Media test failure, check cable, No bootable device after disk cleanup

[bigwass42]

Hello,

i didn't find a specific post like the problem i have. I am trying to fix a laptop for a co-worker. Her nephew did a disk cleanup and must have deleted some stuff he shouldn't have. i fixed this once before for another co-worker, who's son deleted some stuff the shouldn't have during a disk cleanup, but i don't remember how i did it, and I can't seem to find anything online.

when i boot up this is what my screen reads:

Broadcom UNDI PXE-2.1 v12.2.0
Copyright...
Copyright...
All rights...
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM.
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key

I made sure the HDD is first to boot under the boot menu in the BIOS.
I also made sure the Hard drive is connected properly.
There are also no other USBs, CD's, or DVD's in the laptop.

The laptop is a Gateway, NV55C
can anyone help me out here?
if you need more info let me know
Thanks!!

 

[JBmorris]

Hm, not even A direct Boot to the HDD from the Boot options menu(where you can manually select which device to boot) works? Did you try that?

Something like this happened to a computer owned by someone I know, their BIOS couldn't detect the Drive because the OS was hibernated, for some reason.

 

[Laith]

Try to boot into a live linux cd and try to navigate through your files and see if they are still in tact.

 

[bigwass42]

JBmorris,

yes i did try getting into the boot menu F12 and when i tried booting from the hard drive it just went back to the same screen.

Laith,

Where can i download a live linux cd?
would it be worth it to just buy a windows restore disc?

 

[oscer1]

hi you could try Ubuntu. Install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | Ubuntu

 

[bigwass42]

hi you could try Ubuntu. Install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | Ubuntu

hello, she wants to keep her computer the way it is. i think i will just try the windows restore disk. the next problem is i'm not sure what type of windows 7 she has. i'm guessing home premium, but i'm not sure. does it matter when buying the restore disk, or will they all work?

 

[lehnerus2000]

You don't have to install ...

hi you could try Ubuntu. Install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | Ubuntu

hello, she wants to keep her computer the way it is. i think i will just try the windows restore disk. the next problem is i'm not sure what type of windows 7 she has. i'm guessing home premium, but i'm not sure. does it matter when buying the restore disk, or will they all work?

You don't have to install Linux.
A Live CD/DVD/USB will let you run the Distro without having to install it.

In Linux Mint MATE, there is an icon on the desktop for installing Linux Mint.
I assume Ubuntu still works the same way.

The Live session will take some time to boot up (especially from a CD).
Once booted you can then use the file manager to view the contents of your NTFS partitions.
You can also copy the contents to another drive.

 

[alphaniner]

hello, she wants to keep her computer the way it is.

oscer1's link title is a bit misleading. The Ubuntu installer boots to a graphical environment without needing to be installed.

i think i will just try the windows restore disk.

I'm pretty sure any Windows installation disc should have the same tools as a generic Windows restore disc. Version (Home, Professional, etc) shouldn't matter.

 

[bigwass42]

got it working

So I ended up just getting a restore/repair disc on eBay for $10, and just re-installed windows. She lost her data but didn't have much on it anyway. Thanks for your help!

and yes, the disc had all the different versions, 32 & 64 bit.

 

[bigmck]

So I ended up just getting a restore/repair disc on eBay for $10, and just re-installed windows. She lost her data but didn't have much on it anyway. Thanks for your help!

and yes, the disc had all the different versions, 32 & 64 bit.

Did you activate the installation? That needs to be done.