[necrovamp]

Ok, my first question is, has my hard drive crashed.

When I start up, the device info is supposed to say something like:
"Maxtor 2B020H1" but instead I get
"Maxtor eph7 hgnk78l"
note: the odd device name isnt exact, but I could write it down and post it if it helps.

This all happened when I unplugged the ribbon cable from my m/b. -dont ask- lol
When I plugged it back in I got that message.
I have confirmed it is the hard drive itself, by trying it in a different computer.

My second problem is, that was my primary master hard drive. I did not have the operating system on that hard drive but, that hard drive contained the xp boot record or ntldr ..something, i dont know much

so Is there a way to restore that boot program/record onto a different hard drive and gain access to my operating system.


Also if it helps I can get into vista too (different hard drive and bootloader so wasnt affected)
The reason I'm so frustrated is because xp was my main os (

[Officer Dibble]

You said your drive is a Maxtor, well these drives are produced by Seagate and you can test it using either Seatools for Windows (if Windows is booting) or Seatools for DOS (An OS independant test for the drive).

Seatools for Windows and for DOS

The condition of your drive, as to whether it is readable at all, will determine your options.

[necrovamp]

I will try that thnx, i think i can boot into vista, but the computer is always testing the hard drive or something, cause everything goes majorly slow if I leave it in.

[necrovamp]

Originally Posted by Officer Dibble

You said your drive is a Maxtor, well these drives are produced by Seagate and you can test it using either Seatools for Windows (if Windows is booting) or Seatools for DOS (An OS independant test for the drive).

Seatools for Windows and for DOS

The condition of your drive, as to whether it is readable at all, will determine your options.

Well It failed every test. Long and short self test....long and short generic test.
Its toast?

And if it is, is there any way I can get into xp again...put in new drive and run xp repair?

[Jack Hackett]

This all happened when I unplugged the ribbon cable from my m/b. -dont ask- lol
When I plugged it back in I got that message.

Did you do this with the PC powered on??

[necrovamp]

Originally Posted by Jack Hackett

Did you do this with the PC powered on??

No