uh-oh......need help!

[edmann]

Greetings Everyone

Thanks in advance for reading this.

I was trying to add another HD to my PC, and created a new partiton on the new disc that I was intending to install XP OS on with the idea that eventually that would become the new active startup partition.

Halfway thru the XP installation - an error came up indicating thatr Windows had detected some kind of drive error, and could not go forward w/o startingup from an emergency startup floppy - which I do not have (did not make one - my bad. yes.)

So I disconnected the new HD, IDE and power, but still this error window comes up when trying to reboot the computer.

The computer would appear to be stuck mid-XP install - with no way to even access the BIOS upon restart, and I have no clue what to do.

And so - I call upon YOU THE EXPERTS for advice on how to get myself out of this quandry.

thanks very much - I appreciate all input.

best regards

Ed Mann

[wockachucka]

Originally posted by edmann:
.....with no way to even access the BIOS upon restart.....

Wow...that's bad.

With either PS you cannot even get into the BIOS? Does it even POST?

If not, either the HDD is shorting the MB or the MB may be bad.

Is the HDD that's in there now jumpered correctly?

Is there another bootable (crashable) HDD that you can put into the system to see if you can at least access the BIOS?

If not, are there any jumper switches on your motherboard?

[wockachucka]

Wait...reading your post again, it actaully sounds like there is an issue with the primary IDE drive (the one that you've got you OS on now). Or maybe the IDE cables...reseat them and make sure they're going to the right places. Double-check your jumper settings.

Are you *sure* you can't get into the BIOS?

Based on the inof you've already given, if you were to boot up with only your new HDD in there, I'd wager you could partition it up and install Windows on it without issue.

[This message has been edited by wockachucka (edited 02-04-2004).]

[Bops2000]

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/n1065186630
Just a site to poke around in perhaps may have a few answers (I don't use xp)

[This message has been edited by Bops2000 (edited 02-04-2004).]