[anitam]

New IBM R40.

1. Started up find with the factory manager running. Was able to use functions normally (XP loaded fine and was able to create user account).
2. Then got a "Hard Drive Error"
3. On reboot, it said, "Please install HAL.DLL file". Then froze.
4. When I tried rebooting from XP disk and now the message is "Hard Drive failure, unformatted of missing disk"

What should I do? Thanks.

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Hi anitam...

First, check all your cables...particularly the IDE ribbon. Make sure all connectors are firmly seated. Try to boot normally again. What happens?

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi anitam...

First, check all your cables...particularly the IDE ribbon. Make sure all connectors are firmly seated. Try to boot normally again. What happens?

wannabe1

[anitam]

Sorry, what is the IDE ribbon? Do I need to open the laptop?

[wannabe1]

No...don't open the laptop. Do you have an XP installation cd?

[anitam]

Yes, we have a windows XP installation CD..... we have tried all the options (install, repair etc) and at some point it complains about the hard disk....

[wannabe1]

Is the machine still under warranty? If it is, I would return it to the place of purchase and have them check the HDD. This sounds like either a poorly installed or a bad Hard Drive. It may be just something in the way it is configured, but with a new machine, it would be best to let them look at it first so they have no complaints about you doing something that may void the warranty.

If it's not under warranty, let me know and we'll dig a little deeper.