Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected

johnrams · 05-12-2008, 05:18 PM

There is only 1 hard drive and the sytem suddenly stopping detecting it.

Any attempt to boot from any tools, they are not able to see the drive as well.

thanks for your ideas to fix.

**simpswr** · 05-12-2008, 05:47 PM

The drive may have failed. You can run the Dell Diagnostics to rule that out. Should be on a blue cd you got with the laptop

johnrams · 05-15-2008, 11:46 AM

Dell diagnostics passed ok. However I did not see hard drive testing menu item in the Dell CD.

Suspecting hard drive was unrecoginsed than going bad. It is a 30 GB Toshiba drive, didn't find any Toshiva specific hardware install/diag CD.

Any other ideas? thanks

**simpswr** · 05-15-2008, 03:01 PM

I'm suprised the Dell diags did not include hard drive.

I have been told that the Seagate diags will work on all drives

johnrams · 05-16-2008, 01:44 PM

Thanks, SeaTools failed the hard disk with 60+ errors.

It's 4 year old refurbished laptop that I paid $750.

2 questions:

1. Wonder what all options I have? Is it worth to replacing hard drive especially I get #M004 error after overheating even when it is in working condition?

2. About the failure of drive, originally I was trying to fix boot loader (dual boot (XP+ SuSE 10); halfway thru Dell hardware diagnostics, it lost power due to overheating. Would that have caused the issue to begin with.

3. Errors on the drive is conclusive that it can not be fixed easily? Should I contact Toshiba, the drive vendor?

Thanks a lot for the help.

**simpswr** · 05-16-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnrams

Thanks, SeaTools failed the hard disk with 60+ errors.

It's 4 year old refurbished laptop that I paid $750.

2 questions:

1. Wonder what all options I have? Is it worth to replacing hard drive especially I get #M004 error after overheating even when it is in working condition?

You can buy a new drive like these to replace it. You will have to reinstall XP and all your apps

2. About the failure of drive, originally I was trying to fix boot loader (dual boot (XP+ SuSE 10); halfway thru Dell hardware diagnostics, it lost power due to overheating. Would that have caused the issue to begin with.

You never know what casued it . . all drive will fail sometime . . some sooner than others.

3. Errors on the drive is conclusive that it can not be fixed easily? Should I contact Toshiba, the drive vendor?

If it failed the drive test, it has or will very soon failed. No use contacting anyone. If the drive is 4 years old, it will not be under warranty

Thanks a lot for the help.

05-12-2008, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
johnrams Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected There is only 1 hard drive and the sytem suddenly stopping detecting it. Any attempt to boot from any tools, they are not able to see the drive as well. thanks for your ideas to fix.

05-12-2008, 05:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,481 OS: XP, Vista	Re: Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected The drive may have failed. You can run the Dell Diagnostics to rule that out. Should be on a blue cd you got with the laptop __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BIOS \| BenchTest \| Spyware Cleaning \| How to Post a Screen shot \| PC running slow

05-15-2008, 11:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnrams Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected Dell diagnostics passed ok. However I did not see hard drive testing menu item in the Dell CD. Suspecting hard drive was unrecoginsed than going bad. It is a 30 GB Toshiba drive, didn't find any Toshiva specific hardware install/diag CD. Any other ideas? thanks

05-15-2008, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
simpswr Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,481 OS: XP, Vista	Re: Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected I'm suprised the Dell diags did not include hard drive. I have been told that the Seagate diags will work on all drives __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BIOS \| BenchTest \| Spyware Cleaning \| How to Post a Screen shot \| PC running slow

05-16-2008, 01:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnrams Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Dell Inspiron 1150 - hard drive undetected Thanks, SeaTools failed the hard disk with 60+ errors. It's 4 year old refurbished laptop that I paid $750. 2 questions: 1. Wonder what all options I have? Is it worth to replacing hard drive especially I get #M004 error after overheating even when it is in working condition? 2. About the failure of drive, originally I was trying to fix boot loader (dual boot (XP+ SuSE 10); halfway thru Dell hardware diagnostics, it lost power due to overheating. Would that have caused the issue to begin with. 3. Errors on the drive is conclusive that it can not be fixed easily? Should I contact Toshiba, the drive vendor? Thanks a lot for the help.