I'm hoping I don't have a severe dard druve crash. Computer is 3-1/2 years old, we've rarely turned it off over the years. However we turned it off for about 10 days while on vacation recently and now it won't boot up. Getting messages similar to the following: "Primary Hard Disk Drive 0 not found, press F1 to retry boot or F2 for Setup." Other info: The computer only has one hard drive. I've tried rebooting many many times...via the F1 key and just hitting the power button to turn it off. I've gone into Setup three times now. The first time it listed the hard drive as "Hard Disk" (which I believe is the volume label??) but then on the 2nd time I went in it said listed the hard disk as "Unknown." But then on the 3rd time I went into set up it showed it as "Hard Disk" again. (I've gone into Set up on various days, in between the many attempts to boot up.) I've opened the computer, checked connections, etc. and they're all secure. Ideas?

Reseat both ends of the hard drive signal cable. Sometimes when a PC isn't used for a while the connectors tend to corrode. Also try reseating the hard drive power connector. Do yourself a favor BACKUP!

A new harddrive, a phillips screwdriver #2, ect-ect.... Even something soft, as the handle of a hammer, screwdriver, ect. To tap the base (((Not anything electrical, the base.))) of the old harddrive, when booting up.... Ah, I didn't say that. And you didn't see it written either ;-) Is the harddrive, making any sound(s), at all?? Have you tried switching power conectors, with a CD, DVD drive? Just incase. Sounds, appears like "a severe dard druve crash", to me. Will need a new harddrive. Well, if you get the other going and don't save, transfer, to the new.... that would be...you know what would be written ;-) Will need one anyway, if the other is dead. And if not totally dead, is maybe close. Just thinking outloud, don't mind the rants... or is that rats ;-) ouch! they bite hard!

Oh, no! Not a " a severe dard druve crash"

As I was reading this thread, at first I couldn't understand the references to "severe dard druve crash." Then I re-read my post and started laughing my tail off. That's what I get for trying to squeeze in a quick post during my "lunch hour" which is routinely interrupted by work stuff!

Mark, Admit it, you were trying to squeeze in a quick something on your lunch hour. And it wasn't just a question, on a forum ;-) Just playing with you... wait, someone was.. just an hour..:-) ok, quit that crazyone. Sorry If you still need help, just come back and ask. I'll be nice, from now on. Well, as nice as I can be anyway ;-) Until Later, Good Luck, CrazyOne

You are toooooo funny CrazyOne! I'm still dead in the water with the drive. I've tried the suggestions listed in this thread but still nothing. It's almiar as if the drive is *trying* to work but just can't find the boot sector or whatever. I can hear a slight clicking upon boot-up. And the error messages alternate once in a while between something like: "Disk Read Error - try reboot" to Primary Hard Disk Drive 0 not found, press F1 to retry boot or F2 for Setup." If the drive is not bootable is there anywhere I can take it to someone who might ahve the ability to at least recover some of my lost files? I can do without everything on the drive except a bunch of digital pics I've taken over the last year but never had a chance to back up yet.