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Problem.
My small 20 gig laptop drive was getting full.Solution: To clone it with Acronis True Image
to a 60 gig drive, using two 2.5 - 3.5 inch EIDE
converters in my main PC.New problem.
When putting the 60 gig into the laptop it states:
PXE-E61 Media Test Failure. Check cable.i.e. BIOS is not seeing the drive and so tries to
boot from the next boot order item; LAN (PXE).I KNOW the drive is not dead as it slaves
perfectly well (with all files), to my main PC....
I also know that the connectors in the laptop are
fine because my old drive still boots.As I have cloned 3.5 inch drives without hitch and
the system boots believing it is the original drive,
I expected the same changeover compatibility.
(Hence I haven't tried to reset the BIOS)Now...it could be that Acronis didn't write the
Master Boot Record properly...or might it be that
my steam-driven old Toshiba Sat Pro 6100 just can't
see such a size increase? (I thought 60gig would
be fine). The new drive is also faster, running at
5400 rather than 4200rpm, but this shouldn't
make it invisible.But before I set out on a wild goose chase...
especially if my laptop is never going to 'see' it
...does anyone have any informed tips?thanks
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
No, not checked for a BIOS update...worth a try...although I have seen 60 gig drives sold specifically for my model, so have assumed compatability with what I already have.
cheers
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Google for "PXE-E61 failure" without the quotes. You will get many hits. The error may have nothing to do with the new drive.
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Hi,
Thanks.
I already have Googled.
There doesn't seem to be a general consensus of opinion...other than to reset the BIOS... which does not seem to work for many. Of course, many of these hdds are dead. Mine is not, but is the common denominator in receiving the fault message. It is not networked and so the PXE-E61 message is not really that relevant. It just appears because the drive is not seen...or the OS at least. My BIOS is not that informative and does not state whether hdd is seen...even for the one that does boot.
There IS an update of BIOS available from 2007 but, as yet, I have found no update history or method of flashing...which is presumably via DOS on a floppy.
cheers
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Did you Google the exact phrase I posted? There are solutions like loose screws on the case. "the hard disk was complitely disconnected from the socket. The m.f. from acer that repaired it last time forgot to screw it again". Etc. You need to read all the threads. There is no one solution to your problem.
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Hi OtheHill,
Thanks for trying to be helpful. Yes I have read lots of threads and, as you say, this problem can arise for a number of different reasons. Still looking. Exhausting.
However, I was wondering if anyone had any 'obvious' solutions based on my own situation stated above; i.e. Old Laptop OS Cloned to bigger drive. Swap the new drive in = fault, swap old drive in = fine. New drive is working fine slaved in main PC...etc.
cheers
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"Now...it could be that Acronis didn't write the Master Boot Record properly"
That sounds to me like the most likely reason. Are you sure that you did the imaging as a 'Drive' and not a 'Partition'?
The MBR is not copied when a partition is imaged.
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When you boot up the computer is the hard drive seen in the start up screens at all?
Even if the MBR was not written or the drive was blank the drive should still show in the start up screens.
Were there any jumpers on the drive? I would suspect it may be something you did if the drive is not identified in the Start up screens. Have you tried entering the BIOS screens to see if something is amiss there?
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Aegis: Yes, full drive cloned, thanks.
OtheHill: Start up screens do not show drive. This is why next boot option, Lan (PXE), is attempted. No jumpers on either drive. Very basic ACPI-BIOS does not show drives...even the one that boots.
Oh well, I 'may' try a reclone to see if that helps....when I get a bit more time.
cheers all.
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kev
You don't seem to understand. Recloning isn't going to help. You have a hardware problem.
The hard drive should be identified in the startup screens. This has nothing to do with what is on the drive. It can be totally empty and should still show.
Either you have an issue of compatibility - (drive size).
BIOS setting issue
Cabling, jumpering or power issue
Mechanical installation issue
Laptop security issue (doubtful as the drive should still show, just not be accessable).
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Try Cloning the original HDD installed in the Laptop, to the new HDD installed in an External USB HDD enclosure rather than adapting both of the drives to the Desktop. Make sure the external Enclosure has it's own power source.
You should be able to use a 31/2 HDD enclosure with the adapters you already have.
Set New HDD as Master in the enclosure
No BIOS update should be needed for 60GB HDD.
There is nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you.
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OtheHill:
Yes, granted, the drive should be spotted regardless of what is on it. silly me.A mechanical installation issue seems likely.
However, cabling has not been touched, the slots can be only one way and jumpers are not present or needed.Dumbob:
Doing it via USB would seem to be the simplest method...if it worked...but there is a consensus that cloning to USB is a bit hit-and-miss at best...for some reason... and, if I recall, doing it from the recovery disc, pre Windows, rather than from within the OS, the USB drive may not be shown as an option.I'm guessing you mean to try this regarding the MBR(?) I certainly have not ruled it out but, as OtheHill says, the drive should be seen regardless and, until it is, I am a bit stumped.
thanks all for tips.
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Hmmm, very strange.
I just tried the 60 gig drive in a USB enclosure and, although it recognises a USB device has been plugged in, the red light stays on rather a long time before turning green...and no extra partitions are ever added.
Now, this does seem odd...particularly as all partitions are spotted when slaved to the desktop PC.
...but as two different methods fail to see the drive, maybe there IS a mechanical fault somewhere(?)
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Laptop security issue (doubtful as the drive should still show, just not be accessable).
This is a moving target. I don't deal much with laptops so I am not fully up to speed on them but I do know there are many safeguards in place to deter theft of hardware and data.
You might want to find out if there is something related to this from Toshiba, of if it is just a compatibility issue due to capacity. If that is the case a BIOS update may help.
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