Community Newsletter: Q&A: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found!
- 3/10/06 10:49 AM
Bios not finding Hard drive
by wmarr - 3/10/06 5:15 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
Miguel is right, but ok, what did cause this besides the possibility of sloppy repair shop work, (not getting final settings for proper operation ) or someone tampering with the bios code/CMOS. Ok, the next thing could be this. What was not mentioned was the fact that if your computer is over 3 years old, the battery which powers the CMOS so it saves all those settings in the bios setup could be running down and need replacement. Depending on how cluttered the wiring is inside the case and how accessible the battery is on the main board, you can change this yourself. Just pop it out, take it to a place that sells those batteries,(they are round and can resemble a watch battery but are bigger), have the salesman match you up with the correct one, then install the new one. Just pop it into its clip and presto. But now you will have to reset your bios. Just open up the screen on startup and set it for optimum performance setting or default and then go from there. It may take a few startups to get all the hardware working again. This procedure should not harm your computer. But once it is setup, you should be able to turn your computer on normally.
re: Primary drive not found! -- Deja Vu
by RosalindLJ - 3/10/06 5:26 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
A couple of years ago I had an HP Pavilion laptop that was giving me a lot of problems. The number one problem being was it was overheating. It also gave me boot problems, and I think I recall receiving an error message similar to that. In time I got "the blue screen of death" and then after about 3 boots with the blue screen of death, it was all over.
The computer techies that I took my dead computer to told me that I needed a new hard drive. I explained some of the other problems I'd experienced, including the overheating, but they said that nothing else was wrong. They replaced my hard drive and sent me home.
My computer continued to overheat.
Fortunately, I ran into a guy who actually worked for HP. He realized that this was a problem and I was directed to some really good tech support. In trying to resolve this problem, they wanted to reset the BIOS. I'm a little fuzzy on exactly what was being done and why, but the upshot of it was, there was no way to create a BIOS boot disk since it demanded that there be an A: drive. My laptop had no A: drive. A zip drive wouldn't work.
Fortunately, HP resolved my problem by sending me a new/refurbished laptop. It was around this time that I found CNET and am grateful for what I've learned here. I just wanted anyone out there who might have an older laptop, that this could be an issue.
Try replacing the CMOS battery
by rwarfel - 3/10/06 6:37 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
Wow, great write up Gretchen. It is quite possible that the configuration is maintained by a small battery which is on its last legs. Check your manual to see what type your system uses and how to replace it. Try this first as it is a very common problem.
primary drive not fond
by gk007 - 3/10/06 6:49 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
It mybe BIOS battety is flat?
Get a mew BIOS battety 
3/10/06 Primary drive not found!
by jmatherne - 3/10/06 6:54 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
This message illustrates one of my main complaints with Dell's Tech Support. They are too quick to tell you that you need to reinstall your Operating System. That is a flip quick answer for them and several days work for you. They either do not have the ability to help you trouble shoot your problem or really don't care. They did that to me several weeks ago and I wouldn't buy their solution. I did more and more trouble shooting and found out the reason my computer couldn't find the CD/DVD drives was because of a Malware that I eventually found. It was new so the definitions were not up to date to help me locate it. I went to many sites that offer a free scan and located the culprit. Once I removed it my computer return to normal. Dell's tech need to either take more time or tell us they don't know and a reinstallation of Windows XP is a last resort after all troubleshooting fails to locate the real problem.
More Info Needed Before Answering
by JRnMD - 3/10/06 6:55 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
All these "suggested solutions" fail to fully assess the situation prior to attempting to fix the problem. Gretchen said she had checked all cables for connection but the question in my mind is "What would make you think the cables were loose to begin with?" if you hadn't had the case open for installing new hardware or some other reason. The first few questions I have to ask of Gretchen before offering a possible fix are:
1) How old is you machine?
2) Do you have a CURRENT virus protection software with the most recent signature file updates?
3) Do you have a firewall software on the computer with the most recent updates installed?
4) Did you install anything new Hardware or Software) on the system just prior to the problems appearance?
Only after these question are answered would I begin to recommend fix actions. Recent events in the world would lead me to believe if Gretchen didn't contribute directly to initiating the issue, the probability of the BIOS being the source of her heart-aches is pretty low.
In the case of this problem, the reinstallation of the Operating System (Windows XP - Home Edition, I would bet) is only a waste of time. Your computer doesn't even CARE about the OS until it FINDS the hard-drive. So since you had successful boot-ups by hitting F1 your OS was just fine. While I agree there is something going on with the BIOS, you really need to know what started the problem. It's always better to fix the problem; rather than just fix the symptoms.
