Inspiron 9300, how to boot 2nd HD from mod ... ... Hi all,I'd like to ask if anyone knows how to boot from a 2nd hard drive installed in the modular bay. ...

EQuito · 09-11-2009, 02:13 AM

Hi all,

I'd like to ask if anyone knows how to boot from a 2nd hard drive installed in the modular bay.

I've searched prior to posting but I couldn't find a definite answer.

The manual says to choose the option in bios but there is no such option.

Thanks in advance

dave-p · 09-11-2009, 07:51 AM

do you see the option for Booting off the CD ROM in the BIOS ?

EQuito · 09-12-2009, 12:28 AM

Yes, I have options to boot from just about everything except the modular bay.

Page 106 of the manual clearly shows the boot option "Modular Bay HDD". Obviously they thought about it otherwise it wouldn't be printed on the manual.
I wonder if the option got lost along the way from A01 to A05 bios.

Do you know if the bios for the XPS Gen 2 has a working option? or if I can find a raw bin I could try to enable the option myself.

EQuito · 09-13-2009, 02:07 PM

bump

dave-p · 09-13-2009, 11:00 PM

Well it should show up there without a hack

have you formatted the drive yet ?

Can you see it if you boot off the internal drive ?

EQuito · 09-14-2009, 06:55 PM

I know it should but it doesn't. The disk is formatted and loaded with XP
Yes, I can see it and work on it. In fact, I'm using it as my backup drive. It just won't boot from it.

I get the following error:
INTERNAL HDD HARD ERROR!
STRIKE F1 KEY TO CONTINUE, F2 KEY TO RUN THE SETUP UTILITY

After hitting F1 key I get:
NO BOOTABLE DEVICES--STRIKE F1...

Do you know a bios guru around here? maybe he can help me. I have a feeling that the option just needs to be turn on.
If I can boot from a CD-ROM I should be able to boot from a HD

qhn · 09-14-2009, 09:44 PM

With the error you mentioned above, I would install another hard drive, then try again with the CD boot up.

cheers ...

EQuito · 09-14-2009, 09:50 PM

The HD it's fine. I can boot and run XP without any errors if I install it on the regular HD bay.

qhn · 09-14-2009, 09:53 PM

I see. Only the modular bay that is giving you issues.

EQuito · 09-14-2009, 10:00 PM

Yeah exactly but the main issue is not having the option to enable booting from the modular bay when the manual clearly shows that option available.

Do you know a bios guru around here?

Thanks in advance

qhn · 09-14-2009, 10:05 PM

Let me dig into it some more. Hopefully other Dell users here will see this and shred some light soon.

cheers ...

dave-p · 09-14-2009, 10:07 PM

I know others here in these forums have used the Modular bay for a second drive, try searching the Dell Forums here.

What options do you see listed in the BIOS for Boot Devices ?

EQuito · 09-14-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave-p

I know others here in these forums have used the Modular bay for a second drive, try searching the Dell Forums here.

What options do you see listed in the BIOS for Boot Devices ?

I've searched but couldn't fine a definitive answer because most posts relate to dual boot. I don't want that, I want to boot Windows 7 without contaminating XP with boot files.
I see ALL other options: HD, CD, USB, NIC, CB and DISKETTE

dave-p · 09-14-2009, 10:35 PM

Have you tried selecting CD (since this is in place of the CD ROM)

EQuito · 09-14-2009, 10:39 PM

Yes Dave, that's the first thing I tried because I figured if the machine can boot from a CD it sould boot from a HD right?

09-11-2009, 02:13 AM	#1
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	Inspiron 9300, how to boot 2nd HD from modular bay? Hi all, I'd like to ask if anyone knows how to boot from a 2nd hard drive installed in the modular bay. I've searched prior to posting but I couldn't find a definite answer. The manual says to choose the option in bios but there is no such option. Thanks in advance

09-11-2009, 07:51 AM	#2
dave-p Loving my Alien :) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,213 Reviews: 2 Benchmarks: 7 Credits: 100,779	do you see the option for Booting off the CD ROM in the BIOS ? __________________ M17x, FX Red, QX9300, Sli GTX-280, 384 GB SSD, 17" WUXGA, 4 GB DDR3 1333 Mhz 3yr CC M6400, Q9000, FX3700, 8GB DDR3, RGB LED Display, HD, Blu Ray, 1530 WiFi 370 BT, Desktop Water Cooled I7 920, P6T, 12 GB DDR3, Raid 10, Dell 2707, Blu Ray, GTX 295 CO-OP Copper, Swiftech GTZ, Koolance RP 1000BK, My Dells Vostro 1500, Studio 15, M6300,M1710, E1705,3500,4000,4100,5100,5150,6000, 7000,7500,8000,8500,C410,C610,C810,Cpi,CPx. 6400,1501

