crashed alienware and not windows not dectecting hardrive

when the computer gets fixed i be sure to do that, i don't wont to have to go through this again.

thanks

the comptuer should be ready by wednesday so i'll be sure to tell you all what hell happened to it

 

Make sure they tell you why the hdd was'nt detected & was there an issue with the BIOS or was it just due to faulty hardware,it's really strange why the linux distro could see the hdd but not the xp disk

 

will do, but in your guy's opinion do you think my computer will need a new hard drive?

 

I had situation last year whereby i'd have to reinstall xp every 2nd-3rd day due to a no disk error,after two weeks of getting pissed off i ripped the IDE cable off the hdd & broke the plastic IDE connector on the cable,replacing IDE cable fixed the prob,which was lucky coz i thought the hdd was stuffed,in your case it could be anything but since you've had no "disk missing messages" hopefully it's something small after all it was running fine,the logging out you speak of sounds very similar to when you've forgotton a password & then use a password reset disk but it does'nt work,then clicking on the ok on the name & password it automatically goes to shutdown mode,not being able to login into xp could've just been a file that got deleted by the trojan,it could be a coincedence that xp could'nt be reinstalled because of a hardware issue,we'll just have to wait & see


EDIT: It would'nt hurt to ring em up & ask them to see if they can set the BIOS up so that as soon as it boots you can see everything getting detected,my comp allows it,although it's quick if there's an issue it will stall the boot & ask me to press F2 to continue,also when you get it back.
START
right clik MY COMPUTER
left click Properties
left click ADVANCED tab
under STARTUP & RECOVERY hit settings button,then where it says system failure untick AUTOMAICALLY RESTART

This will stop a restart if you get a BSOD,so you have time to write the error message & number

 

man i hope the hard disk isn't shot, thats easily another $100

thanks i'll be sure to do all of that

 

Hey fsr7860 I have the same model Alienware as you and the same problem! I've been reading your posts and I also really need to re-install Windows XP but setup can't find the hard drives! I know my hard drive isn't busted because I'm talking to you right now (plus running error checks comes up with nothing.

Please, please let me/us know what you find, if your technician gives you a set of drivers would you mind releasing them online for rest of the guys that have this problem?

You can reach me at edited by ddp, thanks!

 

hey guys, i also have the same model, was infected with virus, got replacement HDD (under warranty) so it was free, and have had troubles reinstalling windows.

i am still currently working on the installation process cause i continue to run into small snags here and there. first of all, you need to get a floppy disk, an external floppy drive, and another computer (for files transfer and stuff).

once you have all that, go to alienware.com > support > drivers and downloads. ignore all those fields and just hit search. scroll down until you find "M5700 VIA RAID Tool 5.1.2600.430". download that.

once downloaded, copy over all the files from the DrvDisk folder onto your floppy disk. put the disk in ur external floppy drive, connect 2 the m5700, and boot up from set-up/recovery CD. once started, press f6 when prompted at the bottom. wait. screen will come up and you will ahve to press the "s" key. once done, choose the correct driver (depending on your OPS). hit enter, then select it, hit enter and the set-up should begin.

now since i have done that i have ran into several snags about missing files and my computer freezing, but so far, that is what is required to get it to work.

will update post when i get something new or this for some reason doesnt work later down the road

 

the floppy drive works

 

it works but you loose Sata Performance.

 

In that case you have running windoze on a small ide drive which you use to install dozey xp.. plus any necessary sata drivers to the new hdd.. changing back in the bios to the right boot device and sata setup when you take the small drive out.

still could never possibly recommend alienware to anybody.. last one I saw was at least £300 over the list price for the actual hardware used.

 

i just like the laptop cases they have, its to bad you cant build your own laptop like you can with a desktop. it would be the end of overpriced laptops as we know it.

if you where replying to me i was simply stating that what ddp said would work but at the loss of SATA transfer rates its all about the RPM's.