I have a dell inspiron 8200 laptop - that boots into Grub where I load either Debian or Windows (almost always Debian). All the components of the laptop are the originally Dell components - and I've had it for 3 years with no problems. A few days ago I booted the computer and heard a whirring sound - checked to see if the fans in the back were working ok and they were. It wasn't loud enough for me to really worry about it. THe next day when I went to turn the computer on, as soon as it powered up there was a louder whirring sound, like a motor had gotten stuck or something and was trying to move but couldn't. Meanwhile the computer is stuck at the dell inspiron screen trying to boot but not making any progress. Finally, I got the error message that the primary hard drive and the fixed optical drive weren't found. So I tried to reboot...this time the whirring sound came back until it sounded like the stuck motor was slipping or something, then all noise stopped completely (the computer is completely silent). And the computer still can't find either the hard drive or fixed optical. I thought at first the hard drive just died but then why would the cd-rw also not be recognized? In the BIOS setup those are the only two things that can't be find (unforunately kind of crucial ones). Does anyone have any suggestions for what the cause of this may be? My laptop isn't under warranty any longer so I don't want to just send it back to Dell - and I am in Australia and I bought it in the US. Thanks for any help!

Julie !! Wher in OZ are you ??? Im ain adelaide. Sory to say but it sounds like the hard drive at this stage. Laptops a very diffrnt than normal pcs. Than it could be the cpu fan itself, however small it may be, that in fact has died. Its one of those things it would need to be opened by someone who knows what they are doing with laptops, before one can say for sure. But the good thing is the laptop is still booting up, so that is a very good sign. Not much help I know, but its a start Even though you got the thing in the us Dell australia should be able to help you out just depends on the cost. Could almost be cheaper to take it to a good local pc shop, just depends where you are. Regards IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

It does sound like the hard drive has failed. Well actually died a horrible ad painful death. This does not explain why the CD drive is also failing. It would probably be worth calling the lovely dell support team in the Phillipines. You might still get a replacement under warranty if you're still covered. If your not covered, removing the hard drive isn't difficult. On the left hand side is a small cover with a single screw. If you remove that screw and push the cover down, you will then be able to slide out the drive. The optical drive is even easier. I'm about 1340 Ks east of Janos! (by road)

ASlmost a local boy Rimfire !! LOL Phillipins !!!!!!!!!!!! And the thing is out of warranty, yeah I do agree with you it does sound like the HDD has gone south to live on a very permanent basis. I suspect it will be cheaper to fix it localy, as for the optical drive, I agree very odd. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

A local! No almost about it. I was born a crow eater, I don't believe there is an expiry date on that. Dell's Asia Pacific call centre is located in the Phillipines. I think that they use VOIP to enable the 1800 number. Replacing drives in Dells is a fairly simple process. I gave instructions to replace the hdd earlier. The optical drives just require releasing a catch on the underside then they slide right out.

So a Crow eater also what made you go east ?? 1340 km that just about brings us close to Syd. Yu right no such as expiry on that yu are stuck with it. I know what you mean about dell thats why I laughed earlier, just got one of the 19" LCD from them and had a fair bit of dealing over the phone. But they do try !!!! Never done a laptop before, bought a few for some of my work mates, but never had a need to dable before. I just tell em they mess with it il brak their fingers probem fixed. LOL IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

I was barely walking when my family moved east, my father took a job with NASA at one of their tracking stations near Canberra. Haven't been back since. Sydney is closish in the global context of this site. It's still a six hour drive from the land of Australia's favourite cheese. I'm sort of a DCP (Dell Certified Professional), I'm just not up to date with the 'C' part. Last time I tried, the website in which the information was in would only allow me access if I provided a valid serial number of a computer sold in the US! I've replaced a few motherboards in laptops though. Once you take those out, you are left with a flimsy piece of plastic that forms the base of the computer. Everything else is simply by comparison. To have a CD with instructions and pictures to show you the location of screws is a great help with this. I'll bid you goodnight, hopefully in the morning, Julie will have replied.