INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER ... is the error message I got and and no computer start up.

Does this mean that my hard drive is dead? Can I recover the data from it any kind of way?

3/3/2010 6:01:55 PM

This could mean a lot of things. I'd verify the connection of the HDD cables before I got too worried.

3/3/2010 6:10:44 PM

How do you verify it? I have opened it up and mde sure that they were nice and tight but I dunno if I am doing it right.

3/3/2010 6:20:45 PM

Could it be a bad cable or the slot where it is plugged at into the motherboard?

3/3/2010 6:47:56 PM

How can I test my hard drive to see if it is still working?

[Edited on March 4, 2010 at 7:28 AM. Reason : /]

3/4/2010 7:28:03 AM

use hiren's boot cd

i just used it to recover files from 2004-2010 off my mother in laws usb stick with permanent errors

3/4/2010 7:35:22 AM

Thanks dude I really appreciate that and will try it out. If my hard drive will not boot how will this work though?

3/4/2010 7:40:09 AM

sometimes it can read drives that won't show up anywhere else and it has alot of HDD diagnostic programs for both write errors and physical errors on the drive itself

do you have extra computer/drives to work from?

3/4/2010 8:32:06 AM

^^it boots from the CD, dur. that's why it's called a "BOOT CD"

3/4/2010 8:53:12 AM

I do not have any extra drives to work from. All I have is my netbook, that does not have a disc drive to make this boot cd with.

3/4/2010 9:42:31 AM

Can I burn this to a disc on a Mac?

3/4/2010 9:49:37 AM

you can do it from a flash drive

and yes you can burn that image to a cd while on a mac.. I'm assuming the computer that has failed has a CD drive, obviously

[Edited on March 4, 2010 at 10:34 AM. Reason : asdf]

3/4/2010 10:33:02 AM

then might i suggest hiren's boot usb

3/4/2010 11:51:40 AM

I got the Hiren boot USB and I am trying to use the Bootfix Utility, is this what I maybe should be using or what would you guys suggest?

3/4/2010 12:06:21 PM

I also would like to know if any of you guys have ever had the cable that connects it to the hard drive go bad, or the slot where the HD is hooked the motherboard. I realize that these probably are not that likely to go bad just wondering. Should I try to hook it to another slot on the motherboard?

3/4/2010 12:27:24 PM

never had a cable go bad, but i have seen slots go bad though

IDE or SATA

get a hold of a IDE/SATA to USB adapter and plug it into another computer (via USB) and see if you can still access your files.

3/4/2010 1:25:48 PM

Should I just plug it into another slot?

[Edited on March 4, 2010 at 1:31 PM. Reason : /]

3/4/2010 1:31:04 PM

sure you're not gonna hurt anything by giving that a try, and trying a different cable from a different device )cd drive maybe?)

3/4/2010 1:46:40 PM

I think I am going to just go and buy another hard drive, where can I get a trial version of Vista Home Premium 64 bit?

3/4/2010 1:48:16 PM

a what?

why do you think you need a trial?

3/4/2010 2:15:42 PM

I don't have recovery disc so couldn't I just get a trail and use my COA code from my pc to legitimately activate it?

3/4/2010 2:18:08 PM

ive never heard of a trial

i typically download the installation media (normally OEM) from a torrent site, burn to cd/dvd, and pump the legit key in during the installation process.

http://thepiratebay.org/search/vista%20home%20premium/0/7/0 :shrug:


or you can try to find some recovery discs...

3/4/2010 3:28:04 PM

I got a SATA to USB that has external power adaptor as well. I hook it up to my net book and the hard drive spin but I do not see a drive for it on my netbook. Any ideas?

3/4/2010 4:21:12 PM

do you hear any mechanical clicking at all? im assuming not since you didn't mention it.

can you see the drive in the BIOS?

3/4/2010 8:14:28 PM

just download the damn thing from a torrent site

[Edited on March 4, 2010 at 8:28 PM. Reason : and get someone to look at that knows more than 3 year old]

3/4/2010 8:28:36 PM

^^ I did not hear any clicking. I also did not check the BIOS. I'll hook it back up and try that. If it was spinning that that mean I may can salvage it, or it could just be dead all the same?

3/4/2010 9:35:38 PM

if you see it in the bios, that's good. if not, it might still be worth it to run recovery software (while hooked up via usb). search this section for "recovery" to find some good software

if all else fails, since you don't hear clicking, it's worth a try to try to change out the controller board. buy a drive with the same model number, swap the green board. worked for me last time i tried it.

3/4/2010 10:25:17 PM

The hard drive in question is a Barracuda 7200.11 and I bought a Barracuda 7200.12, do you think that will work?

3/4/2010 11:01:28 PM

probably not. i wouldn't bother unless you have the exact same model number, same capacity. get it on ebay for cheap.

3/4/2010 11:38:45 PM

A 750gb Barracuda 7200.11 runs about 100 buck every where I look and I'm not sure its work. Damn, I am just stuck in between a rock and a hard place.

3/4/2010 11:43:07 PM

well even if it doesn't work, you probably won't destroy the new drive so it won't be money down the drain

3/5/2010 8:31:04 AM