win2k boot device failure

[rmaier]

When the computer is turned on it begins loading windows 2000 professional and then gives the blue screen at the same point every time. Windows is never loaded and all that can be done is to restart the computer. This happens everytime the computer is started/restarted. The computer will not even start in safe mode.

An error message similar to "80 pin cable not installed" and "boot device not available" is displayed. I am unable to boot from the HDD or the CD drive. I have not tried the floppy yet. It appears that all drives have power and I know they are installed properly.

The computer worked fine, was shut down, and later that day restarted with this problem. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be causing the problem?

[rmaier]

Surely someone has some ideas to get me started. I can get to the command prompt by starting in windows (not win2k). It is as if the HDD and CD are not even recognized. Maybe I should attempt to repair windows with the floppies?

[wedor]

Sounds like you may have an IDE controller failure, you can try accessing Windows from the floppy but if you have a controller failure you wil not be able to "fix" it in that fashion as it would be a hardware failure.

[rmaier]

So it sounds like the IDE controllers on the motherboard failed? That or possibly a windows file is corrupt is all I can think of that may cause this. Does anyone think it could be a software problem and not hardware? Thanks for the reply wedor!

[wedor]

No, if the boot device unavailable message comes up that is long before Windows plays a part in all of this, definitely a hardware issue. It could be something as simple as a loose or bad cable, always check the cheap stuff first, have you got a spare cable somewhere?

[rmaier]

I'm actually trouble shooting for a family member who is across the state. The computer never gets moved or anything and is only used to check email. Is it possible for a cable to go bad from normal use? Also, since both the HDD and CD are on different IDE cables it would lead me to think it would be a motherboard problem if it was hardware related. I agree with checking the cheap stuff first, but I just don't see how the cable could be the problem. Then again, I have only been using computers for a few years and may lack experience.

[wedor]

Have you seen this sysetm first hand? Do you know for a fact that the HDD and CD are on different cables? I have seen some systems that only use one cable for both. I don't recall ever having the personal experience of a cable going bad just from normal use but that doesn't mean anything. Cables can work their way out of a socket though, it's still best to start with the basics and work your way up from there.

[rmaier]

I have opened it up before and know for a fact that they are on separate cables. She has someone else with computer knowledge also helping her and they have received a response from the cd and floppy drive. When they try to boot/repair windows it says windows is missing files. Shouldn't they be able to repair windows from either the CD or the 4 floppies?

[ThePoor]

yes, pop in win2k cd into your cd drive and boot up from the CD and choose repair.