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Solve : Windows XP Won't boot up after fresh install. Please help.? |
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Answer» Quote from: William56 on January 11, 2011, 12:58:12 PM ...This computer appears to have a non standard or invalid master boot record. I am not sure what all this means...This seems to indicate you have a Dell hard drive. "...The Dell Utility partition exists in one of two states. It's convenient to think of these two states like opening a factory-fresh package in which the package is initially sealed, and then you break the seal and open the package. A new computer arrives from Dell in the 'sealed' state. When the computer is booted from the hard disk for the very first time, the user MUST acknowledge the Dell End-User License Agreement (EULA), is prompted to record the Dell SERVICE Tag for future reference, and then the computer is allowed to boot into Windows. Once the seal is broken (that is, the computer has booted at least once), this first-time procedure is not repeated. After the computer has booted once in the sealed state, it changes itself to the 'unsealed' state. The Dell Utility partition becomes dormant and does not boot again unless the user deliberately launches it from the bios boot menu. Otherwise, the computer boots directly into Windows..." Windows Disk Management will confirm this. Download & install Easus Free Partition Manger: http://www.partition-tool.com/?gclid=CKqQ-uf7sqYCFcqs7QodEmo4Zw If the hidden partiton exists, you can delete it and resize the Windows partition.Computer_Commando thanks for your reply. I bought this HD still in its sealed package. It was purchased new. If its a dell hard drive in some way there is no indication anywhere mentioning this. QUESTION: If in fact this HD has the kind of Dell Utility partition is there a way of removing it? I am so sick of this problem that I am considering the possibility of trying to install it on the second IDE port just to see it it will access normally. If I do this I understand I will still need a main HD w/ a full o/s on the first IDE port. My opint is that if my idea works at least I won't have spent money on this Westen Digital 120 GB HD for nothing. You mention that Windows Disk management will confirm that this troublesome hard drive might be a dell drive? Perhaps you can show me how to test this option. So far I have used DM and it has not shown me that this drive is a dell one in any way. No dialogue box has popped up or any other PC related message. I will down load the partition MANAGER you offered. I will inform you how this works out either way. Thanks Computer_Commamdo. I have downloaded the program you suggested. I have not FOUND anything that suggests a dell partition. Perhaps you can advise me further. Thanks.Dell does NOT make HDD's... Also they do NOT ship new HDD's with a hidden recovery partition... This would violate their terms of liscense agreements with MS. The drive should be completely empty...Quote from: patio on January 13, 2011, 01:34:39 PM 1. Dell does NOT make HDD's...1. Drive will have no visual indication it was intended for a Dell. 2. Drive was purchased from a reseller. The partition in question is NOT a recovery partition, but a Dell Utility Partition which only functions with a Dell BIOS. 3. I acquired one like this & didn't recognize it had a Dell partition until I used Partition Magic a saw a small "unknown" partition CALLED "Dellxxx" at the beginning of the drive. BTW, the Dell Recovery partition is at the end of the drive. There was nothing at the end of my drive & it's possible Dell has the drive manufacturer place the Utility Partition on the drive for them.Quote from: William56 on January 13, 2011, 09:26:15 AM Computer_Commamdo. I have downloaded the program you suggested. I have not found anything that suggests a dell partition. Perhaps you can advise me further. Thanks.If there is no indication of a partition before the Windows partition, then the problem could be due to the DataLifeguard tools you used. Depending on the version you used, if you selected install EZ-BIOS it could cause the issues you are having. This seems to be the manual for the latest software: http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/other/2779-001005.pdf |
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