New Hard Drive Question

[Bandit2981]

My niece wrote me an email asking for some computer help, but I'm not all that knowledgeable about these things, so any help or suggestions would be appreciated! She said she received a Compaq Presario 5000 computer without a hard drive, and so she went and bought one, and installed it, but it won't set up. Software to set up the hard drive was included, but when it runs it says there was a problem partioning the drive. She looked into Google and found some info about going into BIOS and changing some of the settings(which i know nothing about), but then she says the categories Google says to change aren't there. Anyone know more about this than I do?

[MannyIsGod]

Honestly, trying to help you out here would be akin to a doctor giving surgery instructions over the phone.

The most likely scenario is that the computer she purchased has a BIOS that doesn't support the size of hard drive she purchased; in which case you would need to get a newer version of the BIOS and flash it.

[Bandit2981]

Yeah, that surgeon analogy is great, just what I was thinking! I'll pass along your suggestion though Manny.

[ChumpDumper]

Or you could just make smaller partitions on the drive. I've seen 5000s with 40gb drives, so that might work.

It's definitely difficult to advise long-distance.

[ducks]

find out how big the hard drive is?

what os does so have
some os do not support the 200 gig hard drive

60-100 gig hard drive could work

sometimes when using the restore disk you have to format the drive before they work
(I know from experience)

answer these questions then maybe I can help you

[Vashner]

Find a pc guru to come work on it or take it to a shop with a workbench.

[PM5K]

The most likely scenario is that the computer she purchased has a BIOS that doesn't support the size of hard drive she purchased; in which case you would need to get a newer version of the BIOS and flash it.

That's possible, it would help to know which size drive she bought. These drives always come with software specifically for using them on older computers that don't normally support larger sized drives.

That software may be a better solution that flashing the BIOS, especially considering she is a novice and it may be hard to find an upgraded BIOS (or not who knows).

[Vashner]

Is it a celeron or PII model?

[mouse]

There is a very small plastic clip that is on the HD, it is located in the middle between the power and the PC strap tell me where yours is located. and do you have a 98 startup disk?
http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/images/useries6family.gif

[mouse]

I have to get off line , call me if you want help with the install.

210-561-9941

[Dan Rather]

WTF? any updates?

[mouse]

That's it for me, I will stop trying to help folks, they just leave you hanging........

[Vashner]

That machine is junk anyway.. buy a real pc..

Use that for a door stop or something in the garden to hold dirt.

[mouse]

That is not true, that pc can be given to a family that does not have one,

I just helped a poster at this site fix a pc that was 75 MHZ I had a 233 Mhz chip so I stuck it in, installed winodows ME and now he is surfing away.

I have a 533 MHZ eMachine that I use to play splinter cell and post on the www everyday and I will challage anyone with a 1800 MHz 200 GB hard drive to show me they can respond to a topic faster than me.

Everyone thinks they have the best PC until the next one comes out, I know folks with the best DELL money can buy, but since they have all kinds of Spy Bots and crap ? their PC is slower than mine. Not to mention it does not matter how fast your PC is if you think to slow and use to much time to reply to a topic anyway.


Change your CPU, buy a new HD ,add some RAM ,but don't toss out your PC or use it as a door stop.

sell it to me :smokin

[JoeChalupa]

Mouse is da sauce!
I've got an old Gateway that Mouse spiced up and it works great and only has a 4GB hard drive. I need to get a new HD and have him do his thing and add some nice snacks....for some jack and a 12-pack of course. :smokin

[mouse]

Joe Chalupa paid 400 cash for a Dell tower with no A Drive.
Then to top it off? his hard drive was in some sort of cage, It was like the Dell folks don't want you to up grade anything unless you call them,

I had to take out his HD and use MY Pc to flush it, Then I had to stick his HD back in his PC and hoped it did not ask for the start up disc.

anyway 400 dollars later Joe finds out the older PC he gave the girls runs better than the new DEll.

What I could have done with that 400 dollars still bothers me today when I am trying to go to sleep at 4:30 am each night :smokin

[JoeChalupa]

Joe Chalupa paid 400 cash for a Dell tower with no A Drive.
Then to top it off? his hard drive was in some sort of cage, It was like the Dell folks don't want you to up grade anything unless you call them,

I had to take out his HD and use MY Pc to flush it, Then I had to stick his HD back in his PC and hoped it did not ask for the start up disc.

anyway 400 dollars later Joe finds out the older PC he gave the girls runs better than the new DEll.

What I could have done with that 400 dollars still bothers me today when I am trying to go to sleep at 4:30 am each night :smokin

I hate it when that happens. :cuss

But now I'm running Windows ME instead of XP but it is all good so far.
I no longer click on any porn sites.

[Al Sharpton]

I hate it when that happens. :cuss

I no longer click on any porn sites.

yea right, and I stop eating fried chicken :lmao