Laptop won't recognize HDD - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fotzlid · 07-07-2009, 12:29 PM

Here is my problem.
My old laptop died. There were photo files and bookmarks I wanted to save.
I took the HDD out of her machine and placed mine in. I removed what I wanted and switched the HDD back. Now her machine won't recognize the HDD. When I boot up, says it can't find the OS or a wire is unplugged.
I tried re-seating it a couple of times with no luck. I don't see any unconnected wires.

Any ideas?

Cynthetiq · 07-07-2009, 12:49 PM

did you plug the power plug back in? Laptop drives don't use power....

Fotzlid · 07-07-2009, 01:08 PM

Was running off the battery initially. Just tried it with the plug in and got an "operating system not found" message.

Cynthetiq · 07-07-2009, 01:11 PM

oh gotcha, laptop to laptop, i thought somehow you opted it into a desktop.

do you have a usb adapter for laptop droves?

Fotzlid · 07-07-2009, 01:31 PM

Cynthetiq · 07-07-2009, 01:35 PM

do you have a copy of XP (whatever OS) see if you can do a boot repair.

Fotzlid · 07-07-2009, 01:46 PM

I had a recover disk but can't find it.
Could I make one from the new machine or do the numbers have to match?
Will the machine recognize the CD drive when it can't find the OS?

Zweiblumen · 07-12-2009, 03:15 AM

Some details might help, what OS (like Cyn I am assuming XP), but what kind of hd is it.
If it's an ATA (IDE) drive then it is possible, not likely, that the hd connectors are upside down or one pin off.

Yours
ZB

Flinx · 07-12-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fotzlid

I had a recover disk but can't find it.
Could I make one from the new machine or do the numbers have to match?
Will the machine recognize the CD drive when it can't find the OS?

I havn't a clue if the numbers have to match BUT the version of XP does.
Example a recover disk from Dell probably would not work on a gateway.

Doesn't matter if the machine can find the OS or not to be able to boot off a CD/DVD, thats up to the bios which comes BEFORE the OS.

Umm.. I wouldn't actually even start with a recovery disk, I'd start with BartPE Disk or something close to that. Come to think on it I'd start in the BIOS and see if the BIOS even recognizes that the hdd is there and double check the bios settings to see if somehow some thing wasn't changed by accident THEN boot the BartPE disk or even a XPlive disk would work.

BTW what error do you get on boot? That certainly might help track down what needs to be done.

Fotzlid · 07-12-2009, 04:07 PM

All I got was the HP logo page with the F-key options, then a message reading "Operating system not found."

I brought it to a local computer repair shop that I've used in the past. I'll know sometime this week what went wrong.

Thanks for the replies everyone. This is obviously something waaay beyond my skill level.

tcp · 07-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Sometimes when you swap hard drives like that, the BIOS gets mixed up. You should have checked the Hard Drive priority which is like the Boot Order option but just for Hard Drives.

07-07-2009, 12:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	Laptop won't recognize HDD Here is my problem. My old laptop died. There were photo files and bookmarks I wanted to save. I took the HDD out of her machine and placed mine in. I removed what I wanted and switched the HDD back. Now her machine won't recognize the HDD. When I boot up, says it can't find the OS or a wire is unplugged. I tried re-seating it a couple of times with no luck. I don't see any unconnected wires. Any ideas?

07-07-2009, 12:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	did you plug the power plug back in? Laptop drives don't use power.... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-07-2009, 01:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	oh gotcha, laptop to laptop, i thought somehow you opted it into a desktop. do you have a usb adapter for laptop droves? __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-07-2009, 01:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	do you have a copy of XP (whatever OS) see if you can do a boot repair. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-12-2009, 03:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zweiblumen Insane Location: at home	Some details might help, what OS (like Cyn I am assuming XP), but what kind of hd is it. If it's an ATA (IDE) drive then it is possible, not likely, that the hd connectors are upside down or one pin off. Yours ZB __________________ Sodomy non sapiens. : I'm buggered if I know

07-07-2009, 01:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	Was running off the battery initially. Just tried it with the plug in and got an "operating system not found" message.

07-07-2009, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	No

07-07-2009, 01:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	I had a recover disk but can't find it. Could I make one from the new machine or do the numbers have to match? Will the machine recognize the CD drive when it can't find the OS?

07-12-2009, 04:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	All I got was the HP logo page with the F-key options, then a message reading "Operating system not found." I brought it to a local computer repair shop that I've used in the past. I'll know sometime this week what went wrong. Thanks for the replies everyone. This is obviously something waaay beyond my skill level.

07-12-2009, 05:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
tcp Crazy	Sometimes when you swap hard drives like that, the BIOS gets mixed up. You should have checked the Hard Drive priority which is like the Boot Order option but just for Hard Drives.