: I had 2 partitions on the HD. A C for the OS and a D for
> data. I am backed up on an external USB/Firewire HD. I tried to use
> FDISK to reformat the C partition, couldn't because FDISK can't deal with
> NTFS.
> MISTAKE #3: I then called around and found a computer place that would
> reformat my HD for $25 so I had them do it. Now, my computer cannot
> recognize the HD. One of the 4 diagnostic lights on PC stays orange and
> all 4 of them should be green.
> I don't want to throw good money after bad, but am willing to try things
> if there is a chance. I could buy a new HD relatively inexpensively, but
> it may not be the HD??????????
> Any comments, suggestions would be extremely welcome. Thanks ahead.
> Robert