Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 11:22:52 AM

Title: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 11:22:52 AM

I have a dell e520 with vista it wont start keeps going to launch startup rpair it shows a diskette seek failre and the repair won't stop running

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 11:30:08 AM

Now I got an error screen saying disable Bios memory options such as caching or shadowing and if I can't get into safe mode, which I can't to press f8 at startup, but when I hit f8 it won't do anything

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 16, 2012, 11:54:31 AM

1) What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?
2) As a starting point I suggest you replace the motherboard battery and then reset the bios to default.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 12:29:41 PM

Nothing is new or different, and I take it I have to take it somewhere to do that?

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 12:33:41 PM

And if i.dont have a floppy disk y am I getting a seek failure

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 16, 2012, 12:37:27 PM

It should take you 10 minutes to replace a motherboard battery yourself:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm)

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: patio on April 16, 2012, 02:15:54 PM

There's also the option to disable "floppy seek on boot" in the BIOS...

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 16, 2012, 02:23:00 PM

Yes, but if this just started happening on it's own I'm guessing the battery is dead or dying and the problem will recur until it's replaced.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 16, 2012, 07:47:27 PM

How do I get to the BIOS

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 17, 2012, 05:12:08 AM

Watch the screen when it first boots. You should see a message that says something like: "To enter setup press F2" - at that point press the F2 function key.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 06:31:40 AM

When I go to setup I dont see any of those options

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: patio on April 17, 2012, 06:35:12 AM

Did you replace the battery yet ? ?

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: jason2074 on April 17, 2012, 10:38:21 AM

If changing the CMOS battery did not solved the diskette seek failure, make sure the hard drive boot is listed as first.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 03:31:32 PM

I just changed the battery and I still can't get into safe mode, how do I know if the hard   drive is listed firstm and if it's not how do I fix it?

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 17, 2012, 03:41:56 PM

Go into the bios and look for the boot device order. Follow the instructions on the screen to move the hd to the top of the order, save, exit. Do not make any other changes.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 03:57:09 PM

Thats my problem I can't get into.the BIOS. I can't get into.safe mode it.still says the disk failure thing and goes into launch startup repair or start normally which I can't. Is there another way to get into bios ot am I doing it wrong?

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 17, 2012, 04:19:29 PM

You get into the bios before the error message. Watch the screen as soon as the system boots. As soon as you see the message, press the F2 function key.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 04:59:50 PM

I dont know what to do when I get in there. And I ran hard drive diagnodtics my.hard drive passed but for my cd rom it said not supported. I dont know if that means anything and im sorry for being such a pain

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 05:38:23 PM

i looked at my boot sequence and my hard drive is first but it says that my hard drive and floppy arent present? what do i do about that? and i have another drive with a bunch of letters starting with WD. The blue error message screen says something about a technical message then numbers then(0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: patio on April 17, 2012, 08:12:46 PM

The error message cannot be al 0's...
Repost the entire message including the gibberish.

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 08:21:48 PM

Error message   technical message ** STOP   0x00008086 (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: patio on April 18, 2012, 05:44:24 AM

Quote

This general indication of a hardware failure is often quite difficult to pin down. Follow usual hardware troubleshooting protocols, in particular: Roll-back any recent hardware or driver changes; ensure that RAM sticks are matched and undamaged; check for viruses or hard drive damage; run ChkDsk to identify file system problems; ensure that all connections are sound inside the computer and all cards well-seated. In tough cases you may need to consult a professional shop for hardware diagnosis and repair.

Courtesy of MSDN...

Title: Re: Diskette seek failure
Post by: Allan on April 18, 2012, 05:47:40 AM

Quote from: Momofmaddy02 on April 17, 2012, 05:38:23 PM

i looked at my boot sequence and my hard drive is first but it says that my hard drive and floppy arent present? what do i do about that? and i have another drive with a bunch of letters starting with WD.

I really don't understand what you are saying.

In the bios boot device order, is the hard drive the first device? Does it show a second hard drive? If so, move that to the top also. Save and exit.

If that doesn't work, try the option to RESET the bios to default settings. Save and exit.