Will not boot

S

svp

New Member
Help anyone, I am novice with a Dell Dimension 2350 desk top Pentium 4. I started my desktop from hibernation and in the process acidently hit the power strip button and shut everthing down. Now when I goto to restart it comes with no boot device detected. I F2 to setup menu and goto to boot in the menu and it has hard disk boot primary at the bottom. i go into advanced and under IDE master and secondary it shows no drive letter, even after I hit auto detect, nothing.

I am stumped any good advice before i call in Geek Squad to get me up and running.
 
fix

I dont suppose you can get to the diagnostic test at startup. You might try that an see where your hardware stands. Get into it with F12, heres a knowledge base that covers it in more detail than I can here. This is one of the best first steps, because this can help you narrow it down.

http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~deke/laptopsupport/manuals/d600/diag.htm

(Note to others reading this, the link covers details of the diagnostic utility created specifically for/and only for Dell computers.)
 
open your case with the power cord conected in the case (but no power on!!)
take the molex out and the sata or pata conector out.
plug them again
try to boot.
Hope that helps
 
Well, bad news, but the most likely problem is that your hard drive is dead. This is simply something that happens, and probably isn't a direct result of you hitting the power strip, although that may have been what sent it over the edge.

I would heavily recommend against taking it to Geek Squad. Their going to charge you $69.99 to tell you what I just did, another $120ish for the hard drive depending on how much they want to to upgrade and whatever warranty plan they pester you into, and another $129.99 to reinstall your operating system. A little ridiculous considering your computer is only worth about $100.
 
yeah,

+1 with PohTayToez

I can see the desire to go with shop to fix your computer. As in my situation, I cant take a computer apart for cleaning because I live in a dorm. So I have no room to do major work, and instead I go to Total Zone computer solutions here in town. BUT, I would not go with Geek Squad. If you want your computer fixed then find a good computer shop in your town. Those people at geek squad will only cause you more problems.

They are not well informed, I have tried to talk to them about computer problems in the past. And the only response you get is a blank stare and that they "havent heard of that problem but maybe someone else here has". For instance, I wanted to know just how much they know. So I asked them about a backup program once, I already had the program and had used it; but I wanted to see their response. It is a common program, and I was expecting them to have (at least) a general knowledge of backup programs. Nobody there had a clue what I was talking about. After walking to the "back room" several times, they gave up trying to help me and instead tried to sell me "their computer protection plan". I couldn't believe it.

I would recommend finding a local computer sales/service business that isnt connected with some big box store. Ask them questions and get a feeling for them. Go to several places and talk to them, see if you get a good non-pressure and intelligent response. Do they seem organized? If they cant talk to you right then, did they get back to you soon after? Are they listed with the chamber of commerce? What other people /businesses /government agencies use their services? Ask for a quote for service, and what they estimate it may cost you.

Also try talking to computer knowledgeable people you know an see where they go for service/sales.

Google Maps: computer sales and service, "put your location"
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Most of the time Google Maps has reviews on each business as well from other users. Please keep in mind that going to a shop can be expensive. Dont be shocked if it costs more than a bit.
 
This problem has probably occured because the BOOT SECTOR got corrupted or is simply just gone.It has happened to me few times so I know how bad feeling is when that happens.Its horrible I know,especially when you least expect that.:D
Here are few reasons how that can happen:

-you have totally unpluged your computer from the power while its OS was running and that caused the BOOT SECTOR on your HDD to get damaged or simply just gone

-you have pushed the power button while your computer was going into or was going out of the hibernate mode and that caused the BOOT SECTOR on your HDD to get damaged or simply just gone

-you have pushed the power button while your computer was going into or was going out of the stand by mode and that caused the BOOT SECTOR on your HDD to get damaged or simply just gone

-the file called "NTLDR" and "NTDETECT.COM" got damaged or simply just gone

-you attempted to create the new boot information and that caused the BOOT SECTOR on your HDD to get damaged or simply just gone

-the file called "boot.ini" got damaged or is simply just gone

-and so on...


Anyway before I AGAIN write long post:D...,boot from the Linux Ubuntu 9.04 CD and see if you can see your HDD from it.If you can,tell me and I will let you know what to do.




Cheers!



canivari said:
open your case with the power cord conected in the case (but no power on!!)
Click to expand...

WRONG!The power must be ON so he can finish in heaven before he does something bad and end up in hell.:D
LoL I am just joking.:D
Cheers canivari!:good:
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your help. i did just that and jumoed into the boot screen and pick my hard drive and away I went. You guys are Ok by me.
 
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