Solved Problems setting up old pc

Derek April 27, 2019 at 08:27:44

Firstly, turn off, disconnect power then hold Power Off/On button in for at least 20 seconds to discharge the motherboard components. If that doesn't help see this: https://www.computerhope.com/issues... Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks message edited by Derek

trvlr April 27, 2019 at 11:23:27

When was the last time you did something for the first time? Just now - when I read this post and posted this reply... following n Derek's footsteps, if the link he posted isn't sufficient or you need clarity... then repeat the google trawl I dun (and likely he dun too) - here: http://tinyurl.com/y4nrzao7 There a sled load of youtube videos and assorted other responses which may help?

Derek April 27, 2019 at 16:17:14

Also... Make sure you haven't got an external drive, Flash drive (or even a floppy disk, CD/DVD) left in. It might be trying to boot up to one of these instead of the main hard disk. Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks message edited by Derek

DAVEINCAPS April 27, 2019 at 20:58:20

It's probably 'DMI pool data'. Googling the exact error message might give some insight.

Dawie April 28, 2019 at 04:14:20

Hi guys. Thanks for the responses. It should have read: "Verifying DMI Pool Data. My mistake. Will follow the steps you had suggested and will reply back. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 28, 2019 at 05:07:11

Derek I've gone through your suggestion but no luck so far. Just two stupid questions. I see that Drive B which I presume is my CDROM drive is shown as "NONE" in the Standard CMOS features screen. Is that correct? Secondly someone suggested I should start looking for the problem in the HDD> My second question is this: The 6-pin configuration at the back of the HDD, which of those sets of pins should I jump? I have tried all of them plus without the jumper but nothing seems to be working. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 28, 2019 at 05:29:02

Hi Dawie, so we know more about your comp, run this please. When the scan is finished. File > Save As. Free PC Audit http://www.softpedia.com/get/System... http://www.freewarefiles.com/Free-P... http://www.freewarefiles.com/screen... http://www.misutilities.com/free-pc... Upload the file here. File Convoy ( no time delays/Captcha-I'm not a Robot/account/registration needed ) Give us the links please. http://www.fileconvoy.com/index.php https://i.imgur.com/7UiiqWr.gif https://i.imgur.com/6N1gfOj.gif

T-R-A April 28, 2019 at 06:44:33

" I see that Drive B which I presume is my CDROM drive is shown as ?"NONE" in the Standard CMOS features screen. Is that correct? On older machines, "drive B" is generally referred to being a second floppy drive. Usually a CD-Rom is referred to being "drive D" (since it commonly resides as being the 2nd device on the primary IDE channel). Later machines only supported a single floppy drive and very new ones (likely) don't support them at all. "Channeling the spirit of jboy..."

Derek April 28, 2019 at 07:14:06

In BIOS, see if your HDD is first to boot. If not set it that way. HDD trouble is a possibility. Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks

riider April 28, 2019 at 08:08:54

You mentioned a screenshot but neglected to post it. The clue is in the text after "verifying DMI pool data". For example: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JI58sgkq0u4/... Also, you said this an old XP machine. It could be the CMOS battery is bad. Check the BIOS to see what the date is. If it's something like Jan 1, 2004, the battery must be replaced & the BIOS settings corrected. FYI, loading defaults doesn't necessarily mean the settings are 100% correct so it's better to manually configure the settings. message edited by riider

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 02:11:46

I got a few questions I need to answer first. Derek, I have made sure that no other equipment or anything is installed or connected. I actually had the HDD as first boot but it changed to Floppy when I pressed F6 to go to default settings. I'm changing it back to HDD. T-R-A understood. So drive B is thus correctly shown as NONE. Where does the CDROM show up? riider, I have inserted a brand new battery so time and date is up to date. I'm still concerned about the correct position of the pin or jumper at the back of the HDD. There are 4 options. My HDD is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 40Gb. How do I manually configure the settings? When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 02:16:29

Hi Johnw. You indicate some pretty useful sites and downloads, but to utilize them I first need to get the pc up and running, isn't it? When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 29, 2019 at 02:46:20

"but to utilize them I first need to get the pc up and running, isn't it You're right Dawie. "There are 4 options" What are they please. message edited by Johnw

