Used Disk Sanitizer by mistake, now can't even access BIOS and don't have an OS

[NYCDude1]

I am concerned that the DVD drives I have access to may not even write a dual layer.  Do I need a special drive for that? 

So even though the hardware works fine because there is some sort of malfunction when it comes to the boot order, I won't be able to use the harddrive? Is it bricked?

Is there a way I could format the drive on another laptop (remove the HD, put it in another laptop with a non malfunctioning BIOS (such as one I could boot off a USB), and then format/install the Win 7 then put the now formatted HD back into the 4530s? 

In that case, how would I use your utility.  There is the Win 7 iso which I presume I put onto a dual layer DVD or bootable USB.  But how do I go about using the utility that you sent me as an attachment?  Do I put it on the same DVD or a separate USB or what?  Thanks for all the help. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can try to install W7 on the drive in another PC, but it will probably have to have closely related hardware to yours.

I don't know if your notebook's DVD drive is dual layer or not.  If your notebook's drive has lettering on the bezel, look for a 'DL' on there.  That would indicated dual layer.

Your best bet would be to try to install W7 on the drive in another notebook.

You install the Microsoft utility on any PC and you can either use the USB or DVD option to make the installation media bootable.  I would try the USB option since it would work on any PC.

It's interesting that I was reading a post yesterday that another forum member made on a different model notebook, and that person did the same thing as you did.   Ran disk sanitizer and now can't get into any of the BIOS options or boot from any device.

Note to self...never use disk sanitizer unless I want to use the notebook for target practice.

[NYCDude1]

Sorry, I may sound mentally disabled to you but would you mind explaining that?

So I would create a bootable dual layer DVD or a USB using the Win 7 perhaps with Rufus or Etcher.

Then I would just plug into the laptop.

I would NOT use the download installer utility in that case?

If I put the HD into another laptop body, then I use the BIOS to boot into the DVD or USB with Win 7 iso on it.

I would also NOT use the download installer utility in that case?

But if I have a desktop or laptop and use Win to install the Win 7 iso onto the HD directly perhaps using a SATA cable, I would use the download installer? 

I am a little confused now.  Is the System Repair disc useless to me?  If I boot off the Win 7 USB/DVD will I be able to install Win 7 onto the HD?  Will that fix the BIOS?  Can I flash the BIOS software some how?  Perhaps I can remove the battery to the BIOS and reset it?  I am just a little surprised that using software but with no hardware issues, that I can permanently brick the HD.

Thanks again for humoring my annoying questions.  You have a lot of patience.  I appreciate it. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

OK, let me try and explain this again...

The Microsoft tool I attached does what Rufus does. 

it transfers the W7 ISO file you downloaded to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

If you prefer to use Rufus instead of the Microsoft tool I attached, that is fine.

The Rufus tool will only work to make a USB flash drive bootable.

But you need to use one or the other. 

The ISO file you downloaded is useless to you in its present state.

So...after you make the ISO file bootable using either tool, if you have a laptop PC that has a 2.5" SATA hard drive, remove it and install the drive from your disabled notebook.

Then install W7 on the notebook you put the sanitized drive in.

After that, install the drive back into your 4530s, turn it on, cross your fingers and hope it boots up.

Like you, I have absolutely no idea why using the disk sanitizer program basically rendered your notebook completely useless to you, and to that other forum member as well.

So try the W7 install on another PC then transfer the drive.

If that doesn't work either, there is only one other thing you can do, and that would be to disconnect the notebook from A/C power, remove the main battery, remove the CMOS battery from the notebook, see if that clears the BIOS settings, and resets everything to its defaults.

See chapter 4, page 91 of the service manual for how to remove the RTC (CMOS) battery.

It is a MAJOR hassle to do that, so only do it as a last resort.  It may not even be worth it.

[NYCDude1]

Since someone else is also having this problem, and because I just figured out I should take a pic of what flashes on the screen for a second before the error message that I wrote in my original post;

Intel UNDI, PXE-21. (build 083)

Copyright (C) 1997-2000  Intel Corporation

This Product is covered by one or more of the following patents: US5,307,459.......(and a whole bunch of other numbers)

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller Series v2.49 Beta (08/01/12)

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable

PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM.

When I plug in the network cable, it replaces the last two PXE lines with:

CLIENT MAC ADDR:  with 6 sets of numbers and letters     GUID:  with a large alphanumeric code

DCHP...|  [This dots increase as the line spins around]

However, after the dots after DCHP increase to about 6, it is replaced by

PXE-E53- No boot filename received

PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM.

just like it does when I press the F12 network boot option.

I can't imagine that I somehow unplugged the cord to the HD as the only thing I originally did was the Disk Sanitize action. 

Never knew it would brick my laptop. 

I also tried replacing the HD with another and it continues to have the original error message of my post. 

I will be trying to do the Boot USB with Win 7 but at this point, I am not sure if it will work at all. 

And I will try the CMS battery thing but don't have much hope in that either. 

Any other thoughts? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Sorry that nothing is working for you.

For whatever reason, the PC is still able to boot from a network device.

The only suggestion I can offer would be to read this article, see if you can make heads or tails out of it, and install Windows from a network boot, or you can google other sources for such a method to install Windows.

How to Install Any Version of Windows from Other Network Computers | Digital Citizen

Unfortunately, I would not be able to help you with that process.

[NYCDude1]

Hi Mr. Tikkanen,

I just wanted to thank you very much for your help.

I tried all types of things which did not work such as resetting the CMOS battery. 

Using a Win7 USB only initially resulted in a black screen with multi colored dots in a banner type formation reminiscent of old text based games. 

But for some reason, after I just randomly did things such as turning on and off the system (that reset thing you told me earlier) as well as some other things which I don't even think I could reproduce if I wanted to, it seems to have shocked the system into letting me into the F10 BIOS.

After changing the boot order specifically to USB, I was able to load Win7 onto the HD which then eventually resulted in my ability to boot into Win 7. 

I now have some minor issues such as with the power button but at least the laptop is not bricked.

Thanks again for your help and patience. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad that your perseverance paid off and you were able to get your notebook running again.

Have a great weekend!

Paul

[ethaldstiils]

You should use Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit ISO file. It will run i try once. I also have download link try this one out.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/A/8/EA804D86-C3DF-4719-9966-6A66C9306598/7601.24214.180801-1700.win7sp1_ldr_escrow_CLIENT_HOMEPRE...

You can use any IOS software to burn it like Rufus or Microsoft tool. Then select the F9 boot options menu and press the Enter key. Then select the USB flash drive or DVD as applicable.

[DGroves]

Power on the unit  ,at the HP screen , press F10 to go the BIOS

In BIOS > system configuration > Device configuration> Sate Device mode . Select AHCI

Go to File > save change exit

Shut down unit .Connect the Windows 7 OS recovery CD/USB key

Restart the unit .At HP screen , press F9

Select the Windows 7 CD /USB key from the list and then it should boot off the USB key

You can find a youtube video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9JfaqcTqY4