"Primary 0 drive not found"

[ArenaNinja]

Hey everyone. This is a long story. It's been a long day.

So here's the thing. The PC worked up until yesterday, beforfe I took it apart and brought it over. Today, before booting, I decided to remove the dust and install the backup HDD. Then when I pressed the power button, it wouldn't boot!! Since then, I've discovered a few things. The drive which had the OS (Win 7) will not boot. I assume the drive is fine, because it's recognized by the BIOS.... At least with one set of cables, the ones that the OTHER HDD was using. If I try to plug it in with the cables it had yesterday, the HDD doesn't even get power (details don't show on the BIOS screen)

So here's my set of hypothesis on why this thing is malfunctioning:
1. I added a second WD1001FALS, which I planned on using as backup, today
2. I vacummed the PC's entrails (using the long tube). I also used compressed air for the hard-to-reach spots
3. HDD is dead?? (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)
4. ?????

Now here's the kicker: the drive is partitioned, which I hear is good news whenever you have an issue like this. I already installed Win 7 on the 2nd HDD, but I can't do jack about it since the other drive isn't coming on with that set of cables. I replaced the cables (I had some spares) and the HDD still didn't come on. Could this be a motherboard issue?

To make matters worse, I called Dell (their XPS support comes from the Phillipines). Not much issue communicating, except that they seem unwilling to help me if I'm not talking about the original HD/OS, and since both upgrades I purchased from NOT-Dell, I ultimately ended up telling them everything had failed and so they're sending a Tech with a new HD and cables. I plan on telling him what I need and hopefully (s)he's not a robot.

But what can I do?? Could it be I ruined the drive (unintentionally)? I don't think it was a huge deal. The air compresser hit for maybe half a second (it did spray on the MB for that half second), but I don't think that could ruin it. Dell didn't think this is a MB issue, they said that if that's what it was, I wouldn't be able to see the "Primary 0 drive not found" error.

HELPPPPPPPPPP

 

[RebateMonger]

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish with Dell. You can't hold Dell responsible for a disk or OS that Dell didn't provide.

Obviously you need to double-check all the connections and cables. If you found that one SATA cable is misbehaving, then you need to replace it.

You can test the hard drive with one of the many hard disk diagnostics boot CDs available from the disk makers. Similarily, it wouldn't hurt to burn and boot a Memtest 86+ CD to make sure the CPU/memory are working.

If the disk passes diagnostics, maybe the OS is messed up. You can attach it to a working PC and copy off any important data and can attempt a Repair of Win7 with the Install DVD.

 

[ArenaNinja]

RebateMonger, I see what you're saying, but I see that as being besides the point. To put it in perspective, let's say I'm trying to dual-boot WinVista 32-bit with my Win7 64-bit. Actually, that's what I'm trying to do again. I'm trying to set up the original HDD with the original OS and programs they gave me. The issue now becomes that after switching the cables from the original connection and back, the original HDD -- or any other -- is not being recognized. It doesn't seem to be the HD, it seems to be the a) slot and b) connections of HD placement that are mandating whether it works.

I already changed cables, along with where they actually connect from, and nothing changed. What I'm thinking is that the slot where I connect the LP4 to 2 SATA Internal Power Splitter cable is faulty.

A question on your last sentence. If I do a repair of Win7, will I lose the data in that Hard Drive?

Many thanks.