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 03:01:23

At the back of the HDD there's a socket (sorry my english is not up to scratch) containing 4 rows of 2 pins each with a jumper inserted. Which 2 should be jumped? When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 29, 2019 at 03:07:52

Googled & found your manual, if you only have one drive, put the jumper on the first 2 pins. If that doesn't work, try the last 2 pins. https://s16.directupload.net/images... https://s16.directupload.net/images... https://s17.directupload.net/images... https://s17.directupload.net/images... . message edited by Johnw

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 05:01:11

Afraid Johnw that didn't work as well. Isn't there a way I can clean out the HDD and start afresh with a clean installation? But I suppose I still need to get beyond that verifying... irritation. Another thing that bothers me is why is the CDROM not showing up anywhere? When was the last time you did something for the first time?

T-R-A April 29, 2019 at 05:17:14

"Another thing that bothers me is why is the CDROM not showing up anywhere?" Certain that it's working? Any lights, spin-up when you first power the machine on? If it's IDE, is the master/slave settings on it (and the HDD) correct? "Channeling the spirit of jboy..." message edited by T-R-A

Johnw April 29, 2019 at 06:02:25

Dawie, use a torch/light to look around the motherboard for the exact model number please. Here is a sample showing where it is on this MB. Could be anywhere on your MB. Google the numbers you find, until you are sure you have the correct numbers. https://s17.directupload.net/images...

Johnw April 29, 2019 at 06:27:43

Another way to get the motherboard model, hit the pause button when you get the boot screen. The model should be down the bottom of that screen.

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 08:52:12

Hi T-R-A. That's what is worrying me. No spin-up sound. Only power light flashing.I should say a light is flashing. Even the floppy disk 1.44 is dead but they are both connected. HDD shows up nicely in BIOS as Channel ) Master. In fact by changing the jumper you change the setting from channel ) to Channel 1 Master or Slave. Tried all that. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 29, 2019 at 08:58:16

Theis is what I found at the bottom. 05/16/2006 - P4M800CE - 8237 - 6A7L6PRAC - 00 When was the last time you did something for the first time?

T-R-A April 29, 2019 at 09:10:38

Is there a data cable that links to both the CD and HDD (are they plugged into the same ide channel)? "Channeling the spirit of jboy..."

DAVEINCAPS April 29, 2019 at 10:22:59

The cdrom drive letter is usually not specified in bios setup. When the OS boots up it will assign a letter. Also it shouldn't matter if the floppy drive is the first boot device. If there's no disk in the drive the boot sequence will move on to the next device. If there's not a label describing jumper configuration on the drive then just google the model number. Are you using a 40 or 80 wire HDD cable? Some cables--especially 80 wire--are 'cable select' meaning master/slave configuration is determined by which connector it's attached to.

riider April 29, 2019 at 13:52:24

✔ Best Answer

"My HDD is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 40Gb" I've got a box of those old HDDs in my basement. The jumper settings should be printed right on the label. If not, here they are: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon... The jumper cap should be on the 2 pins closest to the ATA/IDE connector. That will set it as Master. I suggest you connect it to the end plug on the data cable. Do NOT connect the center plug to anything. The CD/DVD drive should also be jumpered as Master & connected to the end plug on the cable to the secondary ATA/IDE channel. 80-wire cables are preferred but a 40-wire cable will work. Understand that if you're going to run XP, it's advisable to NOT connect the computer to the internet. XP is unsupported & unsafe. There is no safe browser available. Some will suggest Firefox 52.9ESR but it's no longer supported. Antivirus is another issue. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/k... You'd be much better off installing a modern version of Linux rather than an 18 year old version of Windows. I recommend Linux Mint 19.1 Xfce 32-bit: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3671

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 01:42:55

Dawie, can you upload the manual please. It will be on one of the CD's that came with the computer.

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:21:43

A-T-R the CD is connected to SATA1 on MB and the HDD, which is old tech. is connected to the MB via a ribbon to one of the , I think 36 pin adapters also on MB. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:25:13

Dave I'm not sure but the ribbon fits into a 36 pin adapter at back of HDD. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:28:51

If you followed riider's instructions you should see this in the bios. IDE Channel 0 Master > Your HDD IDE Channel 1 Master > Your CD/DVD https://s18.directupload.net/images...

