Can't find HDD!!

[drew_rich]

Hi all,

I have a Vaio notepad on which I have both Red Hat 7.2 and Windows ME on the single internal HDD using GRUB boot loader to choose which to boot. Following a long plane trip with my PC, I was shown the message 'no operating system found' on startup.

I've got back-ups of most of my stuff, but if possible, I really need to get a few files off my windows partition. I used my windows startup disk and tried:
' fdisk /mbr '
but I get 'no fixed disks present'. I've played with the BIOS setup a bit but can't seem to get it working.

Is my data gone for good? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
-Andrew

[twiztidtruckie]

Have you tried using the cmos settings to auto detect your drive?

Does it show your drive on cmos? If it does is it the correct size?...Its quite possible it may have gotten zapped(staticed)?

Truckie

[SpookyEddy]

If the BIOS can't even detect a disk you may be out of luck

On my Acer I can easily access the HD through the front of the laptop (one screw and an access panel) so the first thing I would do is check that the disk is connected properly still and spinning up ok. Perhaps you can follow a similar procedure for your laptop.

Regards and good luck.

ed

[CMonster]

I used my windows startup disk and tried:
' fdisk /mbr '
but I get 'no fixed disks present'.

<edit added>dang! everyone is awake and faster than me --I started this reply when there were (0) replies......

Check your BIOS settings first...then

You may want to check the connections between your hard disk and notebook, replug the connectors (this will require opening it); it may be that just the act of jostling the hard disk will get it working again -albeit a temporary fix. You will likely need to replace the disk.

[drew_rich]

I'm not sure if my BIOS is reading that there is a hard-disk or not.
It's a Phoenix BIOS and it lists the hard drive under the boot menu (along with cd-rom and removeable devices)

Under the advanced menu, primary IDE Adapter is set to [none]. (Secondary is set to CD-ROM). I set the primary to auto and saved and exited, but it doesn't seem to work.

Am I doing the BIOS setup wrong? Unfortunately, I know very little about it

-Andrew

[drew_rich]

You guys are the greatest!

I rechecked the BIOS for the twentieth time and noticed that the 32bit I/O had been set to disabled bor some reason. Both Linux and Windows partitions are working!

It's not too early to have a beer is it?
Thanks again!

-Andrew