ok, first try reseating the hdd.
if that doesn't work then check to see if the hdd is seen in bios: you'll see the hdd capacity if it's seen.
if it's not seen after trying to reseat the hdd a few times then more than likely it's dead.
if it's seen in bios then you'll have to say what model laptop & what OS you're using.
suggest you try booting off the xp cd, going into the recovery console by pressing R at the appropiate time & using the fixboot &/or fixmbr command.
btw leave the password box empty & just press enter on the keyboard to gain access to the console.
Basically intermittently I get the primary HD failure message on my Inspiron 8500, so I check the BIOS and it is detected. It never fails during use i.e in Windows I can leave it on for days and nothing will happen.
However every other reboot I get HD failure this led me to think that the connector was only half connected, so I check and all looks okay but try reseating it anyway. Each time this failure happens I try all of these thing and eventually it boots and emphasis on eventually.
I have also tried updating the BIOS to the latest and run HD diagnostics on the drive which returns everything as fine
Beyond this I am stuck any ideas anyone ? please please please
bacillus
2 Intern
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14.4K Posts
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September 5th, 2004 08:00
if that doesn't work then check to see if the hdd is seen in bios: you'll see the hdd capacity if it's seen.
if it's not seen after trying to reseat the hdd a few times then more than likely it's dead.
if it's seen in bios then you'll have to say what model laptop & what OS you're using.
jdrez
3 Posts
0
September 5th, 2004 14:00
Message Edited by jdrez on 09-05-2004 11:04 AM
Message Edited by jdrez on 09-05-2004 11:05 AM
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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September 5th, 2004 15:00
Remove the screw at the bottom, slide the carrier out and push it back in. Replace the screw.
Run the Dell diagnostics on the drive, including a full surface scan.
bacillus
2 Intern
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14.4K Posts
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September 5th, 2004 18:00
btw leave the password box empty & just press enter on the keyboard to gain access to the console.
Lagrian
4 Posts
0
September 9th, 2004 14:00
Hi I have the exact same problem as jdrez,
Basically intermittently I get the primary HD failure message on my Inspiron 8500, so I check the BIOS and it is detected. It never fails during use i.e in Windows I can leave it on for days and nothing will happen.
However every other reboot I get HD failure this led me to think that the connector was only half connected, so I check and all looks okay but try reseating it anyway. Each time this failure happens I try all of these thing and eventually it boots and emphasis on eventually.
I have also tried updating the BIOS to the latest and run HD diagnostics on the drive which returns everything as fine
Beyond this I am stuck any ideas anyone ? please please please
jdrez
3 Posts
0
September 9th, 2004 21:00
Lagrian
4 Posts
0
September 10th, 2004 08:00
Hmm I know mine isn't windows related as it can't even find the disk.
When it finally does find the disk and boots , it never has a problem in windows, can leave it on indefintley no probs.
So it must be somehting to do with BIOS or how its physically connected, I m convinced there is nothing worng with the HD or with whats on it.
I updated my BIOS recently to the latest to try and solve this, but no luck.
Ill let you know if I find anything