Dimension 8400 will not boot -- Hard drive problem?

Question

I need some help in determining my boot up problem.  I have a Dimension 8400.  Yesterday, I was running some virus programs and registry cleaners and everything worked fine.  Last night, I turned my computer off and today tried to turn it on and it loaded the DELL screen and started making this clicking noise.  Then a screen popped up with my BIOS version A02 that says: Drive 0 not found: Serial ATA, SATA-0 Strike F1 key to continue, F2 to setup utility   I tried the F1 key but it does nothing but give me the same error that there is no boot device available. I ran the dell diagnostics and it cannot find any hard drive.  I have never had any problems with the hard drive or even taken the cover off to anything to it since I purchased in 2004.  Can someone help?     Thanks

osprey4 · Answer

Reboot your computer. At the Dell blue logo screen, press the Ctrl + Alt + D keys (note the letter D, not the Del key) at the same time. The computer beeps once to acknowledge that the hard drive diagnostics have been initiated. Follow the on-screen instructions.

osprey4 · Answer

Boot to the Dell diagnostics (F12) and run the hard drive test from there. Run the extended test, not the quick one.

Jerry30 · Answer

Ok...I did that and the next screen that popped up says SATA primary hard disk drive 0 failure.  It ran the hard drive diagnostics and says Drive 0: WDC WD1600 - Error attempting diagnostics.  Test completed, press enter to reboot and I did.  It gives me the same failure and says to hit F1 to continue or F2 to run setup utility.  I hit F1 and it says no boot device available.  What next?   Thanks

Jerry30 · Answer

I hit F12 and selected Hard Drive Diagnostics.  It said Drive 0: WDC WD1600 - error attempting diagnostics.  Is this what I was suppose to do?  I didn't know what you meant by running the extended test

osprey4 · Answer

Select the option for the utility partition and run the drive test from the menu.

Jerry30 · Answer

I selected utility partition and it said that the utility partition is not available.  Hit F1 to continue or F2 for setup.  I hit F1 and it keeps saying utility partition not available

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, sorry that is not geting you anywhere. I would try replacing the drive. Reinstall the OS, drivers and applications, then pop the old drive back in and see if you can access your data.

Jerry30 · Answer

I'm not sure exactly how to do that.  Please explain how.  Do you mean I need to buy a new hard drive?  If so, have I lost all my data on this hard drive?

osprey4 · Answer

1. You need to buy an SATA hard drive.

2. Install the drive following the instructions in your manual.

3. Install the operating system following this reinstallation guide (written by our late friend and long time forum member Denny Denham).

If you feel like a fish out of water, let me recommend you take it to a local shop or the Geek Squad at Best Buy. They might be able to get your data back.

Jerry30 · Answer

Thanks for the help!

Storage, Drives & Media

Dimension 8400 will not boot -- Hard drive problem?

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