please don't laugh...

mypcbroke · 29 Oct 2010

I tried all options greg mentioned above ^ and some I googled but I continue to get the error:
A disk read error occrred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

or

No bootable device --insert boot disk and press any key
(this shows up when the Windows DVD isn't in)

As to the overheat, that's my old Dell not my Acer. Thanks for the advice though :)

Dave,
(answering a question from a few pages ago) I checked my warranty with Western Digital and they told me I have no limited warranty, and that I would have to contact Acer

As to my old Dell, it's an Inspiron 5100.

Dave76 · 29 Oct 2010

Too bad about the warranty, I would think WD would stand behind there product even if an OEM computer.

Can you download SIW-System Information for Windows, and go to 'Hardware - Storage Devices' and post a snip of the HDD info?

This info should tell us if you can put the Dell laptop HDD in the Acer and see if it will boot from the different HDD.
This will confirm if it is a HDD issue.

Since you got the Acer have you updated any drivers or the BIOS?

The dust cleaning advice mentioned previously will probably solve the Dell Inspiron 5100 overheating issue.

For future reference, if the HDD is compatible, your Dell Inspiron 5100 owner's Manual.
Page 106, at the bottom, tells you how to remove the HDD.

mypcbroke · 29 Oct 2010

Here's the snip Dave

mypcbroke · 30 Oct 2010

O_O OMG.
I don't know if I undid everything or did something right, but I switched from AHCI to IDE and my start up hung at "starting windows" and the flame animation didn't start. Then it went to "Windows is loading files..."
To clarify: the DVD is not in.

Is this false hope?

zzz2496 · 30 Oct 2010

AHCI/IDE is the method of accessing your HDD. DO NOT CHANGE IT once you installed your Windows, it WILL HUNG. Simply change it back to IDE will solve the start up problem.

zzz2496

Dave76 · 30 Oct 2010

Your Dell HDD is PATA, your Acer HDD should be SATA.
The PATA HDD will not connect to your SATA Acer.

When your BIOS is set to AHCI the installation will load drivers for AHCI, which are different than the drivers for IDE.
There are ways to change this with the OS installed, usually requires a registry change.

But, this is interesting that it is loading files...

By all means, let it continue.

Let us know the result.

Joshatdot · 30 Oct 2010

SHEESH...28 pages of trouble shooting and errors.

"Windows is loading files..." Did anything happen?

Is there a CIS Lab or Computer Lab Tech at the College? When I went back to school taking the CIS course (Computer Information Systems) everyone there had to tear down a PC (everything out of the case) and put it back together and install Windows on it. We even offered upgrade/repair services to other students at school.

If there is such a class/lab at your school ... take it there. They should have knowledgeable students there to help fix your situation, and quite possibly have spare 2.5" SATA HDDs to swap with yours.

gregrocker · 30 Oct 2010

mypcbroke said:

O_O OMG.
I don't know if I undid everything or did something right, but I switched from AHCI to IDE and my start up hung at "starting windows" and the flame animation didn't start. Then it went to "Windows is loading files..."
To clarify: the DVD is not in.

Is this false hope?

What did it do next?

If it hangs on the Starting Windows color flames animation then you need to run Paragon Adaptive Restore CD since you changed hardware when you imaged Win7 from your Dell to your Acer. Win7 will not always start up right away on new hardware, but needs to have its drivers removed and some other adjustments which PAR CD does.

Try the Mark Active + Startup Repair x3 with SATA set to IDE now. The SATA controller should match the setting on the Dell. If it continues hanging at Starting Windows animation then let me know and I'll loan you my PAR CD.

Joshatdot · 05 Nov 2010

Sooo, what's going on mypcbroke?

Shing01 · 07 Jul 2012

Hi guys, i want to bump this thread because i have the same problem.
"It was going pretty well -it got passed 3 check marks. Then it suddenly stopped I received the error code:
Windows could not set the offline locale information. Error Code: 0x80FE0000"
Excatly this. I bought my new PC yesterday, but i cant install Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 or Xp SP3 because of this error. I did read the whole topic, too bad "mypcbroke" stoped to response. So, my PC:
Motherboard: Asus M5A97
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965
Patriot Patriot 4GB 1333Mhz (single RAM)
PSU: Hipro HPE-450W
Video card: Ati Radeon HD6870
HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST320DM000 (320GB)
I updated my Bios (uefi or whatever) to the newest version, tried to switch from AHCI mod to IDE.
Sometimes i got BSOD (with different erros) and once i installed the Win7 successfully. (seriously, wtf). But after PC restart the boot stoped before the Win7 loading screen. This time i tried XP, but failed too.
What to do? Maybe HDD is bad?
//sorry for english mistakes

please don't laugh...

same problem - 0x80FE0000