Fixed: Dell Alerts Hard Drive Not Found
Dell alert hard drive not found
I have a Dell laptop with Windows 10 installed. It was working normally this morning, but when I returned home, I found a Dell alert on the screen indicating that the hard drive was not found. I'm not sure what caused this issue, but I'm concerned about the safety of my data. Can you help me troubleshoot or provide a solution to this problem?
'Internal hard disk drive not found
To resolve this issue, try to reseat the drive.
No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility
Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics.'
I tried pressing F1 and it gave me:
'No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility
Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics.'
How do I solve this problem?"
Reasons for Hard drive not found in Dell computer
Hard drive not found issues occur in various brands, including Dell, HP, and Samsung, when a computer can't locate its default hard drive during startup, resulting in messages like "no boot device found" or "missing operating system." This issue can arise from several reasons, including a faulty hard drive, incorrect BIOS settings, or a loose connection.
♦Bad BIOS setting;
♦A loose cable;
♦A corrupted hard drive registry;
♦A bad Windows installation;
♦A boot sector virus;
♦A broken hard drive.
Solutions to Dell alerting hard drive not found
When a Dell computer doesn't detect a hard drive, there are several troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. First, check the BIOS settings to ensure the hard drive is enabled and set as the primary boot device. Next, try booting from a different USB drive or CD/DVD to rule out any issues with the hard drive itself.
1. Press F1
When you see the Dell alert saying the hard drive is not found and prompting you to press F1 to continue, it's actually a BIOS error message. You can safely press F1 to continue, as it's a workaround that can allow the computer to load into Windows correctly, despite the error. This is a contingency procedure that can help you bypass the issue and get your computer up and running. So, go ahead and press F1 to continue.
2. Correct bad BIOS settings
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) handles the computer's basic setup and boot process, preparing it to load the operating system. If a hard drive is connected to a disabled onboard SATA or IDE port, it will not be detected by the computer, resulting in a "hard drive not found" message. In such cases, checking the BIOS setup is necessary to resolve the issue.
If the hard drive containing Windows doesn't appear first in the list, you should enter the computer's BIOS setup and change the boot device priority so that it appears first.
3. Check hard drive cable
If your Dell computer can't find the hard drive, it might be due to a loose or worn-out cable connection. Check the hard drive cable to see if it's properly connected to both the hard drive and the motherboard. If it's loose, try reconnecting it. If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new one.
4. Perform a hard drive reseat
Reseating your computer, also known as a hard reseat, can sometimes restore functionality by erasing all information in the computer memory. To do this, you need to force the system to clear and reestablish the software connections between the BIOS and the hardware. This can be achieved by following a series of steps, which include shutting down the computer, unplugging the power cord, unplugging all other cables, waiting for a few seconds, and then plugging everything back in, including the power cord. This process can sometimes resolve issues and get the computer up and running again.
1. 1. Turn off the computer. 2.
2. 1. Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.
3. Remove the battery from the battery compartment.
4. To safely restart your device, press and hold down the Power button for about 15 seconds to discharge any residual electrical charge from the capacitors that protect the memory, then release and press the button again to turn it back on.
5. Insert the battery, and plug the AC adapter back into the computer, but do not connect any of the peripheral devices.
6. Turn on the computer. If a start menu opens, select "Start Windows Normally" with the arrow keys and press Enter.
5. Test Hard Drive
If the methods mentioned above don't resolve your issue, it's likely that the problem lies with the physical integrity of your hard drive. In this case, you may need to perform a diagnostic test to determine if the drive is damaged or faulty.
To troubleshoot a non-functional hard drive, remove it from the computer and connect it to another computer to see if it still works. If it doesn't, replace it with a new one. If it does, test it for bad sectors using a third-party software like Qiling Disk Master Standard, which can be used under Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.
Step 1. Connect your hard drive from Dell to a Windows PC.
Step 2. To test a hard drive using Qiling Disk Master, download, install, and launch the software. On the main interface, select the hard drive you want to test from the list of available hard drives. Then, click the 'Test' button at the top and choose 'Disk Surface Test'.
Step 3. To quickly check your hard drive, select the "Quick Check" option, click "Start", and the test will begin immediately.
If there are any errors on the hard drive, you can easily fix them using Qiling Disk Master in just a few simple steps.
6. Windows Repair Install
A bad Windows installation can cause errors and prevent Windows from loading, resulting in a "hard drive not found" alert on the Dell. If Windows detects the hard drive during a refresh or repair install, the issue is likely with the installation, not the drive itself. In this case, a repair or refresh installation can resolve the issue. However, if the problem persists, the hard drive may be infected with a boot sector virus, requiring a hard drive formatting to fix.
To fix the "Dell alert hard drive not found" issue, you can try the solutions mentioned above, such as checking the disk management, boot order, and BIOS settings, and also updating the BIOS. If none of these steps work, you may need to replace the hard drive or contact Dell support for further assistance. Hopefully, this article will help you resolve the problem and get your Dell device up and running smoothly again.
Related Articles
- How to Solve C drive full on Dell Computer Problem?
C drive on Dell computer gets full and Low Disk Space alert appears? Don't worry, this article will show you how to free up space and increase the capacity of C drive. - Fixed: Missing Operating System Error in Dell (4 Ways Included)
Trapped in "Missing Operating System" error in Dell computer? You can find appropriate ways in this article to fix "Missing Operating System" error in Dell, Lenovo and so on.