Hardrive not detected but there

snappyfish · 16 Oct 2011 at 17:23

I have my nieces laptop here and I'm trying to install windows 7, When it gets to screen when you choose hard drive to format or create partition its not listed and it ask load driver.

Is that pretty much saying the hard drive is dead?

RJC · 16 Oct 2011 at 17:42

It could be a faulty hard drive, I assume it spins up ect and not make any strange noises, also is the drive IDE or SATA.

snappyfish · 16 Oct 2011 at 17:58

RJC said:
It could be a faulty hard drive, I assume it spins up ect and not make any strange noises, also is the drive IDE or SATA.

SATA, No noises and spins up. If I choose load drives I can see the local disk C, But it says "need to format drive" I try and it cant be done?

Jordan97 · 16 Oct 2011 at 19:22

Have you got another HDD you could try? If it works, you would know that the original hard drive is faulty.

snappyfish · 16 Oct 2011 at 19:25

Jordan97 said:
Have you got another HDD you could try? If it works, you would know that the original hard drive is faulty.

No. I just dont have one.

Jordan97 · 16 Oct 2011 at 19:28

Could you boot off a Linux Live CD and see if it is detected there?

xrs · 16 Oct 2011 at 19:46

Is it possible to access the bios and see if the hdd is recognised there?

snappyfish · 16 Oct 2011 at 22:39

Jordan97 said:
Could you boot off a Linux Live CD and see if it is detected there?

xrs said:
Is it possible to access the bios and see if the hdd is recognized there?

You it's there in Bios, Also just tried to Install Linux, got half way though installation and laptop switched off, Tried again... Installation complete removed disc restarted and now get.

Error: out of disk.
grub rescue>

feck199 · 17 Oct 2011 at 01:21

Try a different linux distro, I'd suggest ubunutu for an easy gui installer, just to see if you get any further. (would be good to remove all the partitions on the drive, just to start afresh)

Windows not seeing the drive, could mean the laptop has some freaky sata controler and it actually does require drivers for windows to detect it.

Does the bios have such options as ahci on the sata controller?

snappyfish · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:20

feck199 said:
Try a different linux distro, I'd suggest ubunutu for an easy gui installer, just to see if you get any further. (would be good to remove all the partitions on the drive, just to start afresh)

Windows not seeing the drive, could mean the laptop has some freaky sata controler and it actually does require drivers for windows to detect it.

Does the bios have such options as ahci on the sata controller?

There is no Bios options regarding ahci on sata controller, Hmmm I have tried Ubunutu, Windows 7, Vista and XP I have installed many successful windows installations and never had this much trouble. Must be a faulty hard drive surely?

lrlcr · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:22

bosh the sata drive into your desktop to see if it actually works or not

snappyfish · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:27

lrlcr said:
bosh the sata drive into your desktop to see if it actually works or not

I'll need a cable for that 2.5" to 3.5" ?

snappyfish · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:55

Whats the return policy on Hard Drives?

RJC · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:06

gary_0928 said:
I'll need a cable for that 2.5" to 3.5" ?

If it SATA it should just connect fine.

gary_0928 said:
Whats the return policy on Hard Drives?

I assume you bought it from Ocuk, might be worth asking in the customer forum, also whats the age of the drive it might be quicker RMA to the manufacturer.

snappyfish · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:08

RJC said:
If it SATA it should just connect fine.

I assume you bought it from Ocuk, might be worth asking in the customer forum, also whats the age of the drive it might be quicker RMA to the manufacturer.

Ah Sorry I mean on buying a new one to test if it is the hard drive?

RJC · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:10

gary_0928 said:
Ah Sorry I mean on buying a new one to test if it is the hard drive?

Ah, good question! I'm not 100% sure.

snappyfish · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:59

Right - Just plugged it into my desktop as in my signature

1st time only that drive connected and stated "error out of disk"

2nd time with my hard drive attached also it showed up and said format before use, have done this and also scanned for errors, no errors found although it's only showing 34.9gb even though it's 160gb

Jordan97 · 18 Oct 2011 at 19:06

I think that the hard drive is probably knackered.

snappyfish · 4 Nov 2011 at 19:32

OK, Got a 2nd hand WD Drive that works, Installed ubunutu On restart after installation the dam laptop switched off??? Must be something ele wrong as well as the original faulty hard drive?