In news:Xns9C349385EA02Fjebouchard451yahooca@216.151. 153.68,
Jacques E. Bouchard typed on 24 Jun 2009 18:30:08 GMT:
> A friend has an old Compaq Presario 3015 whose hard disk started
> failing until the laptop could not boot (it would ask to run chkdsk
> every time, then just cycled through coming back to the safe mode
> menu selection).
>
> I tried re-formatting (not the quick format) and re-installing WinXP,
> but the process was extremely slow and the computer would either hang
> or power off during the process. So I replaced the HDD with a brand
> new identical one (80 GB EIDE) and re-installed WinXP. The
> installation went without a hitch until the laptop rebooted, after
> which it began randomly powering off again.
>
> I used the original recovery CDs to restore the laptop to its original
> installation, but after it's done I get "hard disk boot sector
> invalid" and Windows won't boot up. Strange thing is, I tried
> recovering on the old drive, and the exact same thing happens. So it
> appears the old drive may not have been to blame after all.
>
> Is this the IDE interface gone bad?
>
> The computer's BIOS won't allow booting from USB (and no BIOS update
> is available), or I would have devised a way to run from an external
> USB drive. His only solution seems to be an expensive repair on a
> 5-year-old laptop, or an even more expensive new computer.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
> jaybee

Hi jaybee! For starters, forget Windows and most Linux versions running
from an USB drive. It is possible, but for Windows for example requires
3 pages of registry hacks. The reason? Windows resets the USB ports in
the middle of loading and it will hang without the hacks to stop it.
Those Live versions (distros) of Linux should run fine from an USB
drive. Others probably won't though.

As for why the internal HDD (hard drive) isn't working and that error.
That error sounds like the MBR (main boot record) is corrupt. They are
many ways to build a new one. There are some free utilities out there
that can do this. Also a real Windows install disk or even a Windows 9x
Startup floppy.

If that fixes it, something is corrupting the MBR. If it doesn't, the
IDE controller is likely shot. Or something in the BIOS setup is set
wrong. I would create a new MBR first. There are no boot managers or
other OS installed right? Or any of those programs that hooks in that
allows the computer to see larger HDD, right? If not to either, you are
okay to recreate a new MBR.

--
Bill
Windows XP Home SP3 (5.1.2600)
Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC