[RedheadedPippi]

Hi - Let me start off by saying, I am not at an "intermediate" experience level when it comes to hardware - only everything else.

About a month ago, I flew from Nashville to South Florida and brought my laptop as a carry-on. When I got to South Florida and tried to boot my comp up (a 2005 Dell Inspiron E1505), a screen popped up that said "no bootable devices". I ran a scan via F5 and during the scan it said "no drive detected".

The next morning I tried booting it up a few more times, to no avail. I called Dell and explained my problem. They said I needed a new hard drive and that it would cost me several hundred dollars. Frustrated, I said I would call them back.

I tried to boot it up one more time and surprise! It worked. I hurriedly transferred all my files to a cd in case it crashed again.

It never did.

Over the last month I have turned my computer on and off more than 50 times and it has been great. I figured that what happened before was just some fluke. I should have known better.

On Halloween, I turned on my computer. Same problem. Waited again this time, except this time it hasn't fixed itself.

I use my laptop for my personal use, for my job, everything. Since I copied all of my files to a CD the last time this happened, I have created dozens of new files that I did not backup or transfer. I really really need access to this information. I am now using my boyfriend's laptop until I can figure out what to do.

I feel like there has to be some tests I can run or steps I can take before I need to get this serviced, right? And if I need to get it serviced, surely there must be a cheaper option than Dell's inflated rates, right?

Here is exactly what happens when I turn on comp:
Dell start-up screen appears

Then, instead of Windows starting up, a black screen comes up saying "No bootable devices. Hit F1 to retry, F2 to ...., F5 to..."
That's it.
F1 brings me right back to the same screen, F2 I have no idea what I am supposed to do with that info, F5 runs the scan.

During that F5 scan, I receive this message:
Hard Drive - DST Short Test
Test Results: Fail
Error Code 0141
Msg: Error code 2000-0141
Msg: No drive detected.

Everything else on that scan comes up normal. Please help! What do I do!? I live in Nashville, TN and need this fixed ASAP!

What should I try?
Where should I take it?
How can I get those newest files in My Documents and on my Desktop screen off my comp ASAP?

Thanks so sososososo much! I appreciate any and all help!

[Hughv]

I have seen these drives come loose in the drive caddy. It should be easy enough (One or two screws) to open the drive bay and re-seat the drive.
A replacement drive should cost well under $100.00.
The manual is here:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1123687