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:31:28

"ribbon fits into a 36 pin adapter at back of HDD" Is the end that plugs into the MB, blue?

T-R-A April 30, 2019 at 02:33:07

If it's connected via SATA, then that's a completely different story. SATA is an "intelligent" connection; it shouldn't need master/slave/cable-select configuration like an IDE device. "Channeling the spirit of jboy..."

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:33:47

riider, it is jumpered at the one nearest the IDE connector. The CD is newer tech and uses a SATA cable which is connected at SATA 1. No facility to use jumpers on CD. Regarding your suggestion on using Linux, I like the idea but would I still have to get past Verifying... When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:35:39

Johnw I only have the original XP install disk. Can only check when PC is working unfortunately. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:36:42

"No facility to use jumpers on CD" Not normal, there usually is. EDIT: Opp's it is normal for Sata. message edited by Johnw

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:39:03

Johnw yes I understand that one. Mine sits on Channel 1 Master. (ST340014A) When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:41:18

Is the Rom showing in the bios?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:42:15

Johnw the CD is actually a DVD Writer with a SATA Power connector and a SATA Signal connector. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:47:23

DVD Writer SATA Signal connector. Does it have only 2 connections? message edited by Johnw

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 02:48:50

Johnw no it's not showing anywhere and it's not running when you insert a disc, and that's wrong I should think. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 02:54:09

"and that's wrong I should think" Yep, I would disconnect both cables & test. A lot computers these days, don't have a rom.

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 03:05:22

T-R-A that's probably why the DVD Writer does not have jumpers. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 03:09:29

Johnw if you mean the DVD, yes a power and signal connector. The SATA cable is a normal SATA cable. Cant really see what it looks like inside. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 03:20:33

This is what 1 have done now. I have converted the HDD using a small conversion kit into the 36 pin socket and it is now connected via a SATA cable. It now scanes devices...please wait. Then ff message comes up: Hardware initiate failed. Please check device. NB the Bios does not be installed. Press <G> to continue.(Not my english). when I press G the ff appears: DISK BOOT FAILURE and what goes with it. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 03:39:44

"Johnw if you mean the DVD, yes a power and signal connector" Ok, disconnect both & start testing.

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 03:51:30

That was just indicating that the Bois does not read my HDD. I think I should consign this one back to the scrap heap and follow what riider had suggested. Thanks to all of you. Pity I now have to choose a Best Answer. Just know you all qualify for that. Regards. Dawie. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 04:00:13

"Best Answer. Just know you all qualify for that" Probably Derek, for the first link he provided. https://www.computerhope.com/issues...

Johnw April 30, 2019 at 05:01:42

Did you try the 2 bios defaults? Check the boot setting after doing so. https://s18.directupload.net/images...

riider April 30, 2019 at 07:37:55

XP doesn't support SATA unless special drivers are loaded during the initial installation. The IDE-to-SATA adapter is unnecessary & only complicates things even more. Remove it & switch back to IDE. Make sure the HDD is jumpered correctly & connected to the proper IDE channel as Master (w/no slave). Temporarily disconnect the power & data cables to the floppy & CD/DVD drive; that will eliminate them as a possible problem. Reset the BIOS to load the defaults, then go into the BIOS menu & manually adjust settings where needed. Temporarily make the HDD the 1st & only boot device. Save the changes & reboot. I presume the HDD already has XP installed & should boot into Windows if connected properly?

Dawie April 30, 2019 at 08:58:33

riider. Thanks. I will try again following your advice and post back tomorrow. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

trvlr April 30, 2019 at 14:15:22

good suggestion and detail from riider... Get it working with only a hard drive installed first.. Whatever the installed OS is, once the bios finds the drive it ought to start the boot process to some degree.

Dawie May 1, 2019 at 03:19:46

Sorry but I'm convinced this HDD is as dead as a cow. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

trvlr May 1, 2019 at 05:29:14

Out of curiosity.... If/when you remove the hard drive... does the system at least boot up?