Problems...

[TJ_U1]

...I turned on my computer and the initial Dell page came up but after that it went blank with only a horizontal "underscore" flashing in the top left hand corner of the page.

I ran a diagnostics test and everything was running fine up until it ran the following test:

DST Short Status Test

It then started beeping where underneath the bit where it said FAIL the following appeared:

Drive Smart Read Command Failed

What's going on?

Tom xx

 

[llwyd]

I should point out that this is a laptop and is currently running Windows Vista Home Premium.

The diagnostic done was a windows boot diagnostic, done through the boot menu.

Was there a disc in the dvd drive at the time?

 

[TJ_U1]

Nope...

...the DVD drive was empty.

Tom xx

 

[nunzio]

Is the drive spining up?

 

[TJ_U1]

What do you mean spinning up?

:S

Tom xx

 

[llwyd]

You will be able to hear the hard drive start up and whiirrr. Dont confuse it with the cooling fan though.

Might be a silly question but can you get into windows or not?

 

[TJ_U1]

No, I just switched it on and left it while having some grub and it's come up on the screen with:

Internal HDD HARD error!

Strike F1 to continue, F2 to run the setup utility.

I pressed F1 but the same kept coming up...

Tom xx

 

[nunzio]

Sounds like the hard disk is fscked. or has to be reseated.

 

[kris[tek]]

Sounds like the hard disk is fscked. or has to be reseated.

same here, we have plently http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/department?department=4&sort=2

 

[ionicle]

;134892']same here, we have plently http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/departm...filterValue=2.5'' he did say it was a laptop

 

[TJ_U1]

How...

...do you reseat a hard drive?

Or would I have to take it to a computer shop/specialist to have it done for me?

Tom xx

 

[FarFarAway]

Reseating is pretty easy. Literally turn off PC, disconnect from power then remove any connectors at all, check for dust etc and plug them back in firmly

 

[TJ_U1]

I have a laptop...what do I do then?

Tom xx

 

[nunzio]

What model laptop?

 

[Ham]

Pass it on to me or Llwyd mate, we'll take a look. We'll run a few tests and sort out as much as we can.

 

[chudley]

Have you tried a restore as per all dell machines?

Ctrl + F11 or at least it used to be.