Unbootable disk

Stoat · Post by **Stoat** » October 22nd, 2007, 16:00

I'm fettling around with some older computer bits to make sure my old PC works before I sell it on.
I've got a 40Gb Seagate driver here that appears to work except for the fact that I can't boot from it.
I can read it from a Live CD, I can even format it and install on to it, I just can't get the thing to load an OS (Boot Disk Failiure, Insert System Disk style error).
It's a Master, sharing an IDE cable with a Slave DVD reader.
Any thoughts beyond 'It'd make a nice novelty mirror'?

buzzmong · Post by **buzzmong** » October 22nd, 2007, 16:04

Tried reformatting to a different file system?

That'll mean it has to rewrite all the boot sector I think.

Post by **deject** » October 22nd, 2007, 16:11

FAT32 or NTFS? Was Windows (any version) installed on it before?

One thing to do (if you've tried installing Windows XP on it) is load the Recovery Console and run

Code: Select all

fixmbr \device\HardDisk0

Stoat · Post by **Stoat** » October 22nd, 2007, 16:19

Not sure what was on it before.
I just GParted it to ext3, now going back to NTFS.
We'll see what happens.