Computer won't boot

[Tefler]

My Dell Inspiron is just out of warranty! When I tried to boot it today, it started making a high-pitched whistling sound and stuck at Loading PBR2 ... done. From there it would not boot at all.

I've tried starting in Safe Mode, but it won't.

I managed to run a diagnostic test (can't remember how) and got the following result:

DST short test status test -fail
0: IDE status failed
staus byte - 67
Control code = 1
MSG = no additional sense information

I have no idea what to try next, but would be grateful for any help.

[jake-the-peg]

This is not particularly good news. It rather sounds as if your hard disk has failed.

Someone here http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread19 508.html

managed to save his by booting from a cd and running chkdsk but the 0:IDE status failed especially with your whistling sound makes your problem sound like like something a bit more physical.

But check this out first
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/ message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=23080 7&c=uk&l=en&cs=&s=gen



On the other hand

[beebrook39]

DST Short Status is short for Drive Self-service Test. I believe its a Dell process that tests your hard drive for errors. It may be that your hard drive is going bad and its time to back up your files just in case.

You can try using the Windows XP Recovery Console to do a check of the disk. If you have it already installed it will be an option to pick it when you start your computer before it goes into Windows. If not you can boot with the Windows XP CD and do the following:

When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to select the repair option.

Select the Windows installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console. You most likely will only have one.

Type the administrator password when you are prompted to do so. If you dont have one leave it blank and press enter.

At the command prompt, type chkdsk /r, and then press enter and let it run.

When it�s finished type exit, and then press enter to restart your computer.

If this procedure does not work, repeat it and use the fixboot command instead of the chkdsk /r command.

Good Luck!!

[beebrook39]

If the suggestion about the recovery option using your Windows disk is unable to be read by your hard drive..... then you almost certainly have a H/D gone bad.!!The above suggestion I gave will only be of help if the hard drive is operational.If you are competent at things PC. Disconnect your pc from the mains and take off the outer case...I know it's a long shot ..but look for a secure connection to your drive....sometimes loose connections can be the simple answer The whistling sound could be the bad news though!!...always start troubleshooting with the simplest option first.If you have had any metallic tinkling sounds or screeches when the drive is spinning you can be pretty sure it's the Hard disk gone south..............

[Tefler]

Thanks for your help. I've now got a message saying "no hard drive detected", so the dire predictions seem to have been correct. Do Dell put a self-distruct chip into their computers to ensure they stop working just after the warranty is up? It seems a coincidence!

[peanut]

Before you go **** away your money on a new drive, try changing the IDE cable first. It's worth a try. You can use the cable from your cd drives if you need to. Just be sure to connect the cable properly. There is 1 end with 1 connector and the other end has 2. The end with 2 connectors goes to the hard drives and the connector on the end goes to the primary hard drive. It's a simple thing to do and it may save you money. MAYBE.

[AussieGeoff]

G'day

Do Dell put a self destruct chip......?

No, neither does anyone else. Hard Drives are not perfect, it is not a case of if they will die but when.

From personal experience, I have a hard drive installed that is over 5 years old and still working perfectly, I had another drive manufactured by the same company that died after 2 weeks!

The moral of this (if there is one) is expect all your hard drives to die sometime soon and always backup what you want or need to keep.

If a drive is going to die suddenly it is usually when it is new, otherwise it will gradually degrade, which is why you/me/anyone else does not notice that it is dying until it stops and then everybody suddenly assumes it was perfect one second, dead the next.

As to it being just out of warranty, call it bad luck, I have had a drive die the day before the warranty expired, I have also had a drive die 4 days after. As noted above I have also had drives last a long time.

Geoff

[Quizmonster]

Thanks for the advice Peanut - I'm not sure how to change IDE cables, but I'm sure I'll find out. One thing's for sure, like having an old car, when something goes wrong with a computer, you certainly learn a lot - I've already had the hard drive out, which is something I wouldn't have contemplated attempting before yesterday!

[Quizmonster]

I have to point out - incase of any confusion - that Tefler is my partner and not actually me! It seems she forgot to sign in or sign out properly.