Primary hard disk not found

Question

My Dimension 8200 stopped recognizing the the internal hard drives entirely.
They are plugged in and powered up but I get the following message from the BIOS during startup:

"Primary hard disk 0 not found
Primary hard disk 1 not found"

The DVD drives are recognized, however.

I tried swapping the two IDE cables at the motherboard, so that the DVD drives were plugged in the primary socket and the hard drives were now connected to the secondary socket. The result was that the DVD drives were still found and the hard disks were still not found, indicating to me that the problem is not with the drive controller.

Next I tried resetting the BIOS to it's defaults by clearing NVRAM by pressing ALT-E while the caps lock, num lock and scroll lock lights were lit on the keyboard. There was a faint beep about a second after pressing Alt-E. I saved the changes when exiting from the BIOS setup utility.

After that step the message changed to:

"Performing automatic IDE configuration...
Secondary Master: CD-ROM Reader
Secondary Slave: CD-ROM Reader

strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility"

At least something happened if the end result is still the same: the hard drives remain invisible to the system and the machine cannot boot up.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

mrjoe4jrh · Answer

I have the same problem and I am at an impass.  I was on the phone with a Dell tech but was not able to get this resolved.  He basically suggested the motherboard was bad after making me plug and unplug cables a dozen different times.  I am not ready to accept this and if any one has a suggestion, please reply.  Thank You Joe C. Message Edited by mrjoe4jrh on 09-05-200610:05 AM

mrjoe4jrh · Answer

Well, I fixed my computer in about 5 seconds.  I found on a Dell support page a way reset the factor defaults in the BIOS and that worked.  This something the support guy never told me.  The article is Journal number: 06248F8FQH or KB Article number: 155066.  I had nothing to lose trying this and I am glad I did.

rls42 · Answer

Thanks for posting this.  I had a similar problem, the machine couldn't find the hard drive when booting.  I reset the BIOS defaults per the instruction and it works fine now.

JoeD8200 · Answer

hg54: I'm experiencing the same problem you did after upgrading BIOS from A01 to A09. What BIOS version did you have installed at the time? Did your problem arise from a BIOS upgrade? The article number you cite offers two approaches: 1) One uses the resource CD to debug the BIOS; 2) the other corrects a checksum error by resetting the BIOS default values. Which approach did you use? Thanks.

Majestic · Answer

Joe, after a BIOS update it is not uncommon for the newer BIOS version to have a conflict with the hardware information stored in the NVRAM.  This can lead to problems where the system has a difficult time detecting the drives upon boot up.  To resolve the problem, just clear the NVRAM using the procedure I have listed below... 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 Clearing the NVRAM is safe to do and won't harm the system or the data stored on it. Message Edited by Majestic on 11-04-2006 06:46 AM

hg54 · Answer

I had not upgraded the BIOS from version A05 or done anything to the
hardware before the hard drives stopped being recognized.

I reset the NVRAM. No improvement.

I swapped the motherboards. The problem was the same.

I upgraded the BIOS on the new motherboard to version A09 and
reset the NVRAM. The problem remained.

I finally got one of the two hard drives to be recognized by
switching the drive jumpers from cable select to master/slave positions. I
have no idea why that worked as the drives had worked for years in
the cable select position.

At least my computer boots again.

Majestic · Answer

hg54, since your system is back up and running I would suggest running the Dell Diagnostics especially on the hard drives.  A problem with drive detection could be an indication of a failing drive.   If you start having drive detection problems again, I would then suggest replacing the motherboard battery.  Considering the age of the system the battery maybe failing.  A new 3-Volt, CR2032, coin cell battery can be purchased for around $3 (US) and is available at any Radio Shack, computer stores and most discount stores like Wal-Mart.   Another thing to consider in trouble-shooting the problem is try replacing the ribbon cable for the drives.  Cables have been known to go bad as well.

JoeD8200 · Answer

hg54, thanks for clarifying further hard drive detection problem.

JoeD8200 · Answer

Majestic, thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately, clearing the NVRAM did not work. Allow me to provide you with some additional background information on my hard drive detection problem. Recently, the original hard drive (WD 80GB) failed and I replaced it with a 250GB Seagate Barracuda Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM 16 MB cache, reinstalled the Windows XP Home OS and software. During the reinstallation, I upgraded software drivers and the BIOS, from version A01 to version A09. Initially, everything seemed to be alright; however, shortly afterwards, I began to experience problems booting into Windows. While booting, I would only get the Dell screen with F2 and F12 options. Once inside System Setup, it read: "Primary hard disk 0 not found." "Primary hard disk 1 not found." Paradoxically, I'm able to boot into Windows only when I do the following: 1) cut off power supply to computer by turning off the APC back up unit (by the way, I'm running the APC unit without its software); 2) press and hold computer power button for more than 5 or 6 seconds or longer; 3) return power to computer by turning APC power unit back on; and 4) press computer power button. In addition, after the computer boots into Windows, if I shut it down and turn it on again soon afterwards, it will boot into Windows without any problems during the booting up process. Conversely, if I wait any significant amount of time to turn it on again, say 1 hour or even overnight, I run into the hard disk detection problem once again. Incidentally, once inside Windows, the computer performs well. I have repeteadly checked Device Manager for conflicts as well as System Information's Forced Hardware for problems and have found none.

