Dell Error Code

Sounds like a bad hard drive. Set it as slave and install it into another PC with enough empty hard drive space to copy all needed information. Whatever you do, don't do any error or malware checking or try to write anything to the drive before saving needed information. Hopefully it will work long enough for you to extract needed info.

How do I set it to slave and install it into another computer? Would I lose my data if I did a repair to XP?

How do I set it to slave and install it into another computer? Would I lose my data if I did a repair to XP?

Further diagnostics revealed "read test" failure. Does that still sound like a bad hard drive?

it seems to be bad hdd as above on told u .try using LAST KNOWN GOOD MODE OR CONNECT is as slave and try out with repair tools.

Hi

Turn off your computer and remove the power cables. Leave it for a few minutes then remove the case/cover. Disconnect the power and data cables from your hard drive and remove it.

On the top side you will see a diagram which explains how to set a 'jumper' located on the same side that the data and power cables were connected. The jumper is a small plastic connector (really small!). Move it so that it covers the pins marked as 'slave' on the diagram.

Connect it to another XP computer and power the computer up. Your drive should show up as an extra drive. Copy the data off it.

Once you have done this, you can try to do an XP repair installation.

However, I would contact Dell and ask their advice. You will need to tell them which part of the diagnostics test gave that error message. It is possible that the drive is damaged and needs replacing.

Good luck

In answer to your last coment about the Read Failure [b]Yes It Does Sound like a Bad HDD![/b]

Stop the machine now remove the HDD and put it into a USB Caddy and plug it into another computer and save your data that way. You may need to [b]Take Ownership[/b] of the files/folders so follow the directions at the following URL

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

While it could be the HDD it could also be a bad Data transfer Lead or Drive Controller on the M'Board so it's better to get it right out of any computer and save your DATA!

When you have your Data Backed Up you can then instigate a DR Plan so you never face this thing again.

A decent DR Plan will cost you a couple of hndred Dollars as apposed to several thousand if you need to send the drive away to a Data Recovery House to get your Data back. It's much easier to prevent a problem than try to reassemble after the event.

Col

Hi again - I received your message. I think your best option is to just plug the drive into another XP PC (as you do not have a jumper), copy your data off it, then follow Dell's advice.

There are step-by-step instructions here: https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&journalid=&treeid=FFA33DA99941FEDFE030030ABD62041A

As to installing the PC into another machine: If your drive is an IDE drive then it will look like this: http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/storage/8mb-ide-roundup/wd1800jb.jpg

You will need to connect the drive so that it looks like this: http://www.gondarelectronics.com/images/PCGDE13.jpg

make sure that the the power cable is plugged in exactly the same way as the one in the master drive. The master drive always goes on the end connector and the slave goes on the next connector along the data cable.

However, if you have SATA drive - well, there is only one way to connect a SATA drive - but you will need to make sure you take your data cable with you to the second PC.

If you have anymore questions then post back - if you rate the answers as not helpful we get a mail message alerting us, and we can then read and respond to any further comments/questions you post as comments.

It sounds like your hard drive is gone, if the data is really needed you need to send it to a data recovery company. I have used data savers twice and they did a great job. But if you keep trying to recover or access this drive you may have lost too much by doing all that stuff.
Most data recovery companies will tell you if a drive is not accessible do not try to use any other programs or boot to another drive to access the bad drive. You will only make retrieving the data harder or impossible.

Repin the drive as a slave and install it on a different computer.

Copy whatever information and data off of it immediately.

That drive is going to completely die soon.

Lee

It is for sure the hard drive, it needs to be replaced, if you try to even OSRI i wont let you do it... I worked for Small & Medium Business Hardware Support at Dell.. SO trust me.