9 Legend

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87.5K Posts

July 28th, 2006 10:00

Check to see if the hard drive is recognized by the BIOS setup. Sounds like it has failed.

4 Posts

July 28th, 2006 11:00

if it has failed is the only option to replace it.  can I recover anything saved on it. 

9 Legend

 • 

87.5K Posts

July 28th, 2006 11:00

Maybe, but if the BIOS (F2) doesn't see the drive, you won't be able to do anything without a data recovery service - which will be expensive ($2,500+).

If the BIOS still sees the drive it may be possible to move it to a USB 2 case, attach it to a working system and try to copy what you need.

623 Posts

July 28th, 2006 19:00

That error msg comes from the MBR on the hard disk, so the bios is seeing the hard disk and getting as far as loading and executing the MBR.  The msg means the MBR could not load the first sector of the XP partition for some reason.

The first thing to check would be whether the hard disk is dying.  Reboot and press F12 at the Dell logo to get to the bios boot menu.  Select the option to test the hard disk.

 

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