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Old September 9th 08, 04:19 PM posted to microsoft.public.win2000.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Mart
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Posts: 1,190
Default Dell Insiron 4000 Laptop hard drive 10gb failed, installed 120GB hard drive but it's not recognised in BIOS.

As a matter of interest, have you tried FDISK (using your WinMe Startup
[floppy] Disk), to see if it recognises your new HD?

Can't speak for this particular model but it sounds like your failed HD
*may* have taken out the IDE controller as well, as even if the BIOS doesn't
support large drives, it should normally at least recognise your new drive.

Mart


"Derek" wrote in message
...
Dear Group,

I am trying to fix a laptop for a friend. It's a DELL Inspiron 4000 with
a 10GB hard drive. Date of latop is 2001, Intel P3 700MHz, 128MB RAM,
original OS is Windows ME.

This HD failed completely, making rattling noises and a "phutttt" type
sound at boot. BIOS doesn't see it. I tried it in another laptop, that
also didn't see the hard drive. So bought a new hard drive of 120GB,
smallest size in pcworld.

I fitted the new 120GB and it doesn't show up in BIOS of the laptop. I
tried the new 120GB in another laptop just to make sure it works, it
worked fine in other laptop. I made an 8GB partition in the hope that the
Dell laptop might see the hard drive, but it still doesn't see it.

80GB hard drive, I also tried one of these. It didn't see this either.

I've looked on the dell forum and it's possible that the laptop might not
support 120GB drive, but dell won't say what hard drive it will support,
or where the limit is. So without a response from DELL I'm stuck.

I'm guessing it's a BIOS or motherboard limit.

BIOS version 15, the newest is in 2002 and it's ver 23. I'm going to
flash this and see if it helps.

Does anyone know what hard drive will fit this laptop? Can you help me
get this working?

Thanks.