Jan
I just replaced both HDDs. I've tried removing HDD from boot priority (this version of BIOS won't let me set "priority", e.g., HDD-1, CD-2, USB-3, etc). Doesn't work. When I add HDD to boot priority it tries to boot windows, then gives me a blue screen prompting me to check for viruses, check for HDD failure, make sure HDD's installed correctly.
I've never installed Ubuntu before, or IDE drives.
Give me some ideas for troubleshooting.
My system:
Dell Dimension Desktop (2003 or 2004)
P4 2.66 Ghz
1.28 GB RAM
WD Caviar 1600AAJB (ATA 100) HDD–master
WD? (ATA 100?–according to documentation found online when I looked up model #) HDD–slave
NVIDIA GeForce 6200
Answer:
Henry, the cd-rom drive has to be the First Boot Priority in Boot Order. You would use the Up/Down arrow key,(to the left of your number pad on your keyboard), to 'highlight' CD-1, and press the appropiate Change Value key, the minus,(-), key, or the Page Up/Page Down key,(above the arrow keys on your keyboard), to move the Boot Order around. (At the bottom of the BIOS Setup screen, will be the 'navigation' guide, listing which key/s to use) If HDD-1, (this means your two harddrives are listed as HDD-1, and HDD-2. Some BIOS programs use HDD0, and HDD1), is listed first, 'highlight' it, then use the appropiate Change Value key,(as described before), and move it down one 'slot'. Then do the same for the next device listed as the First Boot Priority, UNTIL CD-1,(or CD-2), is listed on top, as the First Boot Device, or First Boot Priority. Then use the ESC key to back out of this submenu, until you are back to where you started from, and press F10. Then press the small case y key. Your computer will now re-start. If you can get the disk into the appropiate cdrom drive,(for example, if you listed CD-1 first, this is the drive you want), before the memory count is done, and Windows starts to load, cool! If not don't sweat it! Press CTRL, ALT, and Delete keys AT the same time to restart your computer. (This is provided, of course, that Windows hasn't started to load. Welcome, ya-da, ya-da) If somehow Windows does manage to load, shut it down properly,(Start>Shut Down, Shut Down). Then wait 20 second's, or so, and press the power button to on. Ubuntu has to load from the cd-rom drive. If your HarDDrive is listed first, it's gonna' load Windows!
EDIT: Don't flash the BIOS until you have tried this, or you KNOW for sure it won't work! If you flash the BIOS, and it isn't THE EXACT BIOS UPGRADE that you need, your computer is DONE! You must have THE exact Dell Dimension ya-da, ya-da. You didn't tell us what the EXACT model was, Dell Dimension 2003, or 2004, doesn't CUT IT! There is an option to save the original BIOS program, when you go to download the upgrade, USE IT!
EDIT 2: If the HDD's are blank, you aren't loading anything. CD-1, or whatever, must be first! This boot screen you were getting, is a form of protection for the harddrive. BIOS is trying to figure out where the OS,(Windoze), went!
EDIT 3: Email me through Yahoo Answers. Just click on my icon, then email Chickster.
Answer:
you could flash the pram to reset the bios so you could change the priority. (google for how to do it on your dell) Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList