My kingdom for a DOS prompt, prior to Windows startup!

[elendil0037]

Hi.  I'm repairing an old Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop for a neighbor.  When I turn it on, before Windows XP boots, a message appears that says "No bootable devices found".  In diagnostics it seems that all hardware but the main hard drive passes, and then asks for the "Dell drivers and utilities" disk, which I do not have.  I've found the proper drivers online at the Dell site and burned them to disk, but it won't run automatically, so I'd like to do it manually which is where I run into my problem.  How can I get a command prompt on the screen to access an external CD/DVD drive from which I need to install the drivers.  Thanks.

[Broni]

all hardware but the main hard drive passes

Dead hard drive?
Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

[elendil0037]

Actually, and this may sound strange, but I'm pretty sure the HD's not dead.  When I insert a copy of Windows, it allows me to open a "one-time boot menu", and then fully and successfully installs Windows XP, but when it restarts I still get the "No bootable devices found" message.  I believe the hard drive works, but has no drivers installed for Windows to recognize it.  As I said, I'm sure I can get the drivers installed if I could only get a command prompt on the screen BEFORE Windows tries to load.  Any idea how to get a "DOS-like" command prompt?  Thanks.

[liambiscuit]

Try using a mini-linux if you have another PC -- some drivers can be installed manually.

[elendil0037]

I don't have a mini-linux, but I'm pretty sure I can access my external disk drive with a simple command prompt.  How do I get one?

[BC_Programmer]

recovery console.

[elendil0037]

Could you be a little more specific, please?

[BC_Programmer]

it's an option on the windows CD, when you boot from it. you select repair, and then the recovery console. At which point it will boot into reocvery console.

Chances are it will still BSOD, additionally I really don't see what you could do in any DOS prompt to get it working, since IDE drives and SATA drives set to compatibility do not require drivers.(so if you have a SATA drive set it the option to compatibility in the BIOS) Even in the case that they did there would be no way to install them via recovery console.

[darhblader]

its sounds to me like its not enabled in the bios.

unfortunaetly i have to be there to have a look at the biosto see if i could help so im not going to be much good.

i reckon if xp is installed right on the disc and it works to a point then its your hard drive which isnt on a list of bootable devices in the bois

have a look around in there to see if you can solve it

hope this helps

andy

[paudashlake]

it IS  dell, which is commonly made of cheap low end parts, so if it is a little bit on the older side, something might have failed and needs replaced/repaired.

[Aegis]

it IS  dell, which is commonly made of cheap low end parts, so if it is a little bit on the older side, something might have failed and needs replaced/repaired.

Fact or opinion?

Any brand can fail, in general terms.

[Dias de verano]

Fact or opinion?

Any brand can fail, in general terms.

Yes, that is true.

[Geek-9pm]

Dell does have a support site and if you have the right information you can find almost anything they ever made.
http://support.dell.com/
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If you have another computer with a CD burner, burn a ISO pf Puppy Linux. If the HDD is there, Puppy will mount it.
http://www.puppylinux.org/
It also has a partition utility, DO NOt PERITION THE DRIVE. But you can use the utility to "see" what kind of l file system the HDD has.