Non-System disk or disk error

[DanielG2112]

So last week a guy brought in this computer with a problem that whenever he started his computer it gave him the error

Non-System disk or disk error
replace and strike any key when ready

He asked me to back up his important documents and reinstall windows.

So I did.

I gave him the computer back, knowing full well that it was working correctly. I get it back today with the exact same problem and I can't seem to pinpoint the issue.

Any help?

Thanks,

Daniel G

 

[Knightsman]

have you tested the hard drive?

results?

 

[Xander]

Did you take out the floppy disk?



Edit: And maybe you could tell us what you have done diagnostically so that we're not just taking potshots here.
It's like Grade 8 Math: Show your work.

 

[tech0007]

Virus or did u run checkdsk from cmd prompt (w/ms wind CD) to see if it gives you errors.
DanielG2112 What else have you done to get to the bottom of this issue.

is this a desktop ?
" "laptop ?
did u try another hard drive ?

these are some thing s you should of tried first and then post what you have done.Give us more info then some general bits of information. If at all possible,when you find out what caused this error,post results to help yourself and fellow members.

 

[NeutronTech]

My spidey senses are detecting a bad hard disk.

 

[TLE]

Slave the drive to another PC, install Crystal Disk and have a look at the SMART status of the drive and let us know the results.

 

[Hercomputers]

You imaged the same drive, correct? Did you do any diagnostics on the drive before you reinstalled Windows and gave it back to him? Sometimes a customer will tell us to do something thinking it's one thing when it's something else. You can't always go by what the customer says. Someone else could have told him to tell you to back up his stuff and reinstall windows.

 

[NeutronTech]

You can't always go by what the customer says.

Let me fix this

"You can never go by what the customer says."

 

[DanielG2112]

I did run diagnostics before I reinstalled windows.

This is a HP Compaq DC5000 SFF

Refurbished.

Did you take out the floppy disk?

There is no floppy drive.

Here's the SMART report. (attached)

 

[joydivision]

You need to run a much longer test than a simple SMART report. I suspect it could also be the controller or cable.

I assume you have checked the BIOS settings?

 

[DanielG2112]

I assume you have checked the BIOS settings?

Yes, running Data Lifeguard Extended test right now.

 

[muncherw]

Did you take out the floppy disk?

Ha! Beat me to it!


.......

 

[MobileTechie]

Bear in mind that the disk need not be bad. Windows recognises the system disk from data on it. If corrupted then the disk will show as a non-system disk.

 

[Hercomputers]

Let me fix this

"You can never go by what the customer says."

Nothing to 'fix', NT - that's not always the case. There are some customers that know what they're talking about. I've dealt with a few of them but at the same time, I don't let what they tell me dictate how I'm going to handle a repair. I'm speaking from only MY point of view and experience.

 

[Petetech888]

Possible solution.

From the manual..
If you have only one device, make sure to connect it to the Device 0
connector. If you connect it to the Device 1 connector, the system will
not recognise the device and you may receive a “no fixed disk found”
error message.
Here is the link.

http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/pdf/HP-Compaq-dc5000-SFF-DesktopPC-HardwareReference.pdf

It could be the answer to your problem at the risk of sounding like a parrot it may indeed be a BIOS issue.

 

[iptech]

Yes, running Data Lifeguard Extended test right now.

If DLG is running it cannot be a BIOS or connectivity error. Under the circumstances described I would have run DLG before I did the reinstall in the first instance.

 

[Hercomputers]

From the manual..
If you have only one device, make sure to connect it to the Device 0
connector. If you connect it to the Device 1 connector, the system will
not recognise the device and you may receive a “no fixed disk found”
error message.
Here is the link.

http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/pdf/HP-Compaq-dc5000-SFF-DesktopPC-HardwareReference.pdf

It could be the answer to your problem at the risk of sounding like a parrot it may indeed be a BIOS issue.

Nice find, Peter.....Daniel, let us know how you make out.

 

[DanielG2112]

From the manual..
If you have only one device, make sure to connect it to the Device 0
connector. If you connect it to the Device 1 connector, the system will
not recognise the device and you may receive a “no fixed disk found”
error message.
Here is the link.

http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/pdf/HP-Compaq-dc5000-SFF-DesktopPC-HardwareReference.pdf

It could be the answer to your problem at the risk of sounding like a parrot it may indeed be a BIOS issue.

Never thought to look up the manual! *Facepalm* (THANKSSSSS

The extended test is almost done.

*twiddle thumbs* *reads manual*

 

[TLE]

Either it's to late and I need sleep or that disk has rellocated sectors.

05 216 213 _63 0000000000BE Reallocated Sectors Count

 

[iptech]

From the manual..
If you have only one device, make sure to connect it to the Device 0
connector. If you connect it to the Device 1 connector, the system will
not recognise the device and you may receive a “no fixed disk found”
error message.
Here is the link.

http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/pdf/HP-Compaq-dc5000-SFF-DesktopPC-HardwareReference.pdf

It could be the answer to your problem at the risk of sounding like a parrot it may indeed be a BIOS issue.

Not the best advice, if "the system will not recognise the device" then you will receive “no fixed disk found” error message.

Most systems will still boot if the boot device is connected to channel 1, the advantage in connecting to channel 0 is that the system will scan this first thus decreasing the boot time.