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Bios/PC can't find HD details inside

1K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  kiddetoolman 
#1 ·
Ok Techies, I need some real help on this one....

Older Gateway P3 500mhz last week was working fine...
I don't know the exact details it is my mom's PC and I am giving it a whirl at it... Was working fine then one day she says everytime she boots after bios black screen says"no OS found"

So I pick up thePC and bios won't and can't find a Hard drive.
Maybe bad drive, I remove and replace it with a good one w/ OS already installed.. NO OS found..
I insert Windows Xp disc in CD rom and it loads drivers and then begin to install, next "windows can't continue no HD detected.

Back to bios check Periph.. no primary (none)
secondary shows (cd rom)

I try swapping out

Hard drives..
New ribbon cable...
Switch IDE spots on mobo...
Try to run HD & CD on same line set one for slave.. (didn't work)
Try hooking up HD and remove CD
Bios still shows None for primary and secondary...

Bios recognizes CD roms... but won't detect any HD's...

I try to reset Bios (nvidia) w/ jumper... still same
Removed battery cleaned contacts ... still won't find HD


Ok I'm at wits end .. can't think of anything else to try...

Beg and plead anyone w/ ideas feel free to post...

Truly appreciate any help and suggestions
thnx
 
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#2 ·
Have you tried a different power connector on the hard drive? Also try entering the hard drive parameters manually in the BIOS.

Good luck.

Kilowatt

On a side note, it is possible that the CMOS battery is dead. On some older machines if the battery goes the BIOS won't detect the hard drive.
 
#3 ·
hi, kilowatt1

try booting from a floppy, running fdisk , and reporting what it says the status is for the hard drive.....

it should say "C primary/and be set as "active"

any chance it's a non-dos partion for whatever reason?

"I remove and replace it with a good one w/ OS already installed.. "..............that don't work

"I insert Windows Xp disc in CD rom and it loads drivers and then begin to install, next "windows can't continue no HD detected."........might need a BIOS update,so that really doesn't factor in


remove jumpers on hard drive, recheck that they're set proper....unplug anything else from the motherboard untill you get the hdd detection fixed
 
#4 ·
two great answers...

Turns out after further troubleshooting and consulting the Gateway Tech support...
Kudos to Gateway Support online, even for PC purchased 3 years ago.

The IDE cable and Hardrive went bad.

I had put in another HD but was using same cable, I even switched cables at one time.

When I elimated the original HD and the Original HD IDE cable
and replaced them, the bios was able to detect.

I keep my HD in there Temporarily until I can score a new one from someone on on a budget.

Anyone selling a 20gig 5400 HD cheap :D
 
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