no boot sector on internal hard drive

The VERY FIRST thing to do:  if there is data on the drive you don't have backed up, REMOVE the hard drive, mount it in a 2.5" EIDE USB 2.0 enclosure ($10-20; newegg.com has plenty of them to choose from) and attach the drive to a working system.  BACK UP your files to the working system's hard drive.

Then return the drive to the system, power on, press F12, boot to the Dell diagnostic partition.  Run an extended - NOT just a quick - drive test.  It will likely show a drive failure.

If so, purchase TWO EIDE (NOT SATA) notebook drives - 2.5", 9.5 mm and 120G or smaller.  Use one to replace the failed drive and the other to put in the drive case you bought for making the backups you should have been making all along.

You can order a Windows CD from:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

Given the missing utility partition and the inability to see the drive using USB, I'd say it's about 99.9% or better certainty the drive is toast.

further more if i boot into the USB the FDISK shows only the USB key, so I think the hard disk is dead ? Is it quite easy to replace that ?

Thanks for your help husky

It passed the following blue screen diagnostics

LCD Inverter

LCD...

Graphics....

Memory

DST.....short status test then got a grey window with No Diagnostic Utility Partition Found...is this a clue that the drive has failed. How come the bios can recognise it if it has failed ?

I dont have an option to run tests that you suggest therefore. There isnt any data that will be missed on the system, we have not long done a rebuild with the dell restore utility which isnt available now...

Why can i not see my drives if i boot with usb ? Is this the best indicator that the drive has indeed died ?

thanks

The drive is easily replaced - for instructions see below.  You'll need to order a Windows CD from Dell (see reply above).

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/sm/hdd0.htm#wp1130375

Don't forget to transfer the blade adapter from the faulty drive to the new one - pull it straight off the drive and gently place it over the pins on the new one.  Be careful doing this - the pins are flimsy and easily bent or broken.

Can I purchase any generic hard disc, which will fit into the inspiron 6000 (you gave dimensions above but still I ask if I could buy a drive with these figures and it might not fit), I'm based in the uk. What would be cool would be a pre formatted one and pre installed windows like as per factory. Can I get these from dell, I had a look on their site but it doesnt look like they sell them.

Thanks

The drive is standard EIDE - parallel ATA.  The BIOS has a 120G limit on drive size - you CAN go larger but  your OS must support the drive.  XP SP1+ does.  That said, without BIOS support, the data on the system depends on the OS loading - if it won't, you lose the data - recovery using another system will be very difficult so if you go beyond what the BIOS supports, keep backups.

You can't buy preloaded drives - the drive will arrive blank and you'll need to load Windows and install all the proper drivers onto it.

This is my question, how can I get the laptop working again,

Get a Linux "live" distro. Puppy is a good choice. The cost is one dollar ($1.00) @ Frozentech.com. Mission accomplished. And by the way,  when you access all the files on the existing "fried" hard drive, they will be "fresh" Eat healthy, and be kind to little dogs :emotion-11:

Enjoy.

Hi, seems like I have the same/similar problem.

Inspiron Laptop 6400

Started making clicking sounds internally and blue screen of death.

Get error message 0141 no bootable drive detected. laptop very hot underneath.

With error message it also beeps loudly.

Run diagnostics f5 and all else seems fine....except no bootable drive.

Turned off and back on -same. Left off overnight to cool down - turn on and again same error message and still clicking etc.

What should I do now ? Am in Australia.

Excellent - thanks.

Can data from the stuffed HD be recovered?..or is it cactus?

Whereabouts is the heatsink located...and how do I take out/install a new fan?

Thanks again, :emotion-1:

First, replace the hard drive - you'll need a new 2.5" 9.5 mm SATA notebook drive.

Also find and fix the cause of the hot spot - either a heatsink coated in dust, or a faulty fan.