Seagate Hard Drive Not Booting

[UaVaj]

dell inspiron 660s (extended family's computer)

used to run fine then all of a sudden it is having this error.

"no bootable devices available
ATA 0: Installed
ATA 1: Installed

strike F1 key to retry boot, F2 to run the setup utility."

only way to get it to boot to windows is to manually enter the boot menu via F12 and manually selecting ST1000DM003 (on ATA 0). then computer work fine without a hitch until next reboot. also Matshita DVD-RW SW820 (on ATA 1)

updated dell bios to A11 (latest) from A09. no joy.
next step is update Seagate firmware from CC47 to CC49.

what could be wrong?

 

[Elixer]

Test the HD on a desktop, and check SMART status.
For the laptop, is there a boot order option, and also do a clear CMOS if you can, to reset everything back to defaults.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What about setting the boot order in BIOS? Is the CMOS battery shot?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

What about setting the boot order in BIOS? Is the CMOS battery shot?

+1

It's happened on old machines I've had. Not familiar with that desktop, so I wouldn't know or guess how many years are on it. Those CR3032 batteries are a few dollars, but still cheap. You may be able to buy 'em at a drug store. I think I still have several in bubble-packages new -- in the refrigerator. Do those things come with an expiration date stamp?

And -- yeah -- always check the boot order in BIOS, and then you'd wonder about the CMOS battery . . . too . . .