No bootable drives found

gpdaddy95 · 03-11-2008, 10:20 AM

I have a Dell inspiron B120 that just died! When I turn the unit on, it cannot find either the HDD or the CD/DVD drive to boot. When I go to the BIOS, neither are recognized. Normally, if one or the other weren't found, I'd think that the drive went bad, but with both disappearing at the same time, I have to believe it is a systemic problem farther upstream. If this were a desktop, I'd immediately head to replacing the power unit, but this is a laptop and I'm not that familiar with the hardware. I removed both drives and re-installed them with the same results. Any ideas?

**TriggerFinger** · 03-11-2008, 10:57 AM

Hi gpdaddy95,

kindly confirm if you have done so already... changed BOOT sequence in BIOS and tried using bootable CD like XP installer in you CD drive and still NO GO? Does it even blink when you power the laptop ON?

By the way, did this happen without warning? Or did this happen after you have installed an application or flashed BIOS?

gpdaddy95 · 03-11-2008, 11:03 AM

I did change the boot drive sequence, but to no avail. This happened all of a sudden. I used the machine on Sunday night (synced up my ZUNE) and tried to turn it on Monday evening.....no changes, no updates, no new accessories. The CD drive doesn't even come on (again, not recognized). There is no blinking, just the error message that the modular components sn't being read, turn off the unit, check the connection and restart.

**TriggerFinger** · 03-11-2008, 11:26 AM

Hi,

ok assuming your drives are 'good', can you try it on another laptop just to check. i mean at this point it's still not confirmed if you have defective devices or if your mobo is toast. so to test, i suggest you remove your HDD and try use it in another computer (same with the CD drive).

also you can try booting from USB drive if this is supported in your laptop.

gpdaddy95 · 03-13-2008, 05:56 AM

Well, I did some digging and the drives are all good. The fan no longer works, the Chip is hotter than a firecracker and the motherboard is probably toasted. Thanks for the help though, I guess it's time to get a new laptop. Maybe an HP this time...

**TriggerFinger** · 03-13-2008, 09:17 AM

hi... can you share with us here how you tested if your drives are OK?

gpdaddy95 · 03-24-2008, 08:30 AM

Actually, what I did was to plug them into a similar laptop (a friend has B130) and everything came up roses. Unfortunately, the cheapest MB I could find was $400. I can get a new, faster, better HP for $600. Just didn't prepare to have the extra 6 bills come out of the wallet this month.

03-11-2008, 10:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
gpdaddy95 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	No bootable drives found I have a Dell inspiron B120 that just died! When I turn the unit on, it cannot find either the HDD or the CD/DVD drive to boot. When I go to the BIOS, neither are recognized. Normally, if one or the other weren't found, I'd think that the drive went bad, but with both disappearing at the same time, I have to believe it is a systemic problem farther upstream. If this were a desktop, I'd immediately head to replacing the power unit, but this is a laptop and I'm not that familiar with the hardware. I removed both drives and re-installed them with the same results. Any ideas?

03-11-2008, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: No bootable drives found Hi gpdaddy95, kindly confirm if you have done so already... changed BOOT sequence in BIOS and tried using bootable CD like XP installer in you CD drive and still NO GO? Does it even blink when you power the laptop ON? By the way, did this happen without warning? Or did this happen after you have installed an application or flashed BIOS? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

03-11-2008, 11:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
gpdaddy95 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Re: No bootable drives found I did change the boot drive sequence, but to no avail. This happened all of a sudden. I used the machine on Sunday night (synced up my ZUNE) and tried to turn it on Monday evening.....no changes, no updates, no new accessories. The CD drive doesn't even come on (again, not recognized). There is no blinking, just the error message that the modular components sn't being read, turn off the unit, check the connection and restart. Last edited by gpdaddy95; 03-11-2008 at 11:05 AM.

03-11-2008, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: No bootable drives found Hi, ok assuming your drives are 'good', can you try it on another laptop just to check. i mean at this point it's still not confirmed if you have defective devices or if your mobo is toast. so to test, i suggest you remove your HDD and try use it in another computer (same with the CD drive). also you can try booting from USB drive if this is supported in your laptop. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

03-13-2008, 05:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
gpdaddy95 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Re: No bootable drives found Well, I did some digging and the drives are all good. The fan no longer works, the Chip is hotter than a firecracker and the motherboard is probably toasted. Thanks for the help though, I guess it's time to get a new laptop. Maybe an HP this time...

03-13-2008, 09:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: No bootable drives found hi... can you share with us here how you tested if your drives are OK? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

03-24-2008, 08:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
gpdaddy95 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Re: No bootable drives found Actually, what I did was to plug them into a similar laptop (a friend has B130) and everything came up roses. Unfortunately, the cheapest MB I could find was $400. I can get a new, faster, better HP for $600. Just didn't prepare to have the extra 6 bills come out of the wallet this month.