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Old September 10th 08, 11:44 AM posted to microsoft.public.win2000.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Derek[_2_]
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 5
Default Dell Insiron 4000 Laptop hard drive 10gb failed, installed 120GB hard drive but it's not recognised in BIOS.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I have tried a 30GB hard drive as suggested, this also was not recognised by
the BIOS. It's from a 4 year old sony laptop so I had hopes it might work.

I also tried installing Windows XP and Ubuntu, it won't work without a hard
drive recognised in the BIOS.

I can only guess that there is also a problem with the motherboard, or that
modern hard drives are different to older ones.

The service tag is 151150J.
Dell Inspiron 4000, Windows ME, Pentium 3-700MHz, 128MB RAM, 10GB HDD, 56k
modem.

Is there anything else that I could try to repair this that is cheap?

Is here a spec for the DELL that says the hard drives that it does support?

Thanks.


"Shenan Stanley" wrote in message
...
Derek wrote:
I am trying to fix a laptop for a friend. It's a DELL Inspiron
4000 with a 10GB hard drive. Date of latop is 2001, Intel P3
700MHz, 128MB RAM, original OS is Windows ME.

This HD failed completely, making rattling noises and a "phutttt"
type sound at boot. BIOS doesn't see it. I tried it in another
laptop, that also didn't see the hard drive. So bought a new hard
drive of 120GB, smallest size in pcworld.

I fitted the new 120GB and it doesn't show up in BIOS of the
laptop. I tried the new 120GB in another laptop just to make sure
it works, it worked fine in other laptop. I made an 8GB partition
in the hope that the Dell laptop might see the hard drive, but it
still doesn't see it.
80GB hard drive, I also tried one of these. It didn't see this
either.
I've looked on the dell forum and it's possible that the laptop
might not support 120GB drive, but dell won't say what hard drive
it will support, or where the limit is. So without a response from
DELL I'm stuck.
I'm guessing it's a BIOS or motherboard limit.

BIOS version 15, the newest is in 2002 and it's ver 23. I'm going
to flash this and see if it helps.

Does anyone know what hard drive will fit this laptop? Can you
help me get this working?


No - it won't work. While it is POSSIBLE some drive overlay might get you
going - those are historically troublesome. You would either need to find
a drive 40GB or less (I would bet it would support up to that) or - better
yet - find a nice refurbished laptop online and purchase it for less than
$500-$600 and know that the usefu life would be much longer than the one
you are trying to revive.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html