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How-To Geek Forums / Windows Vista

(Solved) - Cannot see Hard drive in BIOS

(7 posts)
  • Started 4 months ago by claude1957
  • Latest reply from G41M
  • Topic Viewed 451 times

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claude1957
Posts: 5

Hello,

Have been stuck for a week now. Running Vista Home Premium OEM 32 bit on Compaq presario A900.
Cannot see Hard drive info in Bios.
What I have done so far...
Cannot boot using safe mode
Cannot do system repair. D partition is empty.
Was able to save my personal files using UBUNTU.
Get BSOD after login or even before login
Tried to install XP with official license but tells me no drive is available
Done extensive Virus check with 4 different programs. Nothing comes up.
Tested HDD and RAM and everything is ok.

Can you pleeeeease help me. Thanks

Posted 4 months ago #
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claude1957
Posts: 5

Hi Again,

Forgot to mention - I did reset the BIOS and it did not fix the problem.
All virus checks have been done with bootable cd since I dont have any os.
Regards

Posted 4 months ago #
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GuiltySpark
GuiltySpark
Posts: 4024

Hi claude1957 ,

Welcome to HTG ,

Can you burn this program to disc and boot from it : http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html choose the Bootable CD at the bottom of the page (it's free), does it show the drive in it's list ?

Also did you drop/knock the computer at any point before the problem ?

Edit : And Please stop pushing the Report button as it is for grievances with a post or poster only.

Posted 4 months ago #
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claude1957
Posts: 5

Thanks for your reply.
Yes I could see the 2 partitions (C: and D:) before reading your post. Used the same program as you indicated. D: was empty.
In the mean time here is what I have done - not to proud of myself. See why below.
I got so fed up with this computer that I started downloading windows XP. I have a OEM disk with Key.
Of course XP could not see the C drive nor the D partition (HDD Driver problems from what I read on the web later).
So I reformatted both !!! in DOS thinking it would fix my problem. Big mistake I found out.
Now I have nothing to play with... -might be a good thing -
Don't have backup CDs either.
I read some discussions on the web with downgrading to XP and it's not good. all kinds of problems with drivers...
So I stopped.

What can I do now?
Thanks for taking care of this post.

Posted 4 months ago #
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claude1957
Posts: 5

And Yes I dropped the computer before all this mess happened but it was in a bag and the shock was very light.
Cheers

Posted 4 months ago #
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claude1957
Posts: 5

I was at a party last night and someone offered me a bootable windows 7 iso cd (downloaded from "one of those website"). He said it's working fine on his son's laptop.
Would that be an option? I never really liked vista anyway.
Thank you again for your time and input.

Posted 4 months ago #
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G41M
Posts: 902

Yes, a clean install of Windows 7 can be an option but you have to purchase a license for the OS and also check on HP site first whether your model is Windows 7 compatible and have drivers for it.

Accepted Answer · Posted 4 months ago #
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