Transferred a HDD from an old computer to a newer computer but it wont let me install windows on it

[Ethica]

So I am helping a friend with a computer issue and what they ended up wanting has just turned into a nightmare.

The Computer is a Dell DCNE. When I got the computer it would boot to just after the dell screen and give me the option of launching startup repair or start normally. after a few startup repairs failing I asked my friend if they needed any of the data on the HDD and they said no. I formatted the HDD and figured it would be easier. Now I get the BOOTMGR error like I should and restart with CTRL+ALT+DEL then I go to boot order and try and boot from the windows 7 disk he gave me. It is a burnt copy disk not official. Legal just he made an ISO and put on a disk. When I try and boot from the disk i get a "Selected Boot Device Not Available" Press F1 or F2. I ran the diagnostics and everything is passed. I went into BIOS and swapped it from IDE to SATA. I reset the CMOS and pulled the battery just in case. I was hoping the CMOS reset would allow the disk drive to be read but it still says selected boot device not available.

Any help would be great. I just want to be able to install windows on this thing and be done with it!

 

[Ethica]

Anyone at all?

 

[Broken3D]

IF you are sure the burned iso is fully functional, re-burn if possible with a lower speed, or try using a USB device.

OOOR google PartedMagic a linux-based easy to use HDD toolset under 100mb pop that onto a usb/cd boot into it and format using that. best formatting tool ever!

 

[Broken3D]

easiest way to get your parted magic
1) get this on a windows pc with internet and run it http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
2) select parted magic from the top, at the bottom select your usb drive, OK and then just wait for it.
3) once finished boot from it on the PC

and yh btw to put a iso of windows onto usb, get rufus boot maker. simple and fast

 

[Ethica]

I have an external HDD of my own that has tons of personal data on t. if I use a boot from USB method how would I go about doing that. Would I need to format my personal drive or can i just put the folder I need to on it.

For Parted magic...put that on a usb drive and plug it into my already formatted HDD computer? to reformat the formatted drive?

 

[Broken3D]

I have an external HDD of my own that has tons of personal data on t. if I use a boot from USB method how would I go about doing that. Would I need to format my personal drive or can i just put the folder I need to on it.

For Parted magic...put that on a usb drive and plug it into my already formatted HDD computer? to reformat the formatted drive?

1) your personal data will have to go in that case unfortunately (really you dont have a spare 2gb usb?)
2) yes thats right, because often windows formatting tools are buggy. once formatted as NTFS again through partedmagic, reinstall windows WITHOUT formatting it again in the windows setuo

 

[Ethica]

I went with the ole fashioned format c: in cmd prmt

 

[Ethica]

OK so I tried doing parted magic and nothing changed. I was able to reformat with parted magic but the same message popped up about the Boot Device not available.

What are my other options. I have a 4gb USB drive now

 

[lonewolf7]

Are you sure the CD/DVD drive is working properly ?

Are you sure the disc (with OS) is bootable ? and not a bad disc ? or not a disc with ISO format ?

If you are getting " Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message then you can be sure that the drive and disc both are ok.

Go to BIOS ant revert the setting to IDE and see if Native SATA setting are enabled or disabled, make it enabled, save the settings. and try to install OS, see what happens !

 

[Ethica]

Are you sure the CD/DVD drive is working properly ?

Are you sure the disc (with OS) is bootable ? and not a bad disc ? or not a disc with ISO format ?

If you are getting " Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message then you can be sure that the drive and disc both are ok.

Go to BIOS ant revert the setting to IDE and see if Native SATA setting are enabled or disabled, make it enabled, save the settings. and try to install OS, see what happens !

yeah i am not getting a " Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message with the disk just a Selected Boot Device Not Available...press F1 to rtry and F2 to do something else

 

[Broken3D]

Sounds like there's a problem with the dvd drive or the dvd itself
Solution: use a software called Rufus, it makes a bootable USB from the iso.

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

Open it, select the right USB, where it says ISO on the right click the CD icon and select the iso. don't touch the rest of the settings, then start

 

[Broken3D]

Then you know the drill. boot from the usb like you would from the dvd (change the boot device to usb, etc,) and it will say press any key to...the rest of the installation will be exactly the same.

 

[lonewolf7]

Are you sure the CD/DVD drive is working properly ?

Are you sure the disc (with OS) is bootable ? and not a bad disc ? or not a disc with ISO format ?

If you are getting " Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message then you can be sure that the drive and disc both are ok.

Go to BIOS ant revert the setting to IDE and see if Native SATA setting are enabled or disabled, make it enabled, save the settings. and try to install OS, see what happens !

yeah i am not getting a " Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message with the disk just a Selected Boot Device Not Available...press F1 to rtry and F2 to do something else

That DVD is not bootable, I think its a .ISO format disc so it wont help you install OS. BTW did you make the CD/DVD drive as first bootable device under BIOS ? Check it.

Download this tool it will help you make a bootable media (DVD/USB) from your .ISO disc. You can find help on the page on how to do it.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

Good luck.