[Deb1012]

I just recently bought a group of computers from another company. All the computers are Dell Precision Workstations (340 series). Every one I try to boot up gives me the following error message: PXE-E6! Media Test Failure, check cable. I know that the cables can't be loose in all 20 of these computers. I'm thinking that it must have something to do with the network they used to be associated with. I've tried everything I know to get into diagnostics or BIOS but can't get beyond the 'retry boot' screen or the setup utility screen. Help! Anyone have any suggestions -- I'm not very techy, but very bold and not afraid to try anything. Maybe I just need boot discs? Nothing came with the computers. Any ideas?

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if you can get into the bios (usually f2 or Del during bootup) or at least the boot menu...you need to turn off the boot to lan function and change the boot order to boot from the hard drive....the system is probably booting to a network instance of the OS...which might also mean that the machines don't have an OS installed locally..

[dsenette]

if you can get into the bios (usually f2 or Del during bootup) or at least the boot menu...you need to turn off the boot to lan function and change the boot order to boot from the hard drive....the system is probably booting to a network instance of the OS...which might also mean that the machines don't have an OS installed locally..

[Deb1012]

When I go into Setup it tells me the Boot sequence is:
1. Diskette Drive
2. IDE CD-ROM Device
3. Integrated NIC
4. Hare-Disck Drive C
All of these are enabled. Do I need to change this sequence? How do I do that?

[dsenette]

it should have a statement that tells you how to change the order (like press page up to change or something like that)...you need to move the hard disk up to the top

[Deb1012]

I just changed the order to:
1. Hard-Disk Drive C
2. Diskette Drive
3. IDE CD-ROM Device
4. Integrated NIC
I'm still getting the PXE-E61 Media Test Failure message. Do I need to disable the NIC?

[dsenette]

i'm going to assume that the computer actually does have a hard drive correct? do you have an XP disk?

[Deb1012]

It does and I do.

[dsenette]

we're gonna do the beginnings of a repair install (not actually gonna do the repair install...just wanna see what we can see)

To do this, follow these steps:

• Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority startup device.
  See your computer documentation for information about how to do this.
• Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
• When the instruction to "Press any key to boot from CD" appears, press a key. Your computer starts from the Windows XP CD.
• When the computer starts from the CD, the system verifies your hardware, and then prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
  - To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
  - To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

• Press ENTER.
• Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
• A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the computer prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.
  - To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press ESC.

THIS is the step we're verifying...does it actually list a current windows install? or does it just list un-partitioned space or what? write down what you see at this screen...then you can restart the computer instead of continuing with the setup...take the disk out so it doesn't boot to it... let me know what it says

[Deb1012]

I've got a 1 PM (CST) meeting I have to get to, I'm not sure how long it will take -- may we continue this later? Thank you for all your help.

[dsenette]

we never go anywhere...open 24hrs and all that jazz (come rain or sleet or threat of snow...wait...that's the post office)

[Arquitect]

we're gonna do the beginnings of a repair install (not actually gonna do the repair install...just wanna see what we can see)

To do this, follow these steps:

• Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority startup device.
  See your computer documentation for information about how to do this.
• Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
• When the instruction to "Press any key to boot from CD" appears, press a key. Your computer starts from the Windows XP CD.
• When the computer starts from the CD, the system verifies your hardware, and then prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
  - To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
  - To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

• Press ENTER.
• Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
• A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the computer prompts you to select one of the following options:
  

  - To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.
  - To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press ESC.

THIS is the step we're verifying...does it actually list a current windows install? or does it just list un-partitioned space or what? write down what you see at this screen...then you can restart the computer instead of continuing with the setup...take the disk out so it doesn't boot to it... let me know what it says

I have the same issue as the topic. I have gone as far as the quote above but when i pressed enterto set up Windows XP, i got the following messag:

"Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.

Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and propoerly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.

Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3."

Do you have any recommendations?