'primary drive 0 not found' Help!!

Question

I have a dimension 1100 Windows XP home edition OS.   On booting up I get the dell logo then a black screen saying ' primary drive 0 not found'   what do I do?   Jerry

Majestic · Answer

The first step in trying to resolve the problem is to clear the NVRAM so that the system redetects all the drives. If you are able to get into the BIOS then follow the procedure I have listed below for clearing the NVRAM .....

Reboot system and enter the BIOS Setup by pressing F2.
Turn on Caps Lock, Scroll Lock and Num Lock.
Press ALT + E then ALT + F (should hear beep) then ALT + B

If you are unable to access the BIOS or the machine isn't bootable then try clearing the NVRAM by removing the battery from the motherboard. Just follow this procedure...

With the machine unplugged from the wall remove the battery from the motherboard. Then with the machine still unplugged press the On button for several seconds to dissipate any remaining electrical charge on the motherboard. Then re-install the battery, plug the machine back into the wall and see if it will boot normally and detect the hard drive. Click here <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> for additional information from your model's on-line Service Manual on how to remove the battery.

If the problem continues then consider running the Dell Diagnostics on the hard drive. The boot up problem could be an indication of a hard drive failure. Click here for information on how to run the quick 90/90 BIOS hard drive test. This test will give the drive either a pass or failing grade. To do a more thorough test of the drive then consider using the Dell Diagnostic program. Click here Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell > for information on using the Dell Diagnostic utility.

Jerrycs · Answer

Thanks Majestic,

I rang the technical helpine and subject to direction, and feeling a bit like an Apollo 13 astronaut receiving instructions from Huston, pulled out cables etc all to no avail. Verdict, my 14 day old Dimension 1100 needs a new hard drive...technical suppost have booked a technician to call and see me tomorrow with a new one!

Cheers

Bemused:smileyindifferent:

anderoo · Answer

Majestic You are a legend. Have trawled the net for some time trying to resolve this one and finally came across this post. Problem sorted in 30 seconds. Many Thanks Andrew

Majestic · Answer

Andrew, you're very welcome.  Glad to hear you found the information useful and that it resolved your problem.

Majestic · Answer

ITGodess, glad to hear you found the information useful as well.  Come back and visit the forums again sometime.  There's a lot of useful information here to be found in the variety of forums Dell has to offer.

ITGodess · Answer

I'm very happy to come across a worthwhile post! My 'primary drive 1 not found' error is gone!   Thanks!

markpipe · Answer

Hi Majestic,   I had this same problem after installing new hard drive and tried clearing the NVRAM but got the message 'diskette drive 0 seek failure'. I know the new hard drive is ok because it boots fine off the secondary slave, and i know the primary connections are ok because i can boot my old HD fine from the primary master, but i get the above mentioned error when i try booting my new HD from primary master .   This confuses me greatly, Any ideas???   Many Thanks   Mark

Majestic · Answer

Mark, the reason for the error is because you do not have a floppy drive (Diskette Drive 0) installed.  Clearing the NVRAM will default the BIOS options back to their recommended factory settings which on some models enables the Diskette (floppy) Controller even though there isn't a drive installed.  Thus the boot up error.  To resolve the problem just go into your BIOS Setup and turn Off the option for the Diskette Drive.  The error message will be gone on the next reboot.

markpipe · Answer

Majestic, thanks, my mistake, this error was there and is now solved but was not the reason it would not boot. the error now says "primary drive 0 not found". this is after clearing the NVRAM and checking the BIOS that has floppy: off, master primary: unknown, secondary master CDROM, both slaves are off. i know both drives and both connections work as mentioned before.
your help is most appreciated. Thanks

markpipe · Answer

Majestic, it was partly me being stupid but mostly the fault of the diagram being upside down on the hard drive so i put the jumper in the wrong place! wish i'd checked that before i formatted everything! working now anyway. Thanks v much!!

Majestic · Answer

Mark, recheck the jumper setting for the new drive and make sure it is set for Cable Select.  Also double check to see that the ribbon cable is fully seated into the socket and that none of the pins are bent in the socket.

Majestic · Answer

Mark, you're welcome.  Glad to hear you were able to resolve the problem.  I think everyone, including myself, has had a problem at one time or another with jumper placement so you are not alone.  All part of the joys of owning a computer.

mapmgr · Answer

Hi,   Just jumping in....   I had the same problem intermittantly with my Dell 8300 over the past several months.  At first I had thought the drive was failing so bought a 2nd one to transfer too.  Then I was getting simultaneous 'Primary Drive 0 not found.  Primary Drive 1 not found.'  Based on earlier messages, I tried replacing the HD cables and later Osprey had told me an expanded sequence to clear the NVRAM-- Turn all lock lights on (scroll, num, cap), ALT-E, ALT-F, under 'Legacy' set USB Emulation to 'No Boot' and then the ALT-B.    Yesterday this would not work at all after 10+ tries and I resorted to calling Dell.  After a 20 minute wait I was connected to Edgar in San Salvador.  Very personable and he talked me through reseating the drives and checking the jumpers as mentioned here.  Still had problems so we resorted to pulling the battery for 15 seconds.  It worked!  Just had to reset the date & time afterwards.              -- Glenn

serioussam2786 · Answer

i have a dell dimension 4300 which used to run windows xp home edition and it keeps on saying that primary hard drive 0 is not found i tried to reinstall windows but it says that there is no hard drive found i know that to cable works because i checked it on another computer i also did to nvram thing and it says performing automatic ide configuration and then it says secondary master and slave as cd rom but nothing as the primary hard drive then it says strike f1 to retry boot, f2 for setup i tried reboot nothing happens the same thing gets displayed i need help and fast Message Edited by serioussam2786 on 12-09-200602:27 PM

Majestic · Answer

Serioussam2786, with all that you have tried thus far I would suspect the problem is related to the drive itself.  The drive may have died.  Try running the quick 90/90 hard drive test.  Click here for a Dell Knowledge Base article that will explain how.   If the test is inconclusive then try running the extended hard drive test using the Dell Diagnostics.  If that test is inclusive then try disconnecting the drive from the ribbon cable, clear the NVRAM and then see if the system will boot successfully to a bootable CD or floppy without any F1 error message.  If it does then suspect the hard drive as being bad.

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"primary drive 0 not found" Help!!

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