Cannot detect hard drive

Lee_JamLee_Jam Posts: 71
edited August 2008 in Technical Stuff and Help
...All of a sudden when I turn on my laptop, all i get is "Cannot Detect Hard Drive":(


Any ideas on what to try???

Thanks in advance for any help:)
********************************
How to be happy and true is the quest we're taking on together.

Take it on, on, on, on, on.
Take it on, on, on, on, on.
********************************
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • nuffingmannuffingman Posts: 3,014
    I assume it's a PC. Normally when this happens your hard drive is knackered and needs replacing. Take it to have it looked at. Important data can be saved if you are lucky.
  • vduboisevduboise Posts: 1,937
    did you back up?

    My husband is in data recovery- and I will tell you not to futz with it unless you have a back up and don't care what happens to the data. Once you start trying to get it up sometimes it makes things worse. Take it to someone.
    If data is not important- put the boot disk in and see if it sees the drive. If it does see it by cd- then you can use the utility software to try and bring it back.

    If its making loud noises- then do nothing and bring it somewhere.
  • LizardjamLizardjam Posts: 1,121
    what brand of laptop? Depending on the brand a lot of them have self tests you can do to see if it's the hard drive or a connection in the BIOS.
    bugs in the way...I feel about you

    "New music, new friends. Pearl Jam."

    I like our socks. I hear we make a fine sock. I always say, You might not love our records, but I think you'll like our socks. - Stone

    "This record is us speaking out in class." -EV on PJ
  • Lee_JamLee_Jam Posts: 71
    Well this is weird...i tried to turn it on again this morning and it works again!

    So I'm going to make sure and have everything backed up today

    If this happens again (which I assume it will...) then I must ask: What do you mean by boot disk? Does this come with the laptop?

    Oh, and its a Dell D500 Latitude Laptop..
    ********************************
    How to be happy and true is the quest we're taking on together.

    Take it on, on, on, on, on.
    Take it on, on, on, on, on.
    ********************************
  • LizardjamLizardjam Posts: 1,121
    Lee_Jam wrote:
    Well this is weird...i tried to turn it on again this morning and it works again!

    So I'm going to make sure and have everything backed up today

    If this happens again (which I assume it will...) then I must ask: What do you mean by boot disk? Does this come with the laptop?

    Oh, and its a Dell D500 Latitude Laptop..

    I can't recall if Dell has hard drive tests. I know HPs do.

    I didn't see who mentioned boot disk, but it's the disk that should have come with your pc...some companies don't send them anymore but you can put it in and boot to it. You have to select it in startup and hit the space key for it to boot to it...But I think the BIOS would do the same thing....either your hard drive really is in for it or some setting was changed.....back it up asap and good luck!
    bugs in the way...I feel about you

    "New music, new friends. Pearl Jam."

    I like our socks. I hear we make a fine sock. I always say, You might not love our records, but I think you'll like our socks. - Stone

    "This record is us speaking out in class." -EV on PJ
  • sometimes this will happen to a laptop if it has a sudden loss of power (ie...no battery, and the cord comes out). Usually a bios issue, sometimes it wipes everything out though (HD still will generally be good).

    Since yours started again, I would think you likely have a disk break starting to fail. Generally when this starts, you HD does not have long...this is rarely a "freak" occurrence.
    The only thing I enjoy is having no feelings....being numb rocks!

    And I won't make the same mistakes
    (Because I know)
    Because I know how much time that wastes
    (And function)
    Function is the key
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