[MikeT]

I just tried to turn on my computer (Dell Dimension XPS R350). The hard drive (I think) made a few grinding noises, I got the Dell screen (the big DELL letters prior to boot up), then after a minute a message tells me it cannot find the Operating System.

I tried a boot disk and got to an A prompt, but cannot do anything from there (or don't know what to do).

I found a Dell Diagnotics Disk for the hard drive, but it cannot seem to find the c: drive.

HELP!!!!

 

[johnwill]

It sounds a lot like the hard disk bought the farm. I'd go to the disk manufacturer's website and download their diagnostic package and test the disk first.

 

[SPEEDO]

Check for loose wires inside of the case. If this computer has been moved about it can cause loosening of the IDE cables sometimes.

 

[MikeT]

Re: I'd go to the disk manufacturer's website and download their diagnostic package and test the disk first.

I used the diagnostic disk supplied by Dell for the hard drive. Will that be different than the manufacturers diagnostic package?