Help - Can't Boot - Error Code : BIOHD-3
 

Can't boot, do a F11 troubleshoot and it tells me "Error Code : BIOHD-3 - Cant find a boot path - Contact HP Support"

My Drives (C and E) are both good and SMART is good so I think the drives are good. I have tried flip flopping boot drives in Bios (after F10) but it wont recognize the proper one (or any it seems). Right now I put in the original backup DVDs i made (the one HP allows) and it is running some tests. Everything is good except it cant find a boot path.

This all happened after a simple boot. Although it has flip flopped drives in Bios before and usually I just have to set it back to the right drive and then it will boot. So this flip flopping maybe was a bad sign of things to come.

HP, Windows, Vista Home

If I went and bought a new box, could I just place the C HD in place of the other C HD and boot? I seen where U-Bob said this should work if the old C dive is good.

I'm on my old P3, 500 Mhtz, 800x600 monitor writing this.

Any ideas? Any way to boot up so I can do a more current backup before prob getting another box?

Also anyone know a good boot disk DL for Vista or does it have to be made on the original computer? Thought I had made one but of course it cant be found. The orig backup disks I made dont seem to have a section for booting. Only to reformat and do some tests.

This BIO-HD error seems fairly common but I havent found the answer or solution after reading on it except to get a new box.

I need to boot up. Any help really appreciated.

Going to have to restore your drive.

Thanks. So basicly I need a new box. And the C drive is def shot?

Even tho the SMART says things are Ok and the drive passes many tests?

why not just take it to a computer place and have them take a look at it ?

you dont see people asking on gfy what to do when thier car does not start.


lol

Maybe something got corrupted from a viris, happened before, and if I reformat things will jive. (last case scenario if I cant boot before getting another box)

Someone told me bootvis would boot me last time this happened so I am off to look into that next.

I would just buy a new box before that. Cant be more than $300 now days for a basic one. I would like to boot up and save about a weeks work tho first.

Just seeing if anyone has any ideas. Worth a shot.

Don't buy an HP? I get my machines built by a local guy and anything I don't understand, he just fixes.

I don't understand the attraction of buying name brands from big box stores. Or even online.

Yeah everyone I owned has been HP and all have gone to hell except the one Im on from about 2002. :)

But their "tools" are laughable. thankfully I have fairly decent backups. I think this is a boot prob tho and not a HD prob.

Running more HP "tests" on the HDs

Did you try this?

BIOHD-8 is a SMART drive error code. It's issued when SMART thinks your drive is failing. Doing some reseach it seems that there have been issues with HP computers and this error code occurring but nobody seems to know why.
If you believe that the hard drive is not faulty access the BIOS and look for the option HDD SMART Enable (or similar) and disable it. Do a reboot then get into the operating system and select the C: hard drive properties. On the tools page you will find a hard drive test tool run it and it will tell you it cannot run as the drive is in use. It will then ask you if you wish to reschedule a test on reboot. Select that option and reboot the machine. This will report and fix and drive protocol errors that have occurred but it will NOT repair the drive if the mechanics are faulty. Replacement is the only way to fix that.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_can_yo...#ixzz1Cx5iib00

thanks man, gonna give that a shot right now

I cant seem to be able to disable smart but I'm running some Smart tests and so far flying colors.

Also dled this bad boy for 145M and they claim it will boot ya so I guess i have to create disks.

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

Running all this on my P3 500 :) Old reliable. 800x600 - 5 threads per screen on GFY.

SMART teats says drive is good. I just think some viris .exe f'd up my boot path again. Kind you get from sites. I dl one occasionally. dleted one from Program Files/Data the other day. But prob only got part.

An AVAST didnt do shit to stop it.

I need a disk to boot off. MUST have one around here.

Sorry this is the prog 145M

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

It prob has to be inst b4 .. that is laways the f'n problem.

buy an external case for the drive and connect them to a working PC via USB...:2 cents:
with some luck everything will be recoverable...

What is all this SMART bullshit? Some useless shit HP pre-installs on their machines? Sound like a pain in the balls to me.

Thanks. Ill prob end up getting another machine. I have fairly good backups. Two days of configuring again. I would still have to configure even if I could access the old C drive.

