I was trying to copy a CD, and my system failed to the job. I think there was a window that said "retry", "skip", "cancel". I accidentally click the skip button instead of cancel. In result, he computer doesn't even detect the CD drive. What can I do?

Hi. Error 0146 is pertaining to a failing hard drive. You can still try to reinstall Windows Vista by requesting for a CD from Dell by contacting them.

If they fail to send you a CD or if the error still comes up after reinstalling Vista, then you need to replace your hard drive.

It's possible that your disk-drive is "failing", and it's about to "die".

Buy a new disk-drive, connect it, and try to install to it.

Other possibilities:
* bad RAM in your computer is messing-up the file-copy operations, and the CD-reading operations
* dying motherboard is malfunctioning,
* scratched Windows CD-ROM media
* malfunctioning CD-reader device.

Generally you shouldn't skip files try ejecting the disk, cleaning it with a soft cloth place it back in and hit retry.

heelo, i think your cd is bad i.e. unreadable check the cd. and try again.

eject the cd/dvd from cd-room and start copying .. when copy is finished put cd/dvd in cd-room and write these files to cd
all above actions done without any prgrams with Xp sp2
:)
regards
zoser

Try burning the CD by using a different software, like Nero or CloneCD...
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hi im wesley. the file you are trying to copy is most likely corrupt skip the file and try copy a different pic it should work.

If you have it available, boot to the Dell DImension Resource CD and run the diagnostics on the hard drive. From the description of you problem, you may have a failing hard drive.

Other things to check:

1. Ensure the system BIOS (F2 at boot) sees the hard drive and has the correct date and time. If the motherboard battery is failing, the time and date will not be retained when system is powered off.

2. If you are able to format the hard drive, but the windows XP installation process gives you file copy errors, then you may have a bad RAM module. If the system has 2 or more modules, take out all but 1, retry the install. If you get file copy errors again, try a different module.

3. If the Hard drive passes dieagnostics, but fails to complete a format, replace the hard drive.

clean cd. try agen, repartition it agen may be the wrong size. reformat it agen. windows xp cd in. hit continue each time. you could try a new hard drive, and get a new windows xp from ebay.
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