Hard Drive Failure?

Hi sierra_04,

Kindly provide the system service tag through a private message. In the meanwhile please perform a Dell hardware diagnostics and reply with your findings. Kindly find the steps below to perform the H/W diagnostics.

Turn the computer off >restart the computer.

At the Dell logo screen, start tapping the F12 key a few times until you see the ‘One Time Boot Menu’ appear.

At the one time boot menu, press the down arrow key to highlight ‘Diagnostic’, and then press Enter to begin the PSA diagnostics. If the test fails, please make a note of any error codes listed. You can also refer to the link below.

http://dell.to/OUGnqT

To send the system service tag through a private message, click on my Forum username and then click Start conversation.

I can't believe Dell didn't send a DVD copy of the OS, especially since i paid over 2k for the Studio xps 9000 in May 2010. Do i have to purchase win7 pro again after i replace the HD?

You can download a Windows 7 Professional install ISO from Digital River, burn it to DVD, use it to reinstall and activate it with the case COA's product key.

It may be that your hard drive has errors but that the data on it is still recoverable and can be copied over to a new hard drive with one of two free Linux utilities, after which the copy can be "repaired" with the Windows chkdsk /r command.

Thanks for the quick replies.

I ran the complete Diagnostic and all passed except -

**Hard Drive - DST short test**

Test results : Warning

Msg: Hard Drive - No Hard Drive Detected

All connections are good (double checked) I can hear the hd spinning & its not making any strange sounds.

Thank you for that very helpful link.  I received both the OS & Driver/Utility disk the next day!  Should always be supplied with the systems Dell is selling,  just in-case of a catastrophic failure such as mine, which I'm currently VERY suspicious of.

I had to replace my HD Samsung (HD103SJ) replaced it with a Toshiba (DT01ACA100)

This HD failed exactly 3yrs to the day!!  The Mcafee also expired on that day, but I installed a 1yr renewal the day before it expired ..... Hmmmmm?  

Now Mcafee doesn't work, but all my other programs work perfectly.  I couldn't even uninstall it through add/remove programs.  I downloaded the removal tool from Mcafee & was finally able to remove it.  Now i can't re-install.  This is a full store bought version with key.  From my Mcafee acct. it states expires 5/13/2014.  I even tried to download it directly from my acct. & it still won't download.

Dell and Mcafee seems to be a bad mix!  Any thoughts, Norton instead?  

Never cared for McAfee.  I use Norton Internet Security and never have a problem.  Better yet, Go HERE for $7.99 and 3 PCs it works really well with no performance loss on your system.  I have Webroot Internet Security Plus on two PCs and it runs really well.  It was also on sale for $7.99, but not now.  

Thanks for the reply.

I cleared the registry and a few dozen other McAfee files and i was able to reinstall.  I will try Norton next time.

Mary G,  thanks again for that form link,  you saved my weekend!  :)

Dell and Mcafee seems to be a bad mix!  Any thoughts, Norton instead?

Microsoft Security Essentials is free.,

you can also try avast antivirsus it's also free and i've neaver had a problem with it and it updates daily