pobnospam******.com wrote:
> paulmd@efn.org wrote:
> > pobnospam******.com wrote:
> > > Its a Dell Laptop L400. I used Norton Partition Magic and now I get No
> > > operating system found. I tried placing a Windows XP (full version-not
> > > upgrade version) and I continue to get No operating system found.
> > >
> > > If I go out and buy a new hard drive, will the laptop still work ?
> >
> > Yes. But you don't have to replace the drive. At least not yet. Clearly
> > your partitions are screwed up or corrupted. But the drive itself is
> > probably fine.
> >
> > First check a few things in the bios.
> >
> > Check the boot order (aka startup sequence and a few similar sounding
> > things) includes the CD drive before the hard drive.
> >
> > Try to boot from the CD again. If you can get somewhere, then just redo
> > the partitions reinstall the OS.
> >
> > If you can't do anything because the partitions on the hard drive are
> > totally corrupt. Then A drive wiping utility can be handy. I've used
> > DBAN for this purpose. You need not let it complete, just 1 or 2
> > percent is good.
> >
> > dban.sourceforge.net
> >
> > Then reinstall the os.
>
>
> I am using DBAN now, its at 3% (running autonuke). I initially tried
> the interactive mode and I got a message saying I had a bad sector.

That COULD have caused Partition Magic to fail in the first place. And
hence this mess. As Rock suggested, use the manufacturer's tool to
diagnose. But Seatools from Seagate will do if you can't find one. Just
to note, given that the drive is now wiped, the filesystem test will
fail, of course. (no filesystem TO test)

DBAN is not a diagnostic. the 'autonuke' setting wipes all the drives
attached to a system if at all possible. And just because dban says
there might be an error doesn't mean there really IS one. But....you
need to check the drive for sure before you put XP back on the machine.