cocked up an install... help

[rjfvillarosa]

I can't see how the BIOS could be stopping you from reinstalling the OS, if it was I am sure it would come up with some violation message or it wouldn't have allowed you to go as far as you have in the first place.
If you are prepared to spend £25 on trying to solve this problem yourself, then I would buy one of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...e=14&doy=17m12

I actually bought this one myself when I was in the UK a few months back and it works great, the power supply has a wide input voltage range so I can use it in the UK and with the 110volts in the USA.
This adapter will allow you to connect the laptop harddrive via USB to your main machine and from there you can do a zero fill, putting the harddrive back to an as new condition.
If you are certain you are unable to open the case, then the only other course of action is to take it to a Dell technician.
BIOS password protected laptops are usually company machines, where did you buy it from? can they not get you the password?

edit.. the only other thing I can think of is that the BIOS antivirus is switched on, that will stop you doing a reinstall because it will not allow anything to be written to the MBR and if that is the case then you will have to access the BIOS to switch it off.

[wooosh]

right, to me (which is probably wrong but) as the disk i put in isnt getting read
"windows could not start because of a disk hardware configuration problem. could not read from the selected boot disk. check boot path and disk hardware.
please check the windows documentation about hardware disk config... and your hardware reference manuals for additional info"
the part where it says "check boot path"
means it isnt reading the disk first. like i said i'm prob wrong. so if i am then.... another way.
it is an ex company machine i have just found out and trying to get the password off the person who bought it in the first place. not stolen just a recon apparently... old and unused etc.
"the only other thing I can think of is that the BIOS antivirus is switched on, that will stop you doing a reinstall because it will not allow anything to be written to the MBR and if that is the case then you will have to access the BIOS to switch it off." .....................
its not anything like an antivirus, its just not got enuff space and think i tried installing before i deleted enuff data to use some space.
i will deff look into that cable coz i think tha maybe the only way around it

[glc]

I believe if you hit F12 on startup you can choose a different boot device.

[wooosh]

cracking bit of info glc , thx running dban now will let u know of progress

[mikeL]

If need be, UBCD has tools for recovering the BIOS.

[wooosh]

downloading thatnow to have a look thx mikel
glc..... thx very much, setup has initiated after dban wiped everything. anymore probs and will post again.
dont mark this thread as solved until i have posted it as done plz if thats what you do that is
enjoying the fact that i have done this , makes me feel closer to a geek than i thought i cud be hehe

[glc]

We do not close threads for that reason. It will be left open forever as long as people don't post things that require closure. You may repost in here any time you feel necessary.

[wooosh]

ok nice to know.
well it worked fine but have a few display problems. xp sorted the resolution on screen etc and cant change this through the display properties. set at 680 x (780 i think switched off at mo) and at the lowest res 4 bit. dropdown menu wont allow me to change this or reset
is this a driver issue or sumit different?
if so can i connect direct to internet or safer to download on main pc then transfer over etc?

[Panama Red]

Your supposition is correct - you now need to load the video drivers in order to change/adjust the resolution. Normal sequence of installation is first load the operating system then load all drivers in order to get all hardware working correctly. Then proceed to Windows Updates and install all pertinent updates. Next install all your programs/applications.

[glc]

All drivers can be downloaded from the Dell support site. Easiest way to get them is use the service tag number of the machine.

[wooosh]

thx for everything u guys.
i have now sorted this nightmare out.
its really appreciated and i wud just like to say that this site is the best when you have a problem.
you have all been exceptionally helpful.
a big thanks with a happy new year to boot
all the best
jay

[wooosh]

i now have a new problem with this laptop.
i have downloaded the majority of drivers, transfered and installed them onto it but it now wont connect to the internet. it seems to be having some conflict with the router i think.
when i connect the ethernet cable it shows the two monitors on the task bar but as soon as i try to run IE the monitors disappear and connectivity is lost. i have tried the connection wizard but that doesnt change anything. ive looked at the network connections and it shows internet gateway as connected and lan as connected but IE wont connect.
furthermore, when i do this my main pc gets locked out for some reason and i have to reboot the router
at a bit of a loss

[ThePoor]

Why not download PartPE, you can reset BIOS password, format HDD or whatsoever...

Thepoor

[glc]

Delete the Internet gateway, then run the connection wizard and select direct connection to the Internet.

[wooosh]

dont know what i did tbh but i switched main pc off and then restarted the laptop and it connected. updated everything that was needed i.e. avg etc
unplugged and switched main pc back on and that started having problems with servers. i.e. i use grabit for downloads and it has a connection timeout. i lost the network connection icons but managed to get them back by running some network fixes i found by googling but cant seem to get grbit back to working order either
when i ran the connection wizard i had already selected the direct connection