Problem - PC Won't Fully Boot Up !!

dr911 · 03-23-2007, 11:58 PM

Hi All,

I picked up these 2 PC's at a auction. I will describe the 1 I am have problems with.

The system is a Dell -Opti-Plex CX400

When I press the "on" switch, the system boots up. Then all these messages scroll down, then it says "unable to communicate with server One_Stop.Onestop

Gives the date & time. Then it says SAA_SERVER:

I try to enter a: says bad command
I enter c: bad command again

I can get into the BIO's fine. I try press F-2, F-8 ...trying to get into "safe mode", can't do that either !!

Now on the case itself it says "Microsoft Designed for Window's 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98.

I even took out the "battery" for an hour and put the battery back in.

Basically , all I want to do is install 98SE or XP-pro on it.

Can anyone give some help here ??

I don't have a clue on what OS is on the machine !!

Thanks in advance,

OulZac · 03-24-2007, 01:21 AM

Does it have a CD-ROM?

If so, go into BIOS, set the CD-ROM to boot first, and put in your windows cd, and boot from that, to format the harddrive and install.

AngelArs · 03-24-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr911

I don't have a clue on what OS is on the machine !!

Sounds like they used it as a server. You might have something from here or here. Some of these programs can be pretty expensive so unless you're positive that you'll never want your own personal server, you might be better off taking the hard drive out and exchanging it for another. After all, hard drives are fairly cheap these days. Or if you have the space you could just back everything up and wipe the drive. SAA_SERVER used to be a error message from a IBM server firewall that was probably removed before they sold the computer. If that's the case then it's looking for the firewall and can't find it. The "unable to communicate with server One_Stop.Onestop" error is probably because software from here was removed.

racknrail · 03-25-2007, 11:24 AM

I believe the hard drive is to blame. I would try formatting the HD from another machine as a slave. Do you have an old HD kicking around you can test?

I always use a process of elimination. I just pull out hardware and test with hardware I know works. This process has not failed me yet. However, it can be time consuming.

AngelArs · 03-25-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racknrail

I just pull out hardware and test with hardware I know works.

Yep that's what we do too. With problems like 'no sound' we always start at the spkrs and work backwards. Never failed us yet

dr911 · 03-28-2007, 01:48 AM

Thanks all for your replies, I FINALLY got 1 of the 2 PC's f-disked & formatted. I am install the new OS as I type this. (Ha ha...I'm using a different PC for this post). Hopefully, everything will go smoothly !!!

I had to figure out a way of deleting the server part on these PC's. The delete the partitions & re-formate the HD. So, when you come across this problem, let me know ? I spented 2 days on these PC's.

Time to get rid of them. Nerver get a Dell !! Hate those machines.

Thanks again everyone !!

AngelArs · 03-28-2007, 11:44 AM

Glad you got it all sorted dr911

Quote:

Nerver get a Dell !! Hate those machines.

At another well known PC help forum I once started a thread about 'The Dell from Hell'

It became their longest running thread ever as people with Dells would chime in about all the problems with their PC. My next computer is going to be a Intel Mac w/Leopard

That way I'll have the best of both worlds