Primary drive 0 not found

Erad · 05-June-04, 04:46 PM

That is the error I get every single time I try to boot this POS.
Specs: (Didn't buy it; neighbor was trashing it)

Dell Something 2400
Intel P4 2.2 GHz
40GB WD
512MB DDR RAM
2 Optical drives, in which one of them the flap doesn't come out but it's still operational.
I don't know what kind of motherboard (Maybe someone can help me find out).

Sorry for the lousy spec list..
Anyway, I tried setting the hard drive to Primary Master and the (working) optical drive to Secondary Master. That is what the jumpers were set to and what it was listed as in the BIOS. When I turn it on, and wait a while, I get that error. I tried different combinations with the Primary and Secondary and Master and Slave, and now I ask you...what the hell do I do now?
If you somewhat understand what I just posted and have somewhat of an idea that can help, spit it out and maybe I'll make some sense out of it.
Erad

TekXoID · 05-June-04, 04:56 PM

Set the first and only boot device to CD-ROM and tell me if XP install find the drive during setup, ok?
If it does not find the drive it's probably a damaged IDE cable, HDD, or motherboard...

Erad · 05-June-04, 05:18 PM

The problem is that it won't even read the cd. I just tried what you said, which gave me another error, something like "Press F1 to try again, Fsomething to reboot". I would think that the HD is damaged, which is no problem..I'd just get a new one, except that the HD worked fine in my main rig.

TekXoID · 05-June-04, 05:57 PM

Try new IDE cables for the hell of it.

nev_payne · 09-June-04, 05:11 AM

dells use an F1/F2 bios entry system, along with their own personal bios layout that hasnt changed since the company formed. When you switch on keep hitting that till your into it, and then check the drives over to make sure that BIOS is happy with them. To save you time you could also try using an ME startup disk and startiong with CD drive support - this will show is the CD drives are detected and if the hard drive is there - otherwise it will come up with some sort of error. Once there run FDISK and it wil show you wat partitions there are and if thedrive is there (aswell). Dont delete the partitions tho if you want to keep your software.

05-June-04, 04:46 PM		#1 (permalink)
Erad Radic-Hoe Gallery Mod	Primary drive 0 not found That is the error I get every single time I try to boot this POS. Specs: (Didn't buy it; neighbor was trashing it) Dell Something 2400 Intel P4 2.2 GHz 40GB WD 512MB DDR RAM 2 Optical drives, in which one of them the flap doesn't come out but it's still operational. I don't know what kind of motherboard (Maybe someone can help me find out). Sorry for the lousy spec list.. Anyway, I tried setting the hard drive to Primary Master and the (working) optical drive to Secondary Master. That is what the jumpers were set to and what it was listed as in the BIOS. When I turn it on, and wait a while, I get that error. I tried different combinations with the Primary and Secondary and Master and Slave, and now I ask you...what the hell do I do now? If you somewhat understand what I just posted and have somewhat of an idea that can help, spit it out and maybe I'll make some sense out of it. Erad

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ars Technica // Primary and early e-voting problems point to gathering storm	Gizmo	Ars Technica RSS	0	01-November-06 07:21 PM
Migrate from 120GB to 80GB Primary HD without reinstalling everything?	kukumlima	Windows OS Problems	15	27-April-06 09:57 PM
Primary IDE Slave?	dcloud	Other PC Problem / Help	8	24-September-05 07:56 PM
use a laptop as primary pc monitor?	emberix	Anything Goes	0	07-February-05 05:38 PM
Primary media Player	me_john85	Other PC Problem / Help	2	10-April-03 11:04 PM

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.forumapex.com/other_hardware/17970-primary_drive_0_not_found.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
"primary drive 0 not found" - HooSeek - recherche Web	This thread	Refback	30-May-08 03:40 PM

05-June-04, 04:56 PM		#2 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	Set the first and only boot device to CD-ROM and tell me if XP install find the drive during setup, ok? If it does not find the drive it's probably a damaged IDE cable, HDD, or motherboard...

05-June-04, 05:18 PM		#3 (permalink)
Erad Radic-Hoe Gallery Mod	The problem is that it won't even read the cd. I just tried what you said, which gave me another error, something like "Press F1 to try again, Fsomething to reboot". I would think that the HD is damaged, which is no problem..I'd just get a new one, except that the HD worked fine in my main rig.

05-June-04, 05:57 PM		#4 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	Try new IDE cables for the hell of it.

09-June-04, 05:11 AM		#5 (permalink)
nev_payne Apex Tech God	dells use an F1/F2 bios entry system, along with their own personal bios layout that hasnt changed since the company formed. When you switch on keep hitting that till your into it, and then check the drives over to make sure that BIOS is happy with them. To save you time you could also try using an ME startup disk and startiong with CD drive support - this will show is the CD drives are detected and if the hard drive is there - otherwise it will come up with some sort of error. Once there run FDISK and it wil show you wat partitions there are and if thedrive is there (aswell). Dont delete the partitions tho if you want to keep your software.