Member Avatar for bbllkk2003

Hello,

I have a Dell inspiron 600m and I ran into this issue last week when I suddenly cant boot up my laptop. A cranky noise from the compartment made me believe that the HDD had crashed and I therefore replaced it with a new WD - EIDE, PATA, one listed here

However even after replacing it with the new one, i still cant get rid of the problem, the system just wont boot up and keeps looping back between BIOS and the error message "Primary Hard Disk Drive 0 Not Found"

Looking at the BIOS, the Primary Hard Disk entry still shows 'None'
I have already reset the BIOS but still not haveing any luck.

Can anyone please advise what could be wrong here and what else can i do to resolve this?

Could it be that i am using an incompatible HDD?

many thanks,

Tom

  • 3 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 240 Views
  • 4 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by winiwa09

Dani AI

Generated

Brief recap and quick reality check: replaced the suspected failed drive in an Inspiron 600m but the firmware still does not list any HDD; reports the loud clicking symptom. ’s suggestion to install an OS is irrelevant while the BIOS/firmware never detects a drive — the system has to see the hardware first.

What this usually means: when the firmware shows no drive at all the fault is at the hardware/firmware layer (not at the partition or OS level). Common causes are a mechanically failed drive (clicking often indicates head/motor failure), a poor or damaged drive-to-bay connector or caddy, a physical mismatch (wrong interface or thickness), or a failed IDE controller on the motherboard.

Practical isolation steps to follow:

  1. Power down, remove battery and AC, ground yourself, and remove the drive for a visual check (bent pins, debris, damaged plastic/foam).
  2. Reseat the drive firmly and test again in BIOS — a snug 2.5" PATA (44-pin) connection must be correct.
  3. Test the replacement drive externally (USB-to-PATA adapter or another machine) to see if it powers up and is detected; run the manufacturer’s quick/extended diagnostics if it is seen.
  4. If an external test drive is available, try it in the laptop to determine whether the laptop’s controller is working.
  5. If the drive clicks and is not detected externally, stop further power cycles and consider professional data-recovery — continued use risks further damage.
  6. Update BIOS only after isolating hardware and checking Dell’s service notes for this model; BIOS updates carry risk and won’t fix a mechanically dead drive.

If the replacement drive proves healthy externally but the Inspiron still shows no HDD, the likely next step is service/board-level repair or using the drive via an external enclosure. If the drive itself fails external tests, replacement or data-recovery are the realistic options.

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

Hello,

I have a Dell inspiron 600m and I ran into this issue last week when I suddenly cant boot up my laptop. A cranky noise from the compartment made me believe that the HDD had crashed and I therefore replaced it with a new WD - EIDE, PATA, one listed here

However even after replacing it with the new one, i still cant get rid of the problem, the system just wont boot up and keeps looping back between BIOS and the error message "Primary Hard Disk Drive 0 Not Found"

Looking at the BIOS, the Primary Hard Disk entry still shows 'None'
I have already reset the BIOS but still not haveing any luck.

Can anyone please advise what could be wrong here and what else can i do to resolve this?

Could it be that i am using an incompatible HDD?

many thanks,

Tom

hi ,you need to install windows or someother OS on the harddrive first

Member Avatar for winiwa09

Hi members .............................................................................................
It also makes the loudest clicking noise. (It ran some scan before all this happened.. i think it might have tried to fix some problem and then created a new problem..)

I talked with a Dell technician and he troubleshooted a bit with me (took out the hard drive to see if it was damaged; took out the battery, unplugged the power supply; turned it on and then pressed F2 a bunch of times- got to a screen with a whole lot of info and it said hard drives= 0 )

By regards
anglish02
http://www.google.com

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.