09-13-2009, 11:00 PM	#5
dave-p Loving my Alien :) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,213 Reviews: 2 Benchmarks: 7 Credits: 100,779	Well it should show up there without a hack have you formatted the drive yet ? Can you see it if you boot off the internal drive ? __________________ M17x, FX Red, QX9300, Sli GTX-280, 384 GB SSD, 17" WUXGA, 4 GB DDR3 1333 Mhz 3yr CC M6400, Q9000, FX3700, 8GB DDR3, RGB LED Display, HD, Blu Ray, 1530 WiFi 370 BT, Desktop Water Cooled I7 920, P6T, 12 GB DDR3, Raid 10, Dell 2707, Blu Ray, GTX 295 CO-OP Copper, Swiftech GTZ, Koolance RP 1000BK, My Dells Vostro 1500, Studio 15, M6300,M1710, E1705,3500,4000,4100,5100,5150,6000, 7000,7500,8000,8500,C410,C610,C810,Cpi,CPx. 6400,1501

09-14-2009, 06:55 PM	#6
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	I know it should but it doesn't. The disk is formatted and loaded with XP Yes, I can see it and work on it. In fact, I'm using it as my backup drive. It just won't boot from it. I get the following error: INTERNAL HDD HARD ERROR! STRIKE F1 KEY TO CONTINUE, F2 KEY TO RUN THE SETUP UTILITY After hitting F1 key I get: NO BOOTABLE DEVICES--STRIKE F1... Do you know a bios guru around here? maybe he can help me. I have a feeling that the option just needs to be turn on. If I can boot from a CD-ROM I should be able to boot from a HD Last edited by EQuito; 09-14-2009 at 07:32 PM. Reason: added info

09-14-2009, 09:44 PM	#7
qhn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,059 Reviews: 8 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 54,664	With the error you mentioned above, I would install another hard drive, then try again with the CD boot up. cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

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09-12-2009, 12:28 AM	#3
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	Yes, I have options to boot from just about everything except the modular bay. Page 106 of the manual clearly shows the boot option "Modular Bay HDD". Obviously they thought about it otherwise it wouldn't be printed on the manual. I wonder if the option got lost along the way from A01 to A05 bios. Do you know if the bios for the XPS Gen 2 has a working option? or if I can find a raw bin I could try to enable the option myself.

09-13-2009, 02:07 PM	#4
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	bump

09-14-2009, 09:50 PM	#8
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	The HD it's fine. I can boot and run XP without any errors if I install it on the regular HD bay.

09-14-2009, 09:53 PM	#9
qhn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,059 Reviews: 8 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 54,664	I see. Only the modular bay that is giving you issues. __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

09-14-2009, 10:00 PM	#10
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	Yeah exactly but the main issue is not having the option to enable booting from the modular bay when the manual clearly shows that option available. Do you know a bios guru around here? Thanks in advance

09-14-2009, 10:05 PM	#11
qhn Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,059 Reviews: 8 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 54,664	Let me dig into it some more. Hopefully other Dell users here will see this and shred some light soon. cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

09-14-2009, 10:07 PM	#12
dave-p Loving my Alien :) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,213 Reviews: 2 Benchmarks: 7 Credits: 100,779	I know others here in these forums have used the Modular bay for a second drive, try searching the Dell Forums here. What options do you see listed in the BIOS for Boot Devices ? __________________ M17x, FX Red, QX9300, Sli GTX-280, 384 GB SSD, 17" WUXGA, 4 GB DDR3 1333 Mhz 3yr CC M6400, Q9000, FX3700, 8GB DDR3, RGB LED Display, HD, Blu Ray, 1530 WiFi 370 BT, Desktop Water Cooled I7 920, P6T, 12 GB DDR3, Raid 10, Dell 2707, Blu Ray, GTX 295 CO-OP Copper, Swiftech GTZ, Koolance RP 1000BK, My Dells Vostro 1500, Studio 15, M6300,M1710, E1705,3500,4000,4100,5100,5150,6000, 7000,7500,8000,8500,C410,C610,C810,Cpi,CPx. 6400,1501

09-14-2009, 10:35 PM	#14
dave-p Loving my Alien :) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,213 Reviews: 2 Benchmarks: 7 Credits: 100,779	Have you tried selecting CD (since this is in place of the CD ROM) __________________ M17x, FX Red, QX9300, Sli GTX-280, 384 GB SSD, 17" WUXGA, 4 GB DDR3 1333 Mhz 3yr CC M6400, Q9000, FX3700, 8GB DDR3, RGB LED Display, HD, Blu Ray, 1530 WiFi 370 BT, Desktop Water Cooled I7 920, P6T, 12 GB DDR3, Raid 10, Dell 2707, Blu Ray, GTX 295 CO-OP Copper, Swiftech GTZ, Koolance RP 1000BK, My Dells Vostro 1500, Studio 15, M6300,M1710, E1705,3500,4000,4100,5100,5150,6000, 7000,7500,8000,8500,C410,C610,C810,Cpi,CPx. 6400,1501

09-14-2009, 10:39 PM	#15
EQuito Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Credits: -93	Yes Dave, that's the first thing I tried because I figured if the machine can boot from a CD it sould boot from a HD right?

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