Here's a short list of failed measures I have taken thus far to figure out the problem:

1. Changed the battery

2. Ran several RAM, motherboard and CPU tests (including Dell Diagnostics, which yields, among other things, a BIOS status OK result) with positive results.

3. Changed the cooling fan for fear it was underperforming and allowing the system to overheat

4. Changed the Hard Drive's setting from Cable Select to Master or Single Drive.

5. Cleared the NVRAM as per your instructions.

I am currently considering changing the power supply unit. Needless to say, I would appreciate any additional suggestions you might have. In the meantime, thanks for your time and cooperation in this matter.

Majestic · Answer

Joe, here is what I would try in trouble-shooting the problem.    First, when the no boot up scenario happens, is the diagnostic lights on the rear of the system generating any kind of useful error code which could pin point the problem?  You can click here  <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> for an explanation of those error codes from your model's on-line Service Manual.  Also take note of the power button to see what color is being displayed and if the light is steady or flashing.   Secondly, try plugging the system directly into the wall.  This will help eliminate the possibility the problem is related to the APC unit.    Thirdly, try a 'hard' reset of the NVRAM by doing the following....   With the machine unplugged from the wall remove the battery from the motherboard.  Then with the machine still unplugged press the On button for 15 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.   Fourthly,  try a different ribbon cable with the hard drive.  Possibly the installed ribbon cable is bad.   Fifthly, try disconnecting all the optical drives (DVD - CD) and only have the hard drive attached to the motherboard IDE controller.   Possibly there is an optical drive which is failing and is causing the problem.   Sixthly,  try disconnecting the optical drives' ribbon cable and move the hard drive ribbon cable over to the Secondary IDE port.  Possibly there is a problem with the Primary IDE.   Seventhly,  try disconnecting the hard drive altogether to see if the machine will boot successfully to a floppy disk or bootable CD.  If it does, the problem is more than likely the hard drive itself.

Majestic · Answer

Joe, you're very welcome.    Glad to hear the problem maybe resolved,  I was starting to run out of suggestions.  Whew!   Is it possible the APC software which you didn't install may have added to the problem?

JoeD8200 · Answer

Majestic, wouldn't you know it! It was the APC unit after all! I followed your suggestion, and, since disconnecting it, the computer has booted into Windows several times without the hard disk detection problem. Evidently, the APC unit had failed and was causing the aforemetioned problem. I will wait a couple of days nonetheless before acquiring a new unit if only to confirm that a permanent solution has been found. In the meantime, I'm running the computer on an APC surge supressor. Thanks once again for your insightful suggestions.

JoeD8200 · Answer

Majestic,   My earlier enthusiasm proved to be rather premature. After two days of booting into Windows without any problems, I'm once again faced with the hard disk detection problem. I guess I should rule out the APC backup unit as the culprit. And yet I wonder why the problem disappeared, albeit for two days, after removing the computer from the unit. I just got through running the Quick Test on Dell's 32-bit diagnostics and obtained from it an all hands down 'your system is performing optimally' result. Would you advise running its 'Extensive Test'? At any rate, I plan to proceed with the rest of your suggestions as per your last posting. Incidentally, the thought has crossed my mind as to whether the problem might ultimately rest with the flash BIOS upgrade (direct upgrade from A01 to A09), despite the fact that Dell's online test yielded a positive result when it checked it (i.e. 'BIOS status: OK)? I noticed though that flash BIOS upgrade A05, item # 2, addresses a hard disk detection problem. I was under the impression that BIOS upgrades are in fact all-encompassing and cummulative in nature; that is, each upgrade incorporates changes and fixes in previous upgrades. Am I incorrect in assuming so? Perhaps I should downgrade to A01 once again and proceed to upgrade sequentially back to A09. What do you think?   Thanks once again.

Majestic · Answer

Joe, sorry to hear the problem is back.  :smileysad:  It's strange that the system began working after the APC was disconnected.   I would next try clearing the NVRAM again just in case.  If that doesn't resolve the problem then I would proceed with the extensive diagnostic hardware testing.  The testing may help pin point a hardware failure.  I would even try disconnecting the drives on the Secondary IDE port and clear the NVRAM again to see if the problem is resolved.  The reason being is the fix for unknown drives in BIOS version A05 maybe detecting a problem with one of your optical (DVD - CD) drives.   As far as the fixes and improvements contained in BIOS version A05, Dell BIOS updates are cumulative as you suggested so the drive detection fix would have been passed along to the latest release.  If you are still considering the BIOS then I would try flashing back to the original A01 version and see what happens.  Version A01 is still available and it can be downloaded by clicking here.  Keep in mind that there is a slight risk when doing a BIOS update so I would suggest ruling out other possibilities first.

JoeD8200 · Answer

Majestic, thanks again for your valuable observations. Like you, I am somewhat disconcerted by the fact that the computer began to boot normally the moment I disconnected it from the APC backup unit and functioned as such for two days. I wonder if I have a failing power supply unit, and, if so, could it under such circumstances cause a hard disk detection problem. I might add that I replaced the original power cord yesterday with a new one; however, there was no change in booting behavior. I am going to run the Extensive Test in Dell's 32-bit diagnostics this evening. As for clearing the NVRAM, would you happen to know if there are BIOS version-specific instructions? My search in the Dell Knowledge Base has yielded at least 3 different ways to clear the NVRAM in Dimension 8200 series computers, which makes one wonder if each is aimed at a different BIOS version. Thanks.

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Primary hard disk not found

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