err: primary hard disk not found..and more!

Martix_agent · 12-06-2007, 08:42 PM

I just received a dell inspiron 8000 for a pretty good price.(ancient, I know)

The problem is that it's not finding the primary hard drive, I've never owned a laptop so i have no idea where the hard drive even is so i can see if it's not connected or something simple like that. I can't boot off a windows disk, or any dell recovery disks that came with it either...or may I can, but because of my next problem I just don't know it.

Another problem is that my screen makes a weird buzzing/high pitch sound after about 10 seconds of being on then goes dead, I don't even have time to see more than the first screen of the bios

one last thing. He warned me it needed a new battery and I see int he bios that it's true. even though the battery is in, it's not charged after sitting plugged in all night(I'm able to open the screen every few min and see the bios for 10 seconds or so)

Are these problems fixable or should I tell the guy i bought it from to expect it to be back at his doorstep?

knives143 · 12-21-2007, 10:34 AM

it can be fixed but it will cost you a lot coz when troubleshooting youll check everything first is that check if you could use powercord to power it up without the battery then check hdd at the back panel usually its screwd with cover try to find documentation on net
to see what it looks like try to identify the beep sound if its a beep coz it will determine if you have a faulty ram and lots of troubleshooting in checking your board i suggest you contact a computer tech to seek for advice......

LA1 · 12-21-2007, 05:46 PM

More than likely the HD was removed to put into something else when the screen issue happened. Probably the inverter needs replacing in the lcd. When the display goes off does the notebook shut off, if NO , get a flashlight and look at an angle real close to the LCD. If you can see an image it is the inverter that isbad. There is a back light in the LCD and the inverter controlls that . Maybe can get a display on ebay

12-06-2007, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Martix_agent Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lafayette, In Posts: 52	err: primary hard disk not found..and more! I just received a dell inspiron 8000 for a pretty good price.(ancient, I know) The problem is that it's not finding the primary hard drive, I've never owned a laptop so i have no idea where the hard drive even is so i can see if it's not connected or something simple like that. I can't boot off a windows disk, or any dell recovery disks that came with it either...or may I can, but because of my next problem I just don't know it. Another problem is that my screen makes a weird buzzing/high pitch sound after about 10 seconds of being on then goes dead, I don't even have time to see more than the first screen of the bios one last thing. He warned me it needed a new battery and I see int he bios that it's true. even though the battery is in, it's not charged after sitting plugged in all night(I'm able to open the screen every few min and see the bios for 10 seconds or so) Are these problems fixable or should I tell the guy i bought it from to expect it to be back at his doorstep? Last edited by Martix_agent; 12-06-2007 at 09:00 PM.

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12-21-2007, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
knives143 Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: at home Posts: 30	it can be fixed but it will cost you a lot coz when troubleshooting youll check everything first is that check if you could use powercord to power it up without the battery then check hdd at the back panel usually its screwd with cover try to find documentation on net to see what it looks like try to identify the beep sound if its a beep coz it will determine if you have a faulty ram and lots of troubleshooting in checking your board i suggest you contact a computer tech to seek for advice......

12-21-2007, 05:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
LA1 Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 155	More than likely the HD was removed to put into something else when the screen issue happened. Probably the inverter needs replacing in the lcd. When the display goes off does the notebook shut off, if NO , get a flashlight and look at an angle real close to the LCD. If you can see an image it is the inverter that isbad. There is a back light in the LCD and the inverter controlls that . Maybe can get a display on ebay