Problem with my PC (Dell Optiplex GX620)

[Ragnar]

So i have a Dell Optiplex GX620, and for some reason it doesnt boot..... :(
I installed Ubuntu 12.10 (DEMO) on my Dell, and it worked at first, and i liked it...so i wanted to install the full version...
i started the installer, it went until the progressbar and then it just said something like "Ubuntu wont recognize anything until you reboot" or something...and so i rebooted...and then it just didnt even bring me to the menu, where i pick my OS...
it just stopped at a black screen with a _ in the left upper corner...
i re-drew it in Paint...
[img=DellBlackScreen]http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x356/by-Win7/fuckthis.png[/img]
so it looks something like this...except the _ is blinking.....
Please help?!

[Topywo]

Maybe to simple (but not for me ;-) )

Interupt the start up procedure of your computer (most of the time a F-key) and look in the Bios if your computer searches first for a dvd/cd during start up (and when it doesn't find that, tries the harddisk). If not , put your dvd/cd in the first place.
and/or
Try rebooting it with and withoud cd/dvd (where your Ubuntu installation program is on)

Edit: or a USB stick if you use that one for installation of Ubuntu.

If both aren't the problem, try to install 12.4

[Ragnar]

its BIOS menu is on F2 and i changed it alot, but it still doesnt work :(
i reset the settings to its factory value, changed them back to the way it was, when it worked and so on.....still didnt work... :'(

[Topywo]

So you tried all possible combinations booting your system?

Do you have another boot (USB/CD/DVD)? to try out if your computer gets started with that?

To be sure that your CD is allright, I've here to helpfull pages for downloading Ubuntu and burning Ubuntu on a Mac/Windows system. (Although I think you probably know more about computers than I do)

Downloading
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Burning (scroll down for howto Windows and howto Mac)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

If nothing helps/works I (but that's me) would screw open the computer and look if some cables are loose, especially the dvd/cd player cable (I would move it a bit and then try to boot from it (first choice Bios) again)). If it didn't work and everything would look in one piece, I would pull out the cd/dvd player and try to start it (although not which much hope it would work).

And probably then look on the internet what the problem might be (off course you can also start with that)

The best of luck with it!

[Ragnar]

If both aren't the problem, try to install 12.4

The problem isnt in the OS, the problem is in the PC.........
i said, that it doesnt find the CD/DVD, if its in the first slot...
and when i press F12 (the Boot Menu key) there are multiply things to choose from...

====BOOT MENU====
1. Onboard SATA Hard Drive
2. Onboard USB CD Drive

3. System Menu
4. Hard Drive Diagnostics
5. Boot To Utility Partition
====BOOT MENU====

What happens when i choose :
#1. *LOADS FOREVER*
#2. Floppy Disc Seek Failure
Strike F1 key to continue, press F2 to run the setup utility
*PRESSING F1*
Selected boot device not available
Strike F1 to retry boot, press F2 to run setup utility
*PRESSING F2*
BIOS MENU
#3. BIOS MENU
#4. Hard Drive Diagnostics Running, Please Wait...
Drive 0: SAMSUNG HD080JH/P - Fail. Return Code: 7
Drive 1: No Device
Drive 2: No Device
Drive 3: No Device
Drive 4: PHILIPS DVD+/- RW DVD8801 - Diagnostics Not Supported
Drive 5: No device

Test Complete, Press <ENTER> To Reboot
#5 Floppy Disc Seek Failure
Strike F1 key to continue, press F2 to run the setup utility
*PRESSING F1*
Selected boot device not available
Strike F1 to retry boot, press F2 to run setup utility
*PRESSING F2*
BIOS MENU

[Ragnar]

i said, that i installed the DEMO from the disc, so i know how to burn CD's/DVD's...
AND i said, that it worked.....

[Topywo]

I just thought about checking your harddisk wiring too, but as I read, that shouldn't be the problem.

I'm not an expert. My impression is that it looks like your CD/DVD player broke down during installation, leaving you without an operating system and without a cd/dvd. But then it is recognized/identified...

You could try to make a bootable USB stick to (and even put Ubuntu on that to install it on the Harddisk) and make that one the nr. 1.

Or find another DVD/CD player to put in your computer and try it out.

[Ragnar]

I just thought about checking your harddisk wiring too, but as I read, that shouldn't be the problem.

I'm not an expert. My impression is that it looks like your CD/DVD player broke down during installation, leaving you without an operating system and without a cd/dvd. But then it is recognized/identified...

You could try to make a bootable USB stick to (and even put Ubuntu on that to install it on the Harddisk) and make that one the nr. 1.

Or find another DVD/CD player to put in your computer and try it out.

umm...ok?
ill tell u if it works...

[Topywo]

I searched with google on: samsung hd080hj p fail return code 7

The first hit (there are more) was: http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=samsung%20hd080hj%20p%20fail%20return%20code%207&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.techguy.org%2Fhardware%2F863853-solved-samsung-hdd-return-code.html&ei=uraPUMnZNcqI4gSgsIGwBA&usg=AFQjCNEjbyD8qyoAaNS6jekray53JAY3Qg

There are a lot of hits. Looks like I'm completely wrong with the cd/dvd player (probably that's the reason it was detected) and it's the harddisk causing the problems. Not good news...

Edit: a more helpfull link: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7586_102-234470/error-return-code-7-hard-drive-failure/ especially the last post

[Ragnar]

so that means, i need to get another HDD?
FUCK!!!!!! ]=C
well....i guess i have to do it, and im gonna buy maybe a 200GB HDD or something like that...
cause the one i used was a 80GB HDD.....
well...i guess thats the only way...
or ill just buy a HDD that has a USB wire, its easier to install :D
well, i guess the server will be down for a long time now.... :'(
sorry...
i hope that i can still copy all my photos from my old 80GB HDD to my new one...

[Topywo]

You might be able to save some or more (my previous edit): See http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7586_102-234470/error-return-code-7-hard-drive-failure/

The last post is very interesting. And I thought somewhere in an earlier post of that thread I read something about saving a 80GB disk.

[Ragnar]

You might be able to save some or more (my previous edit): See http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7586_102-234470/error-return-code-7-hard-drive-failure/

The last post is very interesting. And I thought somewhere in an earlier post of that thread I read something about saving a 80GB disk.

ow, sorry...i cant...
i already drilled a hole in it and smashed it with a hammer xD
but ill get a new hard drive tomorrow...
so the server will be up in about 20hours...
Stay Tuned...Please?!
xDD

[Calinou]

You're doing it wrong, you probably installed no bootloader; try to run a Live CD again and reinstall Ubuntu from there (also, if you had Windows previously, you probably erased it).

Also, this forum is about Minetest, not Ubuntu. 8)

so that means, i need to get another HDD?
FUCK!!!!!! ]=C

Try reinstalling Ubuntu on the same HDD first.

[Ragnar]

You're doing it wrong, you probably installed no bootloader; try to run a Live CD again and reinstall Ubuntu from there (also, if you had Windows previously, you probably erased it).

Also, this forum is about Minetest, not Ubuntu. 8)

so that means, i need to get another HDD?
FUCK!!!!!! ]=C

Try reinstalling Ubuntu on the same HDD first.

1. i know it isnt an Ubuntu forum :D
2. i DID try to install it on my HDD, and replace Windows....
3. the computer cant read my HDD, and thats why im getting a new one...