[flight104]

HP presario 2135us running XP PRO, 1gb ram won't boot known good 30gb hd.

Get "Initializing MBA ctl alt B to configure..
Pre boot agent
preboot execution environment pxe
PXE-E61 media test failure
operating system not found.

WILL boot win xp setup disk, but setup fails with
"file acipec.sys caused unexpected error (32768) at line 5964 in
d:\xpsprtm\base\boot\setup\setup.c. press any key to continue"

then it rebooted cd and this time failed with "
"iINF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing status 2
setup cannot continue. press any key to exit.

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My primary identical laptop WILL boot this hd....this secondary laptop's hd WILL boot my primary identical laptop.

----

Any ideas?
I have also seen msg "check cable" after the media test failure msg....so thinking to do just that tried to get into laptop to check....i sort of think the hd connector is probably hard mounted on sys board, but never could get into the laptop to see....took all the screws of fthe back, under the front edges, loosened the display hinges, got the top to rise slightly along front and side edges....seemed to be hung midway and wouldn't go any further...
do you know if the connector is hard to the board or cable connected? and do you know how to get into the thing?
And do you have any suggestions or know what the prob is likely to be.
Thanks.

[Triple6]

Check the BIOS, make sure the hard drive is being recognized and that boot order includes the hard drive, preferably before the LAN/PXE boot item. You may also want to test the memory in the laptop: http://www.memtest.org/

[Sidech1]

service manual may help: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/bph08402.pdf

[aldpin]

Hi! Your hard drive is not soldered to the board.. there is a flexible cable in between your HD connector to the mainboard..

[flight104]

Ok, thanks guys....I did a lowtech memory check...swapped all ram from bad pc to good pc and vice versa .... good pc still good....bad pc still bad...so put it all back to orig.

Hard disk IS recognized in bios setup....compared each entry between bios of both pcs..nothing significant there.

Other factors....
I got secondary pc from ebay to dedicate to film scanner downstairs... had working xp home on it when i got it....i assumed it was legit installation.....loaded scanner software...everything worked ok....after a couple weeks, let it go to msoft to update system....it loaded a BUNCH of updates, applied them, and booted once and then wouldn't anymore.

at that time, i suspected that it WASNT a legit installation and that perhaps ms disabled it somehow...i dont know if that is possible or probable.

assuming same, figured i would have to go buy a new xp install cd...but to check it out before spending the many bucks, took the hd out and put it in my good pc and installed xp pro....works fine in good pc....but could never get it to boot in bad pc.

I hate to throw good money after bad money until i am sure....maybe the mother board is bad?

so at this point don't know if i am fighting a losing battle with croaked mother board or a new xp install disk would solve it.

again....any ideas?

[Triple6]

Microsoft doesn't disable Windows installations.

I'd check all the connection between the hard drive and the mainboard, usually there's some kind of adapter or ribbon that connects between the two but not always. You may want to look for a CMOS reset or pull the CMOS battery.

[flight104]

I would think that since the bios indicates that the HD IS recognized, that would imply the cable connection is ok? (if i remove the HD, the bios reflects NONE)

I tried getting into the machine...removed all visible screws on bottom...even the ones under the little rubber plugs around the front, inside the hd slot, loosened the hinges ... the top would lift partway up, but seemed constrained somewhere near the center of the keyboard somewhere around the numbers or function keys...couldn't get the bottom off either....loosened but won't remove. I thought perhaps there is a screw under the "presario 2100" medallion in center near top edge of keyboard...approximately where the constraint seems to be....each end of the medallion will lift slightly but if lift any harder it will surely break.... surely i am missing something simple?

there is a RESET under a little hole in the bottom..i have tried that...both with the power on and with power off....no discernable affect. I don't know what the reset does....perhaps it is the bios reset you mentioned?

just for kicks, plugged in a usb floppy drive and booted dos...it boots ok.

I guess my priority now is to get into the pc somehow.

[aldpin]

Hi! your're right.. there's a screw at the back of the keyboard that holds in place the secondary to primary board.. first you must try to lift the front covering to be able to see and unscrew the keyboard from the secondary board. This will free the keyboard so that you may unscrew the secondary board from the primary one. Pls. try to be careful when doing this because there are flexible cables that can easily be broken inside.. Also, use an ESD wrist strap or anything to protect the board from ESD while doing to prevent damaged to your board due to electrostatic discharge.. And try not to disturb the position of the LCD cable inside because if you do so you'll have a hard time assembling your computer back into place..

[flight104]

ok... once I finally noticed that Sidech1's link was to the SERVICE manual, i looked at it more closely....referring to that manual http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/bph08402.pdf on page 2-10 and 2-11 (pages 44 & 45 of the pdf) on "removing the keyboard cover"...

It says remove the two hinge cover screws that secure the keyboard cover to the rear of the notebook....so i first took that to mean the two that go thru the apron of the keyboard cover that wraps over the rear edge....removed those.....nothing would budge.

So there were two other screws nearby those two but a little down on the rear or notebook...removed those.....got a litle play when, as directed, edged a flat screwdriver between cover and rear....but only on right end (viewed from back)...left still solidly attached...and no movement in center either.

That leaves me with two additonal screws...one on each HINGE rearend...which lets me slide the laptop cover (with lcd panel in it) above the whole laptop....but doesn't seem to help getting the keyboard cover loose.

I had gotten the impression from the manual that i could just lift the whole laptop top and attached keyboard cover off starting from the rear and lifting upward...but it "ain't" happening. Also i notice there is a screw holding the front of the keyboard cover firmly down....this screw is located inside the hd slot just inside.....but the manual says nothing about it.

am i correct in interpreting "keyboard cover" as the trim cover surrounding the keyboard once the top is hinged up into normal operating position?

or does "keyboard cover' mean the whole top including the lcd panel?

I hate to seem so clueless about this, but apparently am.....

[Triple6]

The cover is just that 'trim' around the top of the keyboard as shown on page 47 of the manual.

[aldpin]

Hi! Reply # 10 is correct..


it says remove the two hinge cover screws that secure the keyboard cover to the rear of the notebook....so i first took that to mean the two that go thru the apron of the keyboard cover that wraps over the rear edge....removed those.....nothing would budge.
>>>>> this first step is correct, after this don't look for any other screw to unscrew because there's none.. It will not budge because that cover is clip somewhere to your laptop try to gently lift up that cover by gently (try not to damage the plastic) inserting the edge of your screwdriver to the cover.. do this from side to side until the cover is release from its clip..
Note:
- the cover I'm referring to is the cover pointed out on reply #10

[flight104]

Ok.... some remaining screws in the bottom were the holdup.....

so the back edge of the keyboard cover lifts about 3/4 inch... front about the same.

It is now restrained roughly in the center of the keyboard.....approximately where the hd connector is held between two plastic columns.... there are no screws on the bottom in corresponding locations to screw into the columns.....

I took a picture looking right down the hd slot from the front...held up the left edge when viewed from front as took picture.. (pls see attachment).. that structure that holds the hd connector seems to be the issue....I looked in the ram compartment for screws...none....

aside: referring back to the manual page 45 http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/bph08402.pdf at the image of the screwdriver.....i don't understand what i am seeing....unless it is a view of the back of the computer ghosted onto the top of the image of the open computer.... but presumably it is moot, since i now have the keyboard cover somewhat off ?

so recapping all that.... how might i release the hold that the structure for the hd connector has on the cover from coming all the way off?

Whew !
And thanks for y'all's patience !!