Do i need a new IDE or new hard drive or both?

[sidwell8]

When i load up my PC i get a screen saying "verifying DMI pool data" and "error loading operating system". Is this a hard drive problem or do i need a new IDE? The guy i bought it from did say it was temperamental and would take a few times to switch on before it worked.

Also, in BIOS should the boot options be in a certain order?

 

[MindoverMaster]

IDe is a certain architecture of hard drives. It sounds like your operation system files are corrupted. What OS do you have? XP, Vista, 7?

It doesn't really matter what boot order it is in.

 

[Peter.Cort]

if you have remnants of other OS installs on other hard drives and those are booting first then it matters, but just verify that the hard drive with your OS on it is booting first.

 

[sidwell8]

Mindovermaster its XP

 

[MindoverMaster]

You have the XP CD? You might want to do a repair install.

 

[sidwell8]

i dont i have windows 7 cos i wanted to put that onto it but i dont have the XP disc.

 

[MindoverMaster]

Don't upgrade it. That will cause even more problems. Unless you get a new drive and put 7 on it. But you need to make sure your hardware works with 7.

 

[sidwell8]

get a new hard drive then?

 

[GhOsT1321]

Assuming that this is a retail computer, I would call the company and see if they can send you a reinstall disc.

 

[sidwell8]

i have no papers for it would it be easier and maybe safer to just get a new hard drive?