Hello, friends, My iBuddie4 laptop can't get started, when i try to re-install windows, it says"Setup did not find any hard disk drivers installed in your computer. Make sure any hard disk drivers are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk related hardward configuration is correct. This may involove running a manufacturer supplied disgnostic or setup program."
I don't have diagnostic program from iBuddie4. what can I do? Do you think that the hard disk is destoried? I was searching something online, before my computer shutted down automatically, and unable to restart again.
Please help, I can't afford to buy a computer...
Any help is much appreciated!
H.L
iBuddie4 laptop hdd - failed?
(8 posts) (7 voices)-
helenajunjieluo
MemberPosted 16 years ago # -
funkymom
Memberhi helenjunjielu-
i wish i could help, but i'm sorry i know nothing about this.hang in there, one of the many knowledgeable people on this forum is sure to respond eventually.
also, before bubby gets here, i made a similar post recently and he advised me (rightly so) to be more specific in the title of the post.
here is the link to his response to me, it's informative and entertaining:http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2408?replies=34
just scroll down to find bubby.
good luck.
Posted 16 years ago # -
hello, helenajunjielu...
when you start your laptop, if you know how to look at the BIOS settings it should show if the hard drive is detected...sorry i'm not enough of a techie to explain how to do that :( ......maybe google BIOS settings & read up on it...
it's possible you got a power surge, or a virus, or the settings were changed in some other way, & resetting the BIOS to default would re-detect the drive...and you'd be able to reinstall windows...
if i understand your post correctly, the laptop powers up, & the cd drive is working ( since it is able to read your windows disk )...
my best guesses here---sorry to have to guess!---
1) a hard drive connection part came loose, & you'd only need to reconnect everything
2) a hard drive connection part broke, & you'd have to buy a new one
3) hard drive died, & you'd have to buy a new one
my only other suggestion would be to try booting your laptop with a live Linux disk ( have a few on hand, because they don't all work in all computers )...if a Linux disk will run your laptop without any problems, you can probably fix whatever the hard drive problem is---which should cost much less than a new one!...if a live disk works for your laptop, you can even use that until you can afford a new hard drive...
hope this helps...
good luck...
:)
Posted 16 years ago # -
goodgotd
MemberI'll add 4) it may be a SATA drive and need drivers installed/loaded before/during installation... nope, that ain't it. The ECS iBuddie-4 DeskNote doesn't swing that way.
check the bios, try autodetect if it has it (AMIBIOS. it should), but frankly I'd lay a buck on door number 3) hard drive died, & you'd have to buy a new one. OTOH, 40 GIG 2.5" hard drives aren't that spend, though if the bios is 2000 or later, an 80 gig from zipzoomfly or egghead is a better deal per gig IIRC. if your ide controller went, it's probably cheaper to get a refurb 'puter - or a used one off ebay. unless it got dropped hard the oem drives are bolted in tight, so 1 & 2 are long shots.
plus 5) in that time frame the cmos memory battery might have lost capacity and wiped the cmos, and redetecting the hdd & re-saving the cmos settins could fix it. Might hot even have to install the os again, if so- but mem batteries can be a pain to replace.
Posted 16 years ago # -
Hey Helenajunjielu,
If you still want to check out your BIOS here is how you do it. Start by turning on your computer. Then on the first screen (usually the one that has the name of the computer manufacture displayed on it) press either the F1 or F2 key (depends the the computer which one will bring up BIOS) several times. That should be all there is to it. Hope this helps!
Posted 16 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberIf none of the above helped and you have the original disks (including the DOS one) turn off the PC, insert the DOS disk and reboot the PC. When it comes up you should see a black screen with C:/ and a cursor blinking. If its done that then type "dir" (but without the quotes) and it should list files and folders on C: drive (your hard drive). If it does that then go to the next step.
Type a:/scandisk c:/
After scanning remove the disk and attempt reboot of the pc and let us know what happens.
Crap had to come back and edit (its been so long since I've used dos). After putting in the dos disk it may boot to a:/ so use the command line above from a:
Posted 16 years ago # -
So people have a slightly better idea exactly which model you have
http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/productinfo/system.htm
Of interest are items marked:
System Model Name:
BIOS Version:
HDD Model Name:
ODD Model Name:According to the BIOS boot screen, when displayed, you can press DEL to enter the Boot screen. If the BIOS cannot detect any hard drive - it is probably dead - and you need a replacement drive (nothing unusual, my laptop hdd is currently in the same state)
Also from the BIOS screen (after pressing DEL) you should see the current date and time displayed (along with the functions needed to reset them. If it seems like you have just stepped out of a time machine, and it is the date is obviously way off (eg Jan 1, 1970) then your laptop cmos battery is probably dead. These are usually a round, silver watch-style battery - and can be replaced by any decent computer tech. (some of the better designed laptops - have the battery under an external "door/flap" and can be replaced without dismantling the entire laptop).
@archangel - if booting from a DOS disk you may still get errors trying to access or scandisk it despite the drive being ok - if the drive is formatted by NT/2000/XP/Vista there is a good chance they are using NTFS which is the type of file system (and Microsofts replacement for FAT32). Just pointing out - getting errors from a DOS Scandisk doesn't always indicate a failed drive.
This can get around that problem though: http://www.free-av.com/antivirclassic/avira_ntfs4dos.html
For the technically minded - the "Trinity Resource Kit" (TRK) is one CD definitely worth having nearby if things start to go wrong.
Posted 16 years ago #
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