Strike f1 to retry boot, f2 for setup utiility after formatting my dell dimension 4600c

hit f2 set hard drive to auto, and try boot order has to be set to boot device first ( floppy?) cd or hard drive(0) zero is the boot
drive

format HDD nad make active partition

I formatted my computer dell dimension 4600c and now i can't get my windows to boot up it say strike f1 to retry boot, f2 for setup utiility

Hit F2,look in setup to see if the hard drive is recognized and check that the date and time are correct.
Then hit esc key. it will ask if you want to save changes, click yes. It should boot and probably ask you to hit F1 or F2 again., unless there is a problem with the CMOS battery, which may need to be replaced.
If you hit F1 to continue, it will boot, but your time and date will be off.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/joe_8b8c2cd6ce148309

you can try this steps to resolve your issue:
1. clean your disc drive with white cloth and alcohol
2. try to re-install the OS
3. if this won't work try to download another boot disk like EBCD
or ask a friend to create you a boot disc and try to boot your computer with it.

- This can rule out or confirm a Bad Windows OS disc, thus let's you install you Windows OS in the process.

4. try to re-install again the OS

again check is bios is there set first deviced as cd rom dvd rom?
If it is just clean your bootable windows cd with hand caurchief.
Then check if it not boot with disk then your cd disk of windows is not bootable or faulty.
Please let me know.

Make sure all the connections to the Hard Drive are tight and secure. Then see if it will boot. If not then try loading a windows cd and see if it detects the Hard drive. If it does not the hard drive is no good if it does try running the automated system recovery you may have a corrupt MBR file.

1. First of all, you must open the computer case (with power off), and werify the power cable and data cable of hdd. please detach and put them right back.
2. then power on your pc
3. you MUST press F2 for setup utility in order for correct setings of your bios. the message "strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility" came from the computer bios, not from Windows XP CD.
4. verify if you followed the correct procedure of installing an new hdd as is described on page 66 of owner's manual from dell.


"Installing a Hard Drive
1 Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
2 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
3 Remove the hard drive bracket (see page 64).
4 Attach the hard drive to the hard drive bracket:
a Place the small bracket tabs into the drive-securing screw holes on one side of the drive.
b Gently swing the drive toward the bracket and align the three screw holes on the other side of the
drive with the screen holes on the bracket.
c Attach the hard drive bracket to the hard drive.
d Insert and tighten all three drive-securing screws.
5 Install the hard drive:
a Place the two bracket tabs into the drive slots inside the bracket for the additional hard drive.
b Swing the bracket forward so that it is flush with the bracket for the additional hard drive.
c Replace the bracket-securing screws.
6 Connect a power cable to the drive.
7 Connect the data cable to the drive and to the system board (see page 53).
8 Close the computer cover (see page 75).
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the
computer.
9 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for
drive operation.
10 If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable floppy disk into drive A.
11 Turn on the computer.
12 Enter system setup (see "System Setup" on page 80), and update the appropriate Drive option.
13 Exit system setup, and restart the computer.
14 Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.
15 Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see page 36).
16 If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard drive."

that's all

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.

you problem is most likely that your bios is out of date. download the latest bios updates for your motherboard and then when you install windows format you HDD with the ntfs system (using the long formatt system not the quick format). Then you should install the bios update. then your mboard shoud no longer have the problem of recognising your large capacity HDD. thanks