My husband is working on a Dell pc, it was reading the harddrive, but now it's not. It isn't reading or finding it at all, he has already tried resetting the cmos, tried other hard drives,still nothing, what could cause this, or better yet how can it be fixed! PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!! Thanks
2006-08-15 04:04:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
I agree with your first response, check to make sure the cables are not loose, look for bent pins on the motherboard and drive connections. Most cables have a notch that will not allow it to be inserted backwards If it doesn't have this notch, you'll need to look for the side of the cable with a stripe throughout the whole length of the cable, this is known as pin 1. Pin 1 needs to connect to pin 1 on the drive and the motherboard to work properly. You may have to look closely to the motherboard to a number or indication where pin 1 is, it will be the opposite side to where pin 40 if that is the only indication available. The same applies to the drive, usually pin 1 is the closest to the power connector or is indicated on a diagram.
Now you should have cables in the correct direction, now focus on the power connectors, if available, use a free connector, preferablly one that is connecting a CD-Rom or another drive because the ones connected to another device most likely work. Boot up the system and see if it works. If it doesn't replace the IDE cable that connects the drive to the motherboard with one you know currently works and complete the steps as stated before. If this doesn't solve your problem, it is likely the motherboard or drive is at fault.
Though you've indicated the drives were switched and nothing worked, I cannot rule out that the drive you switched isn't bad unless you know it was working perfectly from another computer before the switch. Lets assume that we know that the drive is good, the cable and its connections are good and inserted correctly, then the motherboard is likely at fault. This should be replaceable depending on your warranty
2006-08-15 04:58:35 · answer #1 · answered by Elliot K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you say cmos I presume you mean bios and if that has been reset I would next check leads could be one come out a bit and so long as the computer has not been electrostaticaly destoyed the leads are about the only thing I can think of unless the drive needs fdisk running on it
2006-08-15 04:26:55 · answer #2 · answered by Gadget 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-11-25 19:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know this is a very canned answer, but I have to ask it... Have you checked all the connections? The IDE strip to the motherboard? I've seen it where they have lost connection and have caused this issue... Unplug it and then secure it back in and try again.
Hope this helps!
Jason
2006-08-15 04:09:46 · answer #4 · answered by JasonCrate 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the IDE cable and power cable are securely plugged in. If they are, try a different IDE cable. It could also be a bad IDE controller.
2006-08-15 04:11:22 · answer #5 · answered by lj1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a new IDE cable, but most likely it needs a new main board.
And don't get one from Dell..
2006-08-15 04:12:40 · answer #6 · answered by Chri R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you already tried all that, I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure you're done with that computer. Maybe a virus? Or just a huge error?
2006-08-15 04:11:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check that the IDE cable is connected correctly.
2006-08-15 04:18:02 · answer #8 · answered by Hugo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up grade ur hard drive or uninstall and reinstall it. Definently it will works.
2006-08-15 04:11:57 · answer #9 · answered by Raaz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