Hard disk not detected on diagnostics by boot menu

Ranjana · 19 Sep 2014

Hello, everyone

On switching on my laptop, the below written text displayed on screen

Intel UNDI , pxi-2.1 (build 083)

Copyright (C) 1997-2000 intel corporation

This Product is covered by one or more of the following patents:
US5,307,459, US5,434,872, US5,732,094, US6,570,884, US6115,776 and US6,327,625

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller Series v2.29 (06/30/09)
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM.
Operating system not found

I have tried this as well:
1. Restarted laptop again
2. Pressed F12 just after the dell logo appears
3. From boot menu selected diagnostics option
In hard disk test, it shows hard disk not detected
on completion of diagnostics, displays text, "No utility partition identified"

Kindly help! What should i do now.

Thanks in advance

ICIT2LOL · 19 Sep 2014

Hello and welcome Ranjana for starters just how old is the laptop if very old or has been dropped then the drive just might be dead.

gregrocker · 19 Sep 2014

Is the HD detected anywhere in BIOS unders Storage or BIOS Boot Priority order? If not check the connection to see if it can be detected. If you cannot get the HD to be detected then replace it.

The best upgrade one can have now is an SSD, faster than a high end gaming laptop without one. Prices are plunging. Tiger Direct had 240gb OCZ SSD on sale yesterday for $79.

Once you replace HD do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. You'll get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods given.

jumanji · 19 Sep 2014

She is not going to disassemble the laptop to change the HDD.:)

She is not going to order an SSD from Tiger Direct for she lives in India.:)

Hi Ranjana,

Get in touch with Dell Technical Support and discuss your problem.

If your laptop is within warranty/extended warranty you will get everything done for free.

Even outside warranty, better to leave the job to them.Check whether they can provide service at home. I think they do.

gregrocker · 19 Sep 2014

Reseating the HD in a laptop often works to get it recognized or confirm it bad.

Prices were to illustrate the downward trend. Your country's mileage may vary.

Let us know if Dell can help or if you need our further help which is why it's assumed you came here. We solve this identical problem here almost every day.

ICIT2LOL · 20 Sep 2014

gregrocker said:

Reseating the HD in a laptop often works to get it recognized or confirm it bad.

Prices were to illustrate the downward trend. Your country's mileage may vary.

Let us know if Dell can help or if you need our further help which is why it's assumed you came here. We solve this identical problem here almost every day.

Well have to agree with Greg it should not be very difficult to replace the drive - most of the laptops I have fixed unless there is a secondary drive hidden away on the other side of the board most just have a small "lid" on the underside of the machine that is held in place with a small screw and just lifts off.
I don't know what the prices are like in India either but going by the price of paid for software's they should be on par with other countries if not better.
The only place I know of where an individual always pays the premium price is out here or New Zealand where the costs are horrendous.

gregrocker · 20 Sep 2014

There is often a video for how to replace hard drive for each model found via Google videos.

If not then try the make/model + disassemble or Replace RAM which may show the HD door.

ICIT2LOL · 20 Sep 2014

Agreed Greg but some of those hidden drives and RAM sticks can be real devils to get at - usually requiring a almost a full dismantle. That is not to say this one is the same some brands like Asus make it quite easy to get to stuff - I will have a look see.

Hmm just noticed Jumanji mentions a Dell but there are no details on it so I for one would lie to know what model it is.