Boot errors on HP machines with Intel

[RTSDaddy2]

Ok, I don't have the exact error messages with me right now, they're at home...but in a nutshell, I'm doing computer science teaching for my new school as well as music and volleyball.  When I was setting the towers up for them yesterday, I encountered a new error message.  Something about media connection not found, check cable;  then it would just stop loading, telling me that there was a boot error - please insert media or reboot.

I'll post the actual error message later tonight - apologize for starting this thread ahead of time, but thought someone might be able to hypothesize as to what was going on? My guess is two things 1) the cables aren't labeled and so may be the wrong type of monitor, or 2) the tower's flat fried (they've had it in storage most of this year at one of those outdoor storage bins.  I'm hoping not the latter but who knows.

[RTSDaddy2]

Here is the screen as I copied it down on Friday:

----------------------------------------------
Intel Boot Agent FE 4.1.10

PXE-EU Media test failure, check cable (monitor cable is connected)
PXE-M0F or perhaps PXE-MOF  Exit Intel Boot Agent

Reboot and select proper boot device OR Insert media in selected boot device and press key

---------------------------------------------------------------

Every time I pressed the key, it repeated this. Not familiar with this error, going to go do some googling too but thought I"d post here in case I didn't figure it out on my own. As always, thanks ahead of time!

[abispac]

that means the bios its not finding the hardrive with the OS in it, to be able to do that you would need to acces the bios by hitting f2, or esc, or f1 or whatever key your computer tells you to press to acces the bios, once inside your bios, you need to verify that your computer its recognisin your hard drive, in order for me to help you further you will need to tell me what your bios options are, but most of them are simple , you just need to read carefully, you can also check your boot order in your bios, it need to be cd rom first (if you plan to install an OS) otherwise ill sugest setting that up to hard drive first.
But the firs part ill check would be any sata or ide loose cables.....
good luck.

[Encryptor]

It's exactly as abispac stated. The pc is trying to boot from the network card because it can't find an OS to boot from. It is saying Intel Boot Agent because the onboard network card is probably an Intel Pro 100 NIC.

Encryptor

[RTSDaddy2]

Should have googled first I suppose, but was a strange error to me.  I will check and see if it recognizes the hard drive - will also see how hard it is to open the casing and check for those loose cables.

[RTSDaddy2]

Checked the BIOS - hard drive and everything found. Checked all the cable connections, both internal and external before power up.  Still giving me the same message.

Not sure I explained this properly - there's supposed to be an OS on the computer already.  Does the fact that it can't be found mean the HD is toast? Or do I just need to find a windows CD and install/reinstall it?

[abispac]

at the boot screen or in the bios, look if the bios has a boot option key, maybe f9 or f12 are the most common, if you see the computer bios sees the hard drive then should be ok booting from the hard drive, so you got only 2 options.
1 - on the bios you should have a boot order options, and you need to set that to be your hard drive.
2- Hit the boot option key (f9 or f12) depending on you machine, to be able to boot from your hard drive.

if your hardrive where bad you computer probably wont be able to seeit, and if it dosnt have on OS you would probably get a message saying "no OS found".
so im pretty sure its just a matter of setting your pc too boot the harddrive.
And a plus would be to change the cmos battery as that can cause those kind of problems , if the computer was working ok the sudenly you got that problem, im pretty sure your bios battery has gone bad....
good luck 

[RTSDaddy2]

Well, talked to my boss who says she believes the OS may have been stripped from the hard drive.  Downloaded from Microsoft a WinXP SP3 CD rom today, but the disc it was trying to write to was bad, so I haven't tried a reinstall / initial install yet.

Will give what you suggested a try first - see once more if I can get it to boot from the drive, but it may be that nothing's there.

[abispac]

if no OS is in the hardrive then you should get a mesage stating that no OS was found...