J. RONEY, CISSP
One easy one...remove your thumb drive...
by TheGSMSpot - 3/10/06 6:58 AM In reply to: More Info Needed Before Answering by JRnMDHere's one easy possible solution...
Some computers will try and boot off of a USB thumb drive if it is connected (a BIOS boot order setting). Remove it if you haven't already.
Re: One easy one...remove your thumb drive...
by slim-1 - 3/10/06 7:43 AM In reply to: One easy one...remove your thumb drive... by TheGSMSpotAlso many external USB hard drives and internal ATAPI zip drives can have similar results when on and connected.
A question IRT to Gretchen's question
by green_robert - 3/10/06 7:02 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
I have a WINBOOK SI2 laptop running Windows 2000 with a problem similar to Gretchen's. Mine gives an "OS" not found" message sometimes when booting up. It occurs mostly after it has been shutdown and restarted after installing updates. If I let it sit (turned off) for about 30 minutes (sometimes longer), it boots normally and runs fine. Never have run into a problem like this before and it has me scratching my head on a solution.
Bob Green
Salem, CT
a couple thoughts
by Cadillac84 - 3/10/06 8:50 AM In reply to: A question IRT to Gretchen's question by green_robertI'm not familiar with Winbook, so keep that in mind.
But, it sounds like you may have the same procedure in front of you.
You didn't say how old the Winbook is, but you could be looking at a CMOS battery weakness or failure. You could also be looking at a hard drive failure.
You may want to read something I just wrote about and maybe yours will turn out like mine. It is in this thread, so just click on the link and it will open one up a few from here.
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-10149-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=162197&messageID=1799939
If it isn't the battery or the cross-threaded drive recognition, you might want to do some backup in a hurry.
Another possibility
by ixneezy - 3/10/06 7:49 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
Perhaps its time to replace the coin cell battery.
Primary Drive not found
by alejandrozichy - 3/10/06 7:52 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
I had the same problem on one of the dell Optiplex GX240 machines when I put in a new Hard Drive.
The solution was to change the jumper setting on the Hard Disk and see to it that the bios does recognize as a primary drive.
The is an error found in all dell machines , but not in any other bios motherboards and in a way Dell is responsible for their selection of a poor bios !!!
I don't care much for Dell or any major brand hardware.
by slim-1 - 3/10/06 7:57 AM In reply to: 3/10/06 Primary drive not found! by Marc Bennett
They get what they can get based on what is the cheapest thing they can find.
Dell is the worst with too many DOA's (about 1 in 6), hardware going out (usually the Hard Drive or Motherboard), and hardware only on site service (you end up doing restore).
I you want to get the Yugo of the PC/Laptop industry get a major brand. This is the dirty little secrete of the PC industry. Another is the 2 to 4 year replacement cycle. If each company had a PC builder/upgrader working for them they could extend this to 5 or 6 years. Then give the unit to the person that is just learning how to use a computer. CPU/Motherboard kits are a great money saver but first the Corps have to stop the "got to have a name we know" nonsense. You can't upgrade these proprietary garbage units.
you are breathing ether or something
by Cadillac84 - 3/10/06 8:55 AM In reply to: I don't care much for Dell or any major brand hardware. by slim-1Whatever it is is not good for you! Quit it.
"Dell is the worst with too many DOA's (about 1 in 6), "
I assume that statement is backed up by lots of data. It would be very interesting to see your sources.
If that were true, then I should go to Vegas in the morning and bet my life savings on red. Because I've probably bought about a hundred Dells and never had a DOA except a used one I bought off eBay and the box got dropped and dislodged the memory which was easily fixed by stuffing it back into the slots.
So, you bought six Dells and one of them was DOA.
Whooop-de-doo!
No. It is based on about 48 of them
by slim-1 - 3/10/06 10:46 AM In reply to: you are breathing ether or something by Cadillac84Own experience. Why is it that of the 200 or so that I have built with my own specs, none have had problems starting up.
Because I do quality control and don't buy cheap parts.
Also if I have a hard drive go out (3 of the 48) I would just not install the hard drive, but would also install the software as well.
I have also had 2 of the above have motherboard problems as well.
I you think the above is acceptable and want to keep buying your Dell's your the one breathing ether.
PC's I build 0% problems.
Dell's 12/48 = 25% problems.
That's ok my client that insist on buying this crap is still buying Dell against my advise. Job security.
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