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Author Topic: Format hard drive  (Read 1137 times)

Offline ollerref

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Format hard drive
« on: August 06, 2011, 07:56:28 PM »
rebuilt computer, no software.  can't load anything.  need to format the hard drive.  can only see pc menu information.  can't boot or anything else.  have tried boot and nuke but doesn't work either.  any suggestions?   need to load kde4.  help please. 
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Offline Rudge

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2011, 08:11:23 PM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 07:56:28 PM
rebuilt computer, no software.  can't load anything.  need to format the hard drive.  can only see pc menu information.  can't boot or anything else.  have tried boot and nuke but doesn't work either.  any suggestions?   need to load kde4.  help please.  


ollerref, do you already have a CD or DVD with the current .ISO burned? Assuming so, you should be able to just load it into the drive and boot the box up.

If this isn't happening, some more information needs to be supplied.

What have you tried to do and what do you mean by "can't load anything"?
« Last Edit: August 06, 2011, 08:13:49 PM by Rudge »
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Offline ollerref

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2011, 08:33:35 PM »
boot and nuke does not work (nothing happens),   kde4 does not work,  (nothing happens) 
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Offline Rudge

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2011, 08:39:39 PM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 08:33:35 PM
boot and nuke does not work (nothing happens),   kde4 does not work,  (nothing happens) 

I feel like I am trying to "drag" information out of you. ;)

So can you verify for me that you have placed a current .ISO into the CDROM and then turned off the PC and turned it back on?

If nothing happens at this point you either

a: have a bad .ISO
b: your PC's CMOS settings are set to never boot from the CDROM
c: you have a hardware issue.

There may be some other reasons but I can't think of any at the moment.

 ;)
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Offline MGBguy

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2011, 11:18:12 PM »
Quote from: Rudge on August 06, 2011, 08:39:39 PM
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 08:33:35 PM
boot and nuke does not work (nothing happens),   kde4 does not work,  (nothing happens) 

I feel like I am trying to "drag" information out of you. ;)

So can you verify for me that you have placed a current .ISO into the CDROM and then turned off the PC and turned it back on?

If nothing happens at this point you either

a: have a bad .ISO
b: your PC's CMOS settings are set to never boot from the CDROM
c: you have a hardware issue.

There may be some other reasons but I can't think of any at the moment.

 ;)

I say (b).  :D

As Rudge said...more info please.

If this is a rebuilt system, how old? I've had "old" motherboards knocked backed to their default settings due to a bad CMOS battery. Check bios to assure that your first boot device is your cd/dvd (optical) drive. That would be my step #1. The first clue that the bios is at default would be an obviously wrong time and date.

Just trying to be helpful. 

Regardless, consider your dilemma a learning experience.  :)

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Offline djohnston

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2011, 02:21:41 AM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 08:33:35 PM
boot and nuke does not work (nothing happens)

DBAN automatically locates and displays any attached drives. If that isn't happening, there's a hardware problem somewhere. When you boot the computer, go into the BIOS setup and find the hard drive section. What do you see?

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Offline ollerref

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2011, 06:58:26 PM »
please drag on (lol)  yes i have tried to put the iso in the pc then turn it on.  nothing happens.  i have made sure it boots from the cd.  and, not sure of the hard drive.  have downloaded kde4 several times to make sure the disc is good. 
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Offline Old-Polack

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2011, 07:11:23 PM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 07:56:28 PM
rebuilt computer, no software.  can't load anything.  need to format the hard drive.  can only see pc menu information.  can't boot or anything else.  have tried boot and nuke but doesn't work either.  any suggestions?   need to load kde4.  help please.  

Rebuild again... next time use working parts.  ;)
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Offline MCP

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2011, 07:13:43 PM »
Quote from: old-polack on August 07, 2011, 07:11:23 PM
Quote from: ollerref on August 06, 2011, 07:56:28 PM
rebuilt computer, no software.  can't load anything.  need to format the hard drive.  can only see pc menu information.  can't boot or anything else.  have tried boot and nuke but doesn't work either.  any suggestions?   need to load kde4.  help please.  

Rebuild again... next time use working parts.  ;)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Offline thorper

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2011, 04:26:52 PM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 07, 2011, 06:58:26 PM
please drag on (lol)  yes i have tried to put the iso in the pc then turn it on.  nothing happens.  i have made sure it boots from the cd.  and, not sure of the hard drive.  have downloaded kde4 several times to make sure the disc is good. 

You have tried to put the iso in the PC? The iso must be written to a CD or DVD. Has been previously mentioned, once you have created a bootable CD change the boot order of your PC to boot from the CD drive first and boot with the disc already inserted.

If you can get into the BIOS you should be able to see if your hard drives are recognised by your PC. If not then resolve that problem first.
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Offline j-retired

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2011, 05:21:12 PM »
Hope I'm not offending, but you did burn an "image" to the cd, you didn't just write the .iso file did you?  You must use "burn an image" or something similar from whatever app you are using to burn the cd.
Good luck,
j

ps... if you're not sure, look at the ccd with dolphin or similar - you should have several files on it, not just one.
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Offline MGBguy

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Re: Format hard drive
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2011, 04:12:58 PM »
Quote from: ollerref on August 07, 2011, 06:58:26 PM
please drag on (lol)  yes i have tried to put the iso in the pc then turn it on.  nothing happens.  i have made sure it boots from the cd.  and, not sure of the hard drive.  have downloaded kde4 several times to make sure the disc is good. 

When you say nothing happens...does that mean the optical drive (CD/DVD) doesn't spin up? If so...and if this IS a rebuilt computer... is the drive getting power? Are all cables firmly inserted?

Are these the older PATA/IDE drives ( plugged in as PRIMARY drives) or SATA?

Our resident soothsayer O-P could be right...defective hardware.

Again, I'm rootin' fer ya.  ;D
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