[RTSDaddy2]

Not doing that - definitely need that boot disk - will call Microsoft tonight if nothing else

[abispac]

If the computers have an original sticker with the xp serial number and the version of xp, its not illegal to download the version of xp those machines have, and use that serial number at installation. Just a tip.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Most isos for windows online are VLK editions that will not accept an oem key. It would be easiest to install with a pirate key, let it fail WGA them download the Microsoft key change tool. It will let you use OEM keys on a VLK installation or whatever permutation of versions you have. It just gives you a warning.

edit: stupid autocorrect.

[abispac]

Most isps for windows online are VLK editions that will not accept an oem key. It would be easiest to install with a pirate key, let it fail WGA them download the Microsoft key change tool. It will let hpu use OEM keys on a VLK installation or whatever permutation of versions you have. List gives you a warning.

Please dont give pirate advises, most of the computers i fix, they have a legit xp sticker, if is xp pro, then i use xp pro, if is xp home the i use xp home.....that eazy.... no need for pirate serials......

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Most isps for windows online are VLK editions that will not accept an oem key. It would be easiest to install with a pirate key, let it fail WGA them download the Microsoft key change tool. It will let hpu use OEM keys on a VLK installation or whatever permutation of versions you have. List gives you a warning.

Please dont give pirate advises, most of the computers i fix, they have a legit xp sticker, if is xp pro, then i use xp pro, if is xp home the i use xp home.....that eazy.... no need for pirate serials......

I'm not trying to give pirates advice. I'm explaining how to use a LEGIT key when you cannot source the proper installation disk. There are a lot of machines sold now without a recovery CD, or the original owners have not kept the original recovery cd. The installation files are the same for all the various versions of XP Pro and the various versions of XP Home. The difference is a string in the setupp.ini file:
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs

This is of zero help to you if you do not have an original license for which to use after your machine fails WGA if you pirate XP. And it will eventually fail WGA.

If you're comfortable generating a new windows iso using something like nLite (which can rebuild installation disks from the i386 folder) then you could modify the setupp.ini yourself and go ahead and insert your legit key in the installer. It's worth learning to do if you think you might need to ever install windows again.

[abispac]

Most isps for windows online are VLK editions that will not accept an oem key. It would be easiest to install with a pirate key, let it fail WGA them download the Microsoft key change tool. It will let hpu use OEM keys on a VLK installation or whatever permutation of versions you have. List gives you a warning.

Please dont give pirate advises, most of the computers i fix, they have a legit xp sticker, if is xp pro, then i use xp pro, if is xp home the i use xp home.....that eazy.... no need for pirate serials......

I'm not trying to give pirates advice. I'm explaining how to use a LEGIT key when you cannot source the proper installation disk. There are a lot of machines sold now without a recovery CD, or the original owners have not kept the original recovery cd. The installation files are the same for all the various versions of XP Pro and the various versions of XP Home. The difference is a string in the setupp.ini file:
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs

This is of zero help to you if you do not have an original license for which to use after your machine fails WGA if you pirate XP. And it will eventually fail WGA.

If you're comfortable generating a new windows iso using something like nLite (which can rebuild installation disks from the i386 folder) then you could modify the setupp.ini yourself and go ahead and insert your legit key in the installer. It's worth learning to do if you think you might need to ever install windows again.

But think about it, of all of the thousands downloads you can get online,why going with a diferent version of the xp you are going to need? if you have a legal ,legit xp sticker with a legit serial number, no need for vlk or corporate versions, just use whats legal for you...and it ill pass wga, cus its LEGAL

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I am either being unclear or you are missing the point. I suspect the latter. I will let others correct me if I am wrong.

[Havok]

cotmn68030 is correct - there really aren't different Windows XP CDs per say, just the string to identify which version it is for your license key, which is a major pain in the ass since you may not have the "matched" installation disk for your license. He's just giving advice on how to get Windows installed, and then use your correct, legal key.

Once complete, you have a fully legit and legal install. Granted, you cheated getting there, but that's half the fun...