[rshaffer61]

We tried that in post 123 and your reply was:

Thanks rshaffer61,
I just got to the recovery console and ran command fixmbr, wrote a new mbr on physical drive\Device\Harddisk0\Partition0

when I gave the command fixboot = Fixboot cannot find the system drive, or the drive specified is not valid. ???

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rshaffer61

Posted Yesterday, 10:17 AM
Please check the bios to see if it is identifying the hd correctly and then also make sure it is in the second spot in the boot sequence.

How do I check this?

[Matt37]

rshaffer61

Posted Yesterday, 10:17 AM
Please check the bios to see if it is identifying the hd correctly and then also make sure it is in the second spot in the boot sequence.

How do I check this?

[rshaffer61]

If your bios has a auto detect feature for the drives you can go to that area.
If not it should be on the main page of the bios.

[Matt37]

Going in to the "Bios Setup" menu the "Boot Sequence" list does not recognize the HDD as a WD1600... like it should, just Internal HDD. And it is still recognized as a 137GB HDD. Could this be a driver issue with the device?

Farther down the menu list is "POST Behavior" it has options of Minimal Boot, Through Boot, and Auto Boot. I have tried all three and no luck.

I looked at the BIOS setup on my Dell XPS pc and the setup is very similar and the BIOS Setup recognizes the HDD as WD250..
Seems to be the problem!
Thanks
Matt

[rshaffer61]

OK then we may need to see if there is a bios update for your system that addresses this issue.
Without going back through everything can you post the system make and model again so I can check the site for a bios upgrade?

[Matt37]

Dell Latitude 110L XP Pro SP3
BIOS Series A05

Thanks

Matt

[rshaffer61]

HERE is the list of available Bios updates. It looks like the A08 is the newest I believe.

[ZetaByteMe]

Hey all - when working with Dell machines, it is ALWAYS best to use the Service Tag alpha-numeric code, listed on the bottom, back, or side of the machine when searching for drivers, documents, and/or BIOS updates. Here is where you start: http://www.dell.com/...roductSelection

This could save you the painful experience of downloading the incorrect BIOS update file. Although these updates are supposed to be self-authenticating, I've seen cases where the wrong update actually installed.

Also, on their newer machines, the Service Tag will appear in the BIOS setup screen, and this is the best place to look if you have a machine that someone else has worked on (possible case/motherboard swap).

[rshaffer61]

Good point Zeta that guarantees everything is for that system.