HDD cannot be Detected!!

Question

Hi everyone

This is my 1st topic and hopefully I can get some help!
Recently, my business got burned down ... most of the stuff is not usefull anymore!
One of the computers that didnt get burned but did catch a lot of burning smoke, is the one that isnt really working... hope i get get this to work as it contains usefull information about my business.

Model: Dell OptiPlex GX 260 (2.0GHz 256MB RAM)

O/E: Windows XP Pro

Problem:

When I reboot it, it comes up with:

Primary hard disk drive 0 not found

Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

Pressing F1, it just keeps repeating: Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

Pressing F2 gets me into the Bios:

Primary Drive 0 ........................................ Unknown Device

Primary Drive 1......................................... Off

Secondary Device 0 ................................. CD-ROM Reader

Secondary Device 1 ................................. Off

Boot Sequence: 1. IDE CD-ROM 2. Disket Drive 3. Hard Disk Drive (not installed)

I suppose HDD is damaged cos of the burning smoke!!
Other issue is, when I insert my friends XP Pro CD in the CD Rom Drive

and reboot the PC, the cd drive makes a load noise (runing cd noice) but does not

make the pc boot from it (usualy has to come up with... booting from cd...)

Is this cos the HDD is not working or is the CD Drive damaged too!?

Thanks

BuCki · Answer

Its this one! (what u call this, mini tower?) Message Edited by BuCki on 07-27-2007 12:19 AM

BuCki · Answer

I did open it up.... there is no damage to it, as far as i can see!
There was burnig smoke, cleaned it mostly...!!

Doing NVRAM,,, its like removing CMOS Battery!
Thats what I got:

Performing automatic IDE configuration
Secondary Master: CD-ROM Reader

stike f1 to retry boot, f2 for setup utility

Guess, if i go into bios now, the Prim hard drive 0 is set to off!!

hmmmm, guess HDD is dead :(

Message Edited by BuCki on 07-27-2007 12:31 AM

BuCki · Answer

By the way.... have u got an idea about the issue with the CD ROM!?   Why it does not make the PC boot from the CD even thos its set to it on the boot sequence?!     Thanks for ya help

MRF4700 · Answer

Small Form-Factor is the one you have pictured...

MRF4700 · Answer

Sorry...

MRF4700 · Answer

Open up your tower and reseat the connectors on your motherboard and hard drive? Check for any noticeable internal damage? Then, reboot your computer and follow steps to clear the NVRAM?

1) Boot or reboot system.
2) At Dell splash screen, select (F2) System setup.
3) Hit Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, Num Lock.
4) Hit Alt + F, Alt + E, Alt + B You should hear a tone after hitting E.
5) If the system doesn't reboot, Unlock Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, Num Lock. Save and Exit. Reboot system.

MRF4700 · Answer

Is your OptiPlex GX260 small form- factor, desktop, or mini-tower model? Message Edited by MRF4700 on 07-26-2007 10:15 PM

MRF4700 · Answer

The OS CD is trying to boot(install)the startup files to your hard drive.Since, the BIOS does not recognize the presence of a hard drive it discontinues the installation. Or, the CD ROM drive is defective, as well? Difficult to predict how much fire damage was actually done?

BuCki · Answer

hmmm well the computer DID NOT catch any fire
appart from the smoke... I just tried to boot from xp sp2 cd

Prim hard drisk drive 0 not found

Strike F1 key to continue.... bla bla bla

The CD is making quite loud running noice while reading the CD
(I cleaned the laser eye, just in case it had dust).

hmmm i hope the CD ROM is not damaged too!

Message Edited by BuCki on 07-27-2007 01:07 AM

MRF4700 · Answer

Was your business in a large or small building? I don't have all the details of the fire you suffered but, I was a firefighter for a number of years and know enough that it doesn't take much fire, smoke, or heat to damge irreparably sensitive electronic equipment.(computers) I don't mean to dash your hopes...

BuCki · Answer

Well it was a night club! and the the office where PC;s where at didnt get bured appart from smoke!   Yeh I suppose the smoke / heat did it! I just opened the HDD up n looked from inside... you could clearsy see that it got like 'rust' and dark durface!   Shame... just worring once I get a new HDD that the CD ROM wont b booting from the CD hmmmm

manuson · Answer

hi bucki,    Bios says that the cdrom drive is detected...    Is the hard drive IDE or SATA? if the cdrom is the same as well... try swapping the cables... if doesnt help y not try changing the connectors on the board???    Y loose hope? wat say?      and by the way...  FYI    you will be able to boot to the XP CD even if u dissconnect the hard drive..

BuCki · Answer

Hey Manuson   Thanks for your suggestion / help :)   Yeh CD-ROM was detected BUT it didnt boot from the CD even tho the CD is bootable from other computer,,,, by the way the cd-rom made a strange loud running noise so, what I did was:   - Bought a CD-ROM + 40GB HDD   Now its all good!! The HDD was dead, nothing to do about it... (it was IDE not SATA)   What means FYI ?

shesagordie · Answer

BuCki

FYI is a common abbreviation of For Your Information.

Bev.

===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

manuson · Answer

hey bucki

great to know its working now..

just out of qurio.. wat about the data in the HDD, were u able to get it out? did u try it out?

just some pranky research u knw... i would love to open it up if i had a dead HDD in my hand lol :smileywink:

Message Edited by manuson on 07-29-2007 03:14 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

HDD cannot be Detected!!

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