Can't boot from hard drive

OliOliUmphry · 18-03-2008, 08:19 PM

I have a very bizarre problem. I cannot boot from any hard drive. I know that in and of itself isn't bizarre, but the following seems to be....

If I put a Windows XP disk in the CD drive and both the hard drive and optical drive are connected, it will boot past POST and then stop with a flashing cursor. If I disconnect the hard drive, it will boot past POST, read the CD and run setup. No matter what, if a hard drive is present, it will just stop after IDE detection and flash the cursor.

I've check the BIOS and the hard drive is recognized and it's setup to boot from CD first. I've tried another known good hard drive, tried changing cables and IDE slots. Even cleared CMOS. I've pretty much tried every configuration that I can think of. Nothing seems to work.

Has anyone ever encountered this issue? I'm thinking MOBO but am confused as the optical drive works on both the primary and secondary IDE channels.

Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Windows XP Home
Compaq Presario S4120WM with FIC AM37 Motherboard

Wildcard · 18-03-2008, 08:58 PM

Have you tried it with just the hard drive and no optical drive connected? I'm wondering if its a power issue where the hard drives are now not getting enough power.

OliOliUmphry · 19-03-2008, 01:25 AM

Yes I have tried it with just the hard drive. Two different ones as a matter of fact. Also tried just hard drive in both IDE channels.

Thanks for your imput however.

I almost feel that I'm missing something simple as we sometimes look so hard for the complex issues that we overlook the simple things. However, I do feel that I've been thorough in my troubleshooting.

18-03-2008, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
OliOliUmphry Geek Trainee Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Status: Offline	Can't boot from hard drive I have a very bizarre problem. I cannot boot from any hard drive. I know that in and of itself isn't bizarre, but the following seems to be.... If I put a Windows XP disk in the CD drive and both the hard drive and optical drive are connected, it will boot past POST and then stop with a flashing cursor. If I disconnect the hard drive, it will boot past POST, read the CD and run setup. No matter what, if a hard drive is present, it will just stop after IDE detection and flash the cursor. I've check the BIOS and the hard drive is recognized and it's setup to boot from CD first. I've tried another known good hard drive, tried changing cables and IDE slots. Even cleared CMOS. I've pretty much tried every configuration that I can think of. Nothing seems to work. Has anyone ever encountered this issue? I'm thinking MOBO but am confused as the optical drive works on both the primary and secondary IDE channels. Any help would certainly be appreciated. Windows XP Home Compaq Presario S4120WM with FIC AM37 Motherboard

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18-03-2008, 08:58 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Wildcard Big Geek Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 107 Times Helpful: 15 My Mood: Sad Status: Offline My Computer	Have you tried it with just the hard drive and no optical drive connected? I'm wondering if its a power issue where the hard drives are now not getting enough power.

19-03-2008, 01:25 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
OliOliUmphry Geek Trainee Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Status: Offline	Yes I have tried it with just the hard drive. Two different ones as a matter of fact. Also tried just hard drive in both IDE channels. Thanks for your imput however. I almost feel that I'm missing something simple as we sometimes look so hard for the complex issues that we overlook the simple things. However, I do feel that I've been thorough in my troubleshooting.

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