Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Dell Windows 10 - No bootable devices?

- - - - -

Best Answer Sugartooth , 21 December 2019 - 05:03 PM

Hi Phill, I'm purchasing a new laptop instead of continuing on. Thank you, and to the others, for all their assistance during this time.   I also sent you a PM.Anna Go to the full post »


  • Please log in to reply

#76
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hi Anna, 

 

That picture shows that the BIOS has the computer set to boot from a network device, go into the BIOS and make sure that the DVD drive is first and the HDD second in the boot order, the PXE device should not be enabled as a boot option in the BIOS, if it is please disable it, save the settings and exit.


  • 0

Advertisements


#77
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi Phill,

 

I do have it set to DVD first, in Legacy. There is no option for DVD in UEFI.  I don't know what a PXE device is.

 

20191029_220013a.jpg

 

20191029_220205b.jpg

 

20191029_220400c.jpg


  • 0

#78
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hello Anna,

 

Quick question, we can see the option to run a diagnostics in your third screenshot, can I ask what if anything happens if you select the option.

 

PXE is the option to boot from a network as is shown to be the 5th boot device option in your first screenshot, the fact that you got the boot error as is shown in your reply #75 normally means one of two things, no boot device/media found or the computer has been set to boot from a Network when it has not been set up to do so.


  • 0

#79
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi Phill,

 

I'd already tried Diagnostics. See post #44. It took me to the ePSA Pre-boot System Assessment.

 

I don't have a Network, never set one up, so don't know how PXE is on my laptop.

 

Also, yesterday and today, when I turned it on, I started getting all colors of the rainbow on the screen! Started as horizontal lines, then turned into a blob. Then all disappeared.


  • 0

#80
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hello Anna, 

 

Reason why I asked about the diagnostics test was to see if you could check the HDD again, the diagnostic test is most likely stored in the BIOS on your notebook and if you could run it we would at least find out whether the HDD still passed.

 

Regarding the display, is it not working now or has it gone back to normal since.


  • 0

#81
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi Phill,

 

Today, the display is normal. I ran all the Diagnostics tests on everything listed in the left pane. All have come back as Passed. I took pics of all the screens, so if there is something you would like to see, just ask and I will post it.

 

HDD Test = Passed.jpg


  • 0

#82
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hello Anna, 

 

Thanks for the screenshot which suggests that the HDD is ok.

 

Let us know whether or not you want to run Linux to see if the HDD can be mounted and accessed.

 

I don't have a Network, never set one up, so don't know how PXE is on my laptop.

 

 

Overlooked answering this, the Network is on the BIOS chip and is not installed by the end user, what can happen sometimes for one reason or another is the BIOS gets changed and the option to boot from a Network gets enabled.


  • 0

#83
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi,

 

Yes, Phill, I'm game to run Linux.


  • 0

#84
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hello Anna,

 

The following may look a little bit daunting but is in fact relatively straight forward once you have created your Puppy Linux media, there are two options, one to create a bootable CD and the other to create a bootable USB device, choose whichever option you feel most comfortable with.

 

Just a fyi, the idea behind using Puppy is to see if the HDD can be mounted which in turn would allow to check out the HDDs available capacity etc.

 

=================== 

***Required Hardware*** 

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, 

Blank CD, 

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  

=================== 

 

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

  • Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

    Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

     

    There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivel...e-from-windows/ 

     

     

  • Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

  • Extract All files to a location you can remember 

  • Double Click 1%20BurnCDCC%20Icon.PNG BurnCDCC 

  • Click Browse 2%20BurnCDCC%20Browse%20Button.PNG and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

  • Open/Double Click that file 

    IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

  • Click Start 3%20BurnCDCC%20Start%20Button.PNG 

  • Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

  • Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

  • Click OK 

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created 

 

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

  •  

  • Start the computer/press the power button 

  • Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

    (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

  • Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

    CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

  • Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

  • Press F10 to save and exit 

  • Agree with "Y" to continue 

  • Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

     

    4%20BIOSBootPriorityImage.png 

 

 

 

3.  Recover Your Data 

  • Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

     

    3a. Mount Drives[list] 

  • Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop. 5%20Puppy%20Linux%20Mount%20Icon.PNG 

  • A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

  • Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

  • USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

  • If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

 

3b. Transfer Files.

  •  

  • At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

  • Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

  • Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

  • If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

  • From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

 

For The Novice:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders for XP is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each individual name of each user, for Vista and above  C:\Users\$USERNAME\[...]. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos

 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations! 

 

 

 

PuppyLinux528screenshot.png 


  • 0

#85
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi Phill,

 

20191104_231156_resized.jpg

 

Is this a success?  :)  I stopped after I completed Step 3a. Mount Drives.


  • 0

Advertisements


#86
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Hello Anna,

 

You have done this correctly  :spoton:

 

sdb1 is your USB device and if that was the only drive that showed up from the outset it means that the notebooks hard drive has not been detected by Puppy, if the HDD were detected it would normally be identified as sda1. 


  • 0

#87
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

What do I do now, Phill? I stopped at Step 3a. because I didn't know what to do after that.


  • 0

#88
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

Your screenshot is only showing the one storage device which as was explained above is the sdb1 that is your USB device, there was nothing more that you could have done.

 

The fact that you have been able to boot Puppy from a USB device means that you have had the computer set up correctly to boot from the USB Windows ISO and the problem has been with the destination drive ie the notebooks HDD.

 

Can I ask how the HDD is identified in the BIOS, a Seagate HDD for example will be listed something like ST1000DM004 and a Western Digital along the lines of WD10JPLX other brands will have similar identification codes, only when such an ID code is present is a HDD actually detected and an entry simply listed as SATA HDD means that the BIOS will and has looked for a HDD in that particular boot sequence but no HDD was detected. 


  • 0

#89
Sugartooth

Sugartooth

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 881 posts

Hi Phill,

 

 

Can I ask how the HDD is identified in the BIOS

 

Is this what you're asking for?

 

20191107_205213_resized.jpg

 

 


  • 0

#90
phillpower2

phillpower2

    Mechanised Mod

  • Global Moderator
  • 24,716 posts

hello Anna,

 

Apologies for the delay getting back to you.

 

We can see a Toshiba HDD listed but is it accessible, would suggest that you try running both the short and the extended Seatools test, see Creating a CD using the bootable CD image .ISO file. info here


  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP