Problems installing OS

[SuperDave]

I'm trying to repair a computer for my hockey buddy and I ran into this problem. His HD is defective. In fact, it's so bad that when I slaved it to another computer, it wouldn't allow the computer to boot. He has another HD of equal size so I figured that I would install the OS on that HD and get him back in business. I tried booting with the OS disk in and I just get the message that "There's no OS installed." Could I slave that HD on another computer, install the OS on that HD and then put it back in the original computer? I checked the BIOS to ensure that the boot order had the CD first.

[computeruler]

Wait did you put that other harddrive in there first?  Its not a good idea to install the operating system on one computer and then switch it to another. And if the disk wont boot to install the OS then you need to select boot from CD and put that first in the BIOS.  Tell me if you need help with that and I or someone else will help you.

[SuperDave]

I was able to install the OS. Now I just need to get some pictures off the defective HD. Thanks

[patio]

Hook up the defective drive jumpered as slave...if it will spin up properly and run long enough you should be able to grab the data...
2 Tips:
1) Copying the data to your drive is better than burning it...it can always be burned later and then deleted. Burning thrashes the hard drive and is at a much slower transfer rate.
2) Be prepared ahead of time...if you need to create folders partitions etc.....you may only get one chance so be ready to go once you fire it up.

Best of Luck.

[SuperDave]

Thanks, Patio. I'm still having some problems with the main drive. I partioned it 20 gb for the system and 20 gb for storing data but I can only the the 20 gb on the C drive.  I suppose I can fix it with Partition Magic. But, it takes forever to boot.

[computeruler]

Uhh... I dont know why it has to be partitioned in the 1st place

[BC_Programmer]

Uhh... I dont know why it has to be partitioned in the 1st place

Because it's a new drive. pay attention would you.

[computeruler]

New drives come partitioned now?

[BC_Programmer]

New drives come partitioned now?

No.

[JJ 3000]

Thanks, Patio. I'm still having some problems with the main drive. I partioned it 20 gb for the system and 20 gb for storing data but I can only the the 20 gb on the C drive.  I suppose I can fix it with Partition Magic. But, it takes forever to boot.

Have you been to disk management?

[patio]

Right click My Computer...then select Manage...then Disk Management.

[SuperDave]

Thanks, Patio. That worked. It's booting much faster now since I changed the disk from slave to master.

[patio]

Good deal...
Now the priority is the data from the funky drive...
Slave Drive Tutorial

[SuperDave]

I slaved it to the computer I'm fixing and I'm getting "no operating system found" so I slaved it to another computer and was able to retrieve the data. I just turned on the computer and got the same no OS found but the second time I rebooted, it booted ok. Go figure. I'm transferring the data and I try a couple of shutdowns to see what's happening.

[patio]

The BIOS is Pluto compared to the rest of a newer PC and is easily confused...especially when swapping hard drives...
Perfectly normal.
Whenever i swap a drive whether master or slave i normally re-boot at least twice.