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m1425 won't start when HDD is present Topic is solved

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m1425 won't start when HDD is present

Postby bosse4 » Sun May 15, 2011 9:13 am

I tried to install Linux on the machine, an Amilo m1425, but did not get much further than partitioning the hard drive and installing a base system but it is not yet bootable (GRUB is not installed yet). My bad, I know!

When I started the machine the next day to continue nothing happened, it just showed the POST message telling everything is OK incl. HDD and RAM, press F2, F11 or F12, but no response. It didn't boot from the CD as I have expected. I tried everything; reset, replacing CMOS-battery, checking/swapping RAMs. When I removed the HDD I could boot from CD or enter BIOS. I flashed the BIOS (same version as before).

I replaced the malfunctioned HDD 6 Months ago so I don't think it has gone bad. Any more suggestions?
bosse4
 
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Re: m1425 won't start when HDD is present

Postby silverarrow » Sun May 15, 2011 11:35 pm

You mean it will not boot at all from CD? What Linux distro are you using? You might try a different distro just to see what happens; but I agree a weird problem. Regardless of Grub it should boot from CD. When booted in live CD, are you able to access hard drive after inserting it? It still might be a grub related issue. You could try installing lubuntu, ubuntu, or fedora, the installation process is pretty much all autmated by a wizard type guide. With light distros like puppy or the more basic distros, you most often need to install grub manually.
silverarrow
 
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Re: m1425 won't start when HDD is present

Postby bosse4 » Sun May 15, 2011 11:45 pm

It doesn't boot the CD or let me go into the setup when the Hard drive is there, only when it is removed. But then everything work as normal. I could use Hirens boot cd and boot it in Mini-xp and Linux and everything. Maybe I should try an external USB case for the hdd to check it after booting from the CD? Probably have to buy one first...

EDIT
Got this brilliant idea. I have another old laptop, a HP Compaq something. I swapped the harddrives and the Amilo booted as a charm. Since there is no OS on the other disk I don't know yet. However it did not hang, I got into the setup and it has this HDD self test feature. I ran the quick test and it showed no problems. Right now I'm running the long 63 min. test. then i will try to reformat the drive in the other machine and see what's happening. Wish me luck! :?
bosse4
 
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Re: m1425 won't start when HDD is present  Topic is solved

Postby silverarrow » Mon May 16, 2011 12:34 am

Best of luck! [or; break a leg ;- ) ]
silverarrow
 
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Re: m1425 won't start when HDD is present

Postby bosse4 » Mon May 16, 2011 2:11 am

It worked! After reformatting the hard drive in the other machine it booted again! :D
bosse4
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 8:50 am


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