Computer guys? I need some emergency help

[SCW]

My 8-yr old son had surgery on both feet and a hand this morning and is confined to sitting for about 3 weeks. I had an old computer that I thought the hard drive was dead, so I picked up another drive and tried to install it, only to realize I way over my head. Not a computer repair guy. At all.

I could really use some help getting this computer to work. It's just an old tower with a 1.2GHz AMD from Totally Awesome years ago (about 5 years old).

I have the new hard drive installed, I have all the Windows recovery disks and drivers that came with it, I just need to get it working so Ben (my son) can have something to do. Kinda on the cheap, but if I need to pay for service I will to a point.

Thanks-
Shane

[DaJudge]

Is it a particular brand or a homemade one?

When you boot it does the BIOS see the new drive?

Glen

[Lonestar]

I am guessing that you are installing XP.

First you need to get into the bios (press delete key during boot up)

Look to see if the bios can see your new hard drive, also make sure it is listed as the master or primary drive. This should be displayed in the first screen in the bios. If all this is ok, before you exit the bios you need to set the boot priority. This tells the system where to look for an operating system and in what order. Since the hard drive is new/empty you need to tell it to boot from a cd. You should be able to get detailed instructions on how to do this from your motherboard manual, if you still got it. Save and Exit the bios.

Put the windows cd in the drive and restart. It should boot from the cd and eventually bring you to a blue screen. One of the options will be to install windows. Next it will ask you on what partition you want to install windows on. Your new hard drive should be on the list to chose from. Select it and it will format the hard drive then install windows. Just follow the on screen directions.

After windows is done installing you need to install all the drivers you have and reset the boot priority in the bios from cd to hard drive.

I know it sounds complicated, but it is really easy. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. I might even be able to stop by this weekend if you need it.

Good luck.

Bryan

[SCW]

Thanks guys, I got a little worried when I put the new drive in and couldn't get tot he BIOS. It's acting like it won't turn on, I'll put the old drive back in and see if it will turn on at all.

Glen, Totally Awesome Computers was a local computer company that closed their doors about a year ago, not home built.

[DaJudge]

Just wanted to know 'brand' before proceding because Dell, HP, etc. each have their own little quirks.
I have to go take care of some thing this morning but when I get back I will PM you my number if you still need help.

Glen

[DrMoab]

Glen, Totally Awesome Computers was a local computer company that closed their doors about a year ago, not home built.
Who happened to use super cheap drives.

I had two fail on my Totally Awesome computer.

[87manche]

Who happened to use super cheap drives.

I had two fail on my Totally Awesome computer.
that age, probably maxtor, that's when they bought/merged with quantum and the quality took a serious dive.

anywho, you've got the restore disks, they should be bootable.

delete or F1/F2 should get you to the bios.
Look under general, it should see the HDD
If so, go under advanced, check the boot sequence and make sure CD rom is first.
pop in the recovery disks and go to town.

This of course assumes an award style bios.
pheonix/AMI has different options.

[DrMoab]

that age, probably maxtor, that's when they bought/merged with quantum and the quality took a serious dive.

Mine had IBM drives in it. They replaced one and a month later it failed.

[87manche]

Mine had IBM drives in it. They replaced one and a month later it failed.
75GXP's then if these were "high performance" machines.

the deathstar line pretty much sucked at that time too. IBM since sold that line off to hitachi, and the quality still sucks.

link to the deskstar litigation, yes, THAT many failed.
http://www.ibmdeskstar75gxplitigation.com/

[SCW]

Thanks again, I have to get some work done today that I hoped to do yesterday, but my wife isn't working so Ben (my son) is using her laptop this weekend. I'll try to get it running tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more silly computer questions.....

[SCW]

Well, I can't get power to anything so I think my power supply must be dead. It's fairly new (or was when we retired the computer) but that's the way things go. I'll try to get another one and go from there.

[RTicUL8]

My initial thought - based on the computer's age - is to start by replacing the BIOS battery. You'll find a battery on the motherboard - slightly smaller than a quarter. The most common will be type CR2032 (google it).

If the battery is dead, then bios will not keeps its settings.

[SCW]

Thanks, I'll get that replaced before I try anything else. There is a light on the motherboard that only comes on when it's plugged in, but it hasn't been plugged in for about 2 1/2 years.