Such is life. Think I will buy the cheapest one Walmart has. $200 special. That has windows. Prob be faster than mine which is a 2.4 Ghz from about 2 years back. So that is some reason to smile. :)

Error Code : BIOHD-3
Warning : No bootable drives detected.
Suggestion : Please contact HP Support.

And that is how it goes as an HP owner. Gonna get somthing else this time. They're open all night. Have to try a few more things yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T. :winkwink:

Too bad answers.com has info on the BIOHD-9 but not the BIOHD-3

But good advice and appreciate it.

Is SMART only HP? SMART monitors the drives and tells you in advance if they are going out. But they will still work for a while longer. It is a warning system and "health of the drive" checker. I thought it was sort universal now but maybe not.

It's not just HP; it's preinstalled on just about every HD. :winkwink:

Thats what I thought.

Isnt there a one size fits all start up disk for Windows Vista Home or does each have to be configured on the machine first?

That is the million dollar question. Ok $200 question.

OK $25 Paypal (times are tough :) ) if anyone can point me to a start up disk that boots me. (Seriously) Windows Home Vista

you can always try craigslist there always broke college students that will work for peanuts :)

Did I insult anyone. Hope not. Some kid may need the $25. :)

BTW, I buy traffic. Are you always this helpful. :)

most people on gfy are clueless about computers and the ones that are not probably dont need the $25 that badly your looking to get shit down super cheap so i was just pointing out the best place to find someone who will work for peanuts that might know what they are doing :)

I think I'll move my whole operation to this P3 500. Actully it would do the job for me now days. Works great.

Fair enuf man.

Actually I read the tech sites before posting here and this is a stumper but some bright kids now days so who knows.

Id like to toss all these fucking computers in the mississippi.

The whole thing is tiring.

Anyhow I'm gonna try some shit for a while.

It'll be fun shopping at Walmart. :)

Prob due. This one is 2 years old.

Backup every fucking night cause tomorrows your turn.

Gonna go warmup the car. Too fucking old fat ornery and lazy to look for startup disks when it prob wont work anyhow.

When I'm gone someone will have the answer I'm sure.

I like Walmart. Walmart likes me. :)

$200 is my limit. :) hehe

And thanks for your help guys. Something probably "went". Seems the mother board gets blamed a lot for this if you read the tech threads.

I disabled all drives under Bios except the C drive and no go. Actually I could reformat and go from there from the backup disks. Did it before.

Just cant boot. Drives are good.

I actually think there is a virus that attacks the boot drive that comes via an .exe from sites. It pops a "Your computer is Infected! Scan here" this happened about two days back. I found the exe easy enough but I believe it may have killed a boot file or such. Happened before.

So I guess I will reformat and see if that works first.

Stay tuned.

Ta-DA!!! I am HERE Vjo my man to SAVE DA DAY!!! (Insert trumpet music here. No wait - insert trumpets up my ass, sorry.)

Actually, I don't have a fucking clue what this thread is all about. LOL Just stopping in to say YO Vjo!! And to say I'm heading down to sunny South Beach tomorrow, for a month of working in (relative) warmth. Heh - how many inches now Vho? (And no, not his pee-pee, you sick fucks, SNOW in Minnesoda).

Stay warm pal, good luck with whatever the heck this thread is about, and I'll check in to GFH to contineu ue my role as GFY threadkiller. :D

Hey MP! Thanks for the encouragement! Just computer problems. Cant boot.

I am Dling a start up disk for $9.75 "Windows Vista Recovery Disc x86" to be exact. I couldnt find a free one. :) And got tired of the circle jerk.

So see if that helps. :)

Oh man is Minn a tough bear to live lately. But the schnow has tapered off lately. :)

Have fun. :) Back to my BS :disgust

Well that was a waste of $9.75. Why did I ever think anything made by MS would ever fix anything.

Actually said it fixed something but of course it is made by ms so it didnt fix shit.

So I am reformatting back to orig software. Should boot then.

Have to look into this imaging software. All the settings are gonna SUCK. The only good thing. Clean hard drive, and I will rebuild it better than before so it's worth the p in the a.

Gonna be a lean no nonsense install.

Yeah right.

and HP. This is HP's recovery. Honestly.

Would you like to reformat? Yes or No

No (selected)

Contact HP support.

What a recovery program.

Boots fine after reformatting. Of course.

Well , I was back to 95% in 24 hours last time.
So crack another Corona and away we go. All nighter.

I miss my music the most. :)