Insert CD and hit enter

[pmckinnie]

Hi,

First off this has been fixed, I think, but anyway I am asking the question to see what the problem was caused by.

This machine running XP Pro Sp2. AMD 3000+. This machine had been on for several hours, then I had to leave, so I shut the machine down. When I returned seversl hours later and started it up again, I got this response, insert CD and hit enter to boot. After trying a lot of different things, I removed the data connector,( ribbon cable) and started the machine. It booted normally and everything was as normal, less the programs on the removed drive. I shut down the machine, reconnected the second drive, and started up the machine again. It booted normally and everything was normal. That was 2 days ago and it still boots normally and has no errors.

Ok, my question is, what happened to cause this problem?? Could there have been a glich in the BIOS and removing the drive cleared it up?? Would be interesting to know in case it happens again.

Thanks for any comments.

cheers, mac

[ProfessorU]

I suspect that your primary partition wasn't visible to the BIOS. Checking the connector was the most logical thing to do. This could also be an early indication of hardware failure. Now would be a great time to back things up! Good luck and here's to hoping it was just a loose cable!

[pmckinnie]

Hi again,

The computer is still booting up and running normally at this time. I am going to get a new 200 gig drive and set it up as primary and the other drive as secondary, then start moving stuff over and try to get everything on the one drive in different partitions. The primary now is an older 40 gig drive. The secondary is a 160 gig that is only about a year old. That should take care of the possible problems from the older drive.

Thanks for the coments and ideas.

Cheers mac

[Train]

I have had that happen many times over the years. Unplugging and replugging the connectors tends to clean the contacts and reestablish good connections.

Backing up is a very good idea, Hate to see you lose stuff.

[pmckinnie]

Hi Train,

Yes it gets hard to lose suff that you have on a hard drive. I lost some pictures once that were very hard to replace but got most of them on another trip to the same area.

I'll get a 100 gig drove and copy the old 40 gig that is currently the primary drive. I use that computer in conjunction with my ham radio and have a large log that I don't want to lose.

Take care all.

cheers mac

[pmckinnie]

Hi,

Well, I put a new 200 gig drive in and ran ghost and now have it running. The old primary was a 40 gig that had been in for about 3-4 years maybe even longer either in this machine or another one. Well I have an extra one now.

This computer now seems to run quieter than before, maybe just my imagination. In any case it is done and running.

Thanks..

cheers mac

[ProfessorU]

A lot of new drives are quieter. Failing drives can be REALLY loud, too.
Some of the new drives are coming from the manufacturer in quiet mode by default. You can disable this and usually get 5-10% more performance from the drive.

[Train]

Sure funny how you can buy a 200GB hdd for cheaper than a 40GB.

Glad you are up and running.