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Not sure if it was a power glitch(we have a surge protector I believe) but yesterday the desktop showed message hard drive doesn't exist. It's a Dell Vostro I got a couple years ago from an office setting,so it may not be the most up to date thing...but for our small needs it was fine. However it may have just aged out. Is this repairable or even recoverable and transferable to a new unit?...
When you open it up, check if it is spinning. As far as recovery, one must figure out what is wrong first. Everybody should back up their files, but most people don't...until it fails.
Was the computer inadvertently dropped or hit with something while it was in use? According to the answers I got here when I had a similar issue, this could have been responsible for bricking my hard drive. However, I believe that's only applicable if you have an actual HDD as opposed to a solid state drive.
If it turns out you need to replace your hard drive, I highly recommend ifixit.com. They can even sell you th miniature tools you will need in order to be able to do the job easily. I replaced my original 500Gb HDD with a 500Gb SSD and I'm very happy with the result.
Before you open the case and start monkeying around.
* Turn it off
* Disconnect the power cord
* Push and hold the power button for 5 seconds while it's unplugged
* Plug it back in, power it on and cross your fingers
When you open it up, check if it is spinning. As far as recovery, one must figure out what is wrong first. Everybody should back up their files, but most people don't...until it fails.
I've had a computer black out and go dead on me before...luckily they were still able to extract the data and transfer onto another drive.
Was the computer inadvertently dropped or hit with something while it was in use? According to the answers I got here when I had a similar issue, this could have been responsible for bricking my hard drive. However, I believe that's only applicable if you have an actual HDD as opposed to a solid state drive.
It was not moved,as I had mentioned it may have been a power surge. And yes it's an I3 drive,not a solid state.
No idea but I got my Dell computer working by
turning on for about 15 seconds (about 1/2 the time it takes to boot) and then off
Did this three or four times.
This forced the computer into recovery mode.
Hopefully this will result in the drive working.
In short you are trying to force the computer to go directly to recovery mode (this is a menu item if the computer was running).
However it may have just aged out. Is this repairable or even recoverable and transferable to a new unit?...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truth11
I've had a computer black out and go dead on me before...luckily they were still able to extract the data and transfer onto another drive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truth11
It was not moved,as I had mentioned it may have been a power surge. And yes it's an I3 drive,not a solid state.
A blacked out computer most likely had no problem with the hard drive. If your hard drive is end of life...I'll just keeping saying people need to back up their files. Also I run a small UPS. It helps, not only with power outages, but with fluctuations as well. Those are things you can do proactively, and they greatly reduce (if not eliminate) the need for recovery.
Again (if it is not an SSD), someone will need to determine if it is spinning.
Last edited by akrausz; 07-20-2023 at 07:26 AM..
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