I’d advise that you check if the external USB drive is getting detected in Disk management and device manager under other devices.
If you find it in other devices in device manger then right click on the USB hard drive and update the driver from Internet.
If it’s available in the disk management then please check if it shows offline or online. If offline please right click on the USB hard drive and change it online.
Note: Please backup all the data from the USB hard drive on the other computer.
Thanks for the help, Ravi Ch. However, my computer has got even worse now...
After several restarts, my computer has started to stuck on the "Dell Logo screen". The computer shows no response to any key I pressed except the power button... I could not access to BIOS page. I noticed that data light didn't flash as I attempt to turn on the computer. I followed the suggestion given by an article called "Notebook Computer Will Not Complete Power On Self Test (POST)" (article ID: 577306), but the problem remains.
By accident, I have found that I can access to BIOS page by removing the coin-cell battery and unplugging ac power supply. In this way, the computer automatically detects an error of "Real-time clock power fail". It then asks me if I want to continue or enter utility page (the BIOS page that I've mentioned). If I select "continue", the computer stuck again. The only way I can go is to enter the utility page, where I have reset all settings to default setting. Unfortunately, "save and exit" means the computer will stuck again.
What happened before the stuck begin:
I was looking for USB setting which may leads to my previous problem with USB mobile hard drive, and finding way to disable the fingerprint scanner in the utility page. Also, as I suspect that the problem with USB mobile hard drive may be caused by incompatibility, I attempted to install Ubuntu along with the Win 8 with their Window installer application. After the install was completed, the system restarted and told me that there was some error with boot setting. The problem disappeared as I uninstalled the Ubuntu in Win 8.
I’d suggest that you follow the steps mentioned below if System getting stuck at dell logo/ Blank screen.
1. Change the SATA operation in BIOS from Intel Smart Response to AHCI. 2. Save changes in BIOS. 3. Reboot the system 4.Go back into Bios (F2) and change SATA operation from AHCI to Intel Smart Response. 5. Save the changes and reboot the system. 6. System boots normally into windows. 7. BIOS updated post system booting into windows, 8.check after multiple restarts and that system boots normally.
Windows Update Settings once you boot into Win8
1. Windows Update settings 2.Press the Windows key and R 3.Type in control (You should get the control panel) 4.Choose System and Security > Windows Update > Change Settings
DELL-Ravi Ch
7 Technologist
•
7.1K Posts
0
November 28th, 2012 23:00
Hi Paxson,
I’d advise that you check if the external USB drive is getting detected in Disk management and device manager under other devices.
If you find it in other devices in device manger then right click on the USB hard drive and update the driver from Internet.
If it’s available in the disk management then please check if it shows offline or online. If offline please right click on the USB hard drive and change it online.
Note: Please backup all the data from the USB hard drive on the other computer.
Please let me know if this helps.
Paxson
3 Posts
0
November 29th, 2012 04:00
Thanks for the help, Ravi Ch. However, my computer has got even worse now...
After several restarts, my computer has started to stuck on the "Dell Logo screen". The computer shows no response to any key I pressed except the power button... I could not access to BIOS page. I noticed that data light didn't flash as I attempt to turn on the computer. I followed the suggestion given by an article called "Notebook Computer Will Not Complete Power On Self Test (POST)" (article ID: 577306), but the problem remains.
By accident, I have found that I can access to BIOS page by removing the coin-cell battery and unplugging ac power supply. In this way, the computer automatically detects an error of "Real-time clock power fail". It then asks me if I want to continue or enter utility page (the BIOS page that I've mentioned). If I select "continue", the computer stuck again. The only way I can go is to enter the utility page, where I have reset all settings to default setting. Unfortunately, "save and exit" means the computer will stuck again.
What happened before the stuck begin:
I was looking for USB setting which may leads to my previous problem with USB mobile hard drive, and finding way to disable the fingerprint scanner in the utility page. Also, as I suspect that the problem with USB mobile hard drive may be caused by incompatibility, I attempted to install Ubuntu along with the Win 8 with their Window installer application. After the install was completed, the system restarted and told me that there was some error with boot setting. The problem disappeared as I uninstalled the Ubuntu in Win 8.
Please, help me again, thank you.
DELL-Ravi Ch
7 Technologist
•
7.1K Posts
0
December 1st, 2012 20:00
Hi Paxson,
I’d suggest that you follow the steps mentioned below if System getting stuck at dell logo/ Blank screen.
1. Change the SATA operation in BIOS from Intel Smart Response to AHCI.
2. Save changes in BIOS.
3. Reboot the system
4.Go back into Bios (F2) and change SATA operation from AHCI to Intel Smart Response.
5. Save the changes and reboot the system.
6. System boots normally into windows.
7. BIOS updated post system booting into windows,
8.check after multiple restarts and that system boots normally.
Windows Update Settings once you boot into Win8
1. Windows Update settings
2.Press the Windows key and R
3.Type in control (You should get the control panel)
4.Choose System and Security > Windows Update > Change Settings
Please use the settings below
Please let me know if this helps