BIOS won't recognize hdd's

[JayMassive]

Okay folks, I've tried everything I know. I have a Dell Dimension 4500, and there is a 40GB WD hard drive in there. I didn't use it for a while, but now the computer won't recognize the hard drive. The first time the computer is turned on, I get the message about using the correct boot device. In the bios, I change the boot sequence from removable device to hard drive, save, and exit, but every time the machine is turned off, the bios resets itself and it tries to boot off of the removable device again. If you restart the machine, it loads windows and everything, but once windows is done loading, nothing is useable, and everything takes a REALLY long time to happen. I flashed the bios, changed hard drives, and changed ide cables, but nothing helps. Has this happened to anyone, and what can I do? Thanks!

j'son
Major Yoohoo

 

[Qrilock]

sounds like a you may have a dead battery to me

 

[JayMassive]

Should I bump this if i'm still looking for help?

 

[jackschmittusa]

So, you've checked the battery then?

 

[ironique]

Check if the bios reset jumper on the mobo is placed on the right pair of pins.