“Cannot Find Boot Device”

Friday, March 11th, 2005 at 2:55 pm

This morning I awoke to an odd grating/whirring noise coming from my laptop computer. Upon lifting the screen, I noticed the noise was coming from the hard drive, which was extremely hot. Not matter how many keys I pressed, or how much I moved the mouse, I could not awaken the computer from its slumbering state.

Bad news.

So I tried the usual remedy: rebooting. After failing the usual start-up checks, I got the ominous message:

"Cannot find boot device." This same thing happened to the communal family computer at home just before I left for school. It's FUBAR'ed, so naturally I was a bit apprehensive.

So my solution? Since the hard drive was making odd whirring and other noises, I figured I could "re-align" it by gently smacking it around some. Well, after rebooting again, it mercifully started back up normally. I don't know if it will crash again… Windows XP reports the drive to be "healthy," and Norton could find no viruses…

Does anyone else have a suggestion? Well I am back for now, but if I am not on-line for a while, you will know why…


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Domain Blog Says:
March 11th, 2005 at 9:48 pm

Your laptop’s hard drive hard bad sector(s), and the bad sector(s) contains data that your computer needs to boot properly. Scan your hard drive for disk erros and make sure to include a surface scan. If the disk scan can’t fix the disk errors then you should take your laptop in for servicing. If your laptop is less than 1 year old you should be able to get a replacement hard drive for free.

This often happens with laptops because users don’t shut them down in the correct way. When a computer’s power is interrupted while the hard drive is reading or writing data to the disk, this can cause the bad sector(s) you are experiencing. It is a good idea to shutdown your compter the right way, espcially laptops.

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Carsten Says:
March 11th, 2005 at 10:08 pm

Thanks for the advice. I tried using MS ScanDisk (or whatever the XP version is called), and after it seemingly finished, it spat out an error, “Can not complete,” or something like that. I will try the full surface scan tonight.

Unfortunately, I am currently located not in the US, so getting Dell to send me a replacement drive would be difficult, I think :???:

I actually rarely shut the computer down (it’s pretty much a desktop replacement), so I don’t know the cause of the bad sectors… But I will be careful and make sure to shut it down the right way :-)

Thanks!

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Domain Blog Says:
March 11th, 2005 at 10:17 pm

and after it seemingly finished, it spat out an error, “Can not complete,” or something like that. I will try the full surface scan tonight.

Yup, do the surface scan. If the scan stalls/freezes or reports that it can’t repair the problem then the hard drive is in very bad shape and needs to be replaced. If it’s really bad then your data is @ serious risk.

Unfortunately, I am currently located not in the US, so getting Dell to send me a replacement drive would be difficult, I think

I have 4 Dell servers but my laptop is Toshiba. I don’t know how Dell handles laptop support but they should be able to provide you with a local authorized service center if you call them up.

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Carsten Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 12:03 am

Hmm, it never gets to the surface scan part, since it cops out with a “can’t complete” error before that…

I could be in trouble… :???:

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Domain Blog Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 1:55 am

it never gets to the surface scan part, since it cops out with a “can’t complete” error before that…

Yup, it’s bad. Better get that puppy to an authorized service center ASAP.

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IntSecure Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 3:10 am

Sounds like your harddrive is dieing………….inside there are circular plates spinning around real fast and an arm that reads data on the plates. If it these plates are moved or hit to hard the drive will die and make similar noises. You can check for bad sectors using scan disk but make sure all programs are closed before you start this process your best to log into msconfig and disable all programs to do this in Windows xp…. you can find how to do that on my website or send me an email for more help

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Papa and Mama Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 4:51 am

Maybe the fan? Hope the help is helping!

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Mace Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 6:30 am

No suggestion other than what you’ve already done. But don’t think of it as smacking it around… think of it instead as “positive Motivation” or “Faith Healing” :cool:

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Duncan Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 9:23 am

I’ll have to add to the chorus of “it sounds really bads”. It sounds like the hard-drive—pardon an old Army expression—is going “tits up”, if it’s not already. There is a good possibility that you are not even reading this because it’s completely dead. Sounds like organ transplant is in order to me Doc.

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maddogmedic Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 10:13 am

Backup everything while you can.

Get a Mac.

w00t!

–maddog

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Carsten Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 12:15 pm

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice! So far I am still here :-)

IntSecure: I tried setting the option to run ScanDisk at startup, theoretically before everything else starts up. It just returns with a “Can not access file system directly” error.

Papa and Mom: Fan is working… But emenating a slight burning smell?!? :???:

Mace: :lol:

Duncan: Yeah, sounds like transplantation is in order… Now I just need to get on that UNOS list for an organ. But at least I’ll get to practice my laproscopic skills :-)

Maddog: I’d love to back everything up, but where am I going to fit 55GB of data? I’ve got 5 CD-R’s, so I guess I’ll start with the most important stuff…

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IntSecure Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 2:00 pm

compress compress compress
you can use a backup program or just simply use a compression program like winzip or winrar or if you have a home pc network it with the laptop and move all the files to the other computer. As for maces comment i repeat do not abuse the laptop unless it’s an ibm thinkpad which is made for abuse. Anyways bout the heat it is sending off depending on the age of the laptop if it gets too hot the computer will shutdown automatically if not you are also risking ruining other components in the laptop.

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Rich Gautier Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 2:40 pm

1. Back up your data immediately - burn CDs, whatever
2. Buy a new hard drive. It’s only a matter of time before it’s gone for good.

I had the same thing happen to a hard drive, and now, 6 months later, she’s failed for good - good thing I didn’t have anything important on her (well, maybe a few pictures….sigh)

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William Teach Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 3:32 pm

Might want to invest in an external hard drive and save everything. I went through this once, and never, ever, ever, again.

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Carsten Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 6:31 pm

Thanks everyone for the help :-)

I initially backed up only the most important things on CD-R, since even with zipping them, there wasn’t much I could fit on the 5 CD-R’s I brought with me…

So I finally gave in and went for the external HDD… Cost a bit of money (but probably less than shipping one from the US, plus whatever the customs officer decided to charge), but in the end I think it was worth it, since I have been through this a couple of times, and I really don’t want to have to go through it again.

Thanks all!

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Domain Blog Says:
March 12th, 2005 at 6:42 pm

So I finally gave in and went for the external HDD…

IMO, you’ve made a very good choice for your backup needs. I use an external hard drive to backup all the critical areas of my home network. I like it better than the alternatives because with USB 2.0 speeds it is very fast. Today’s huge external drives offer great value for the money, so it is a wise investment.

Another plus: when I am on the road, I can just grab my slim external drive and have no worries. Fits very nicely in my computer bag.

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Subaqua Sternal Rubs » Blog Archive » Back from the Dead Says:
April 13th, 2005 at 4:53 pm

[…] #8230; My computer. In another trip down memory lane, remember when my computer magically could not find a device from which to boot? And my susequent emai […]

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