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Anonymous
Anonymous Posted on Jun 24, 2008
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Disk drive not found

I have tried to reinstall vista on a dell dimension c521, but found that the system is not recognizing the hard disk at all. It says in the ram boot menu that the only drive present is the cd rom. HELP ME PLEASE!!!

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  • Anonymous Jun 25, 2008

    It doesn't find the hdd in the bios or when I try to install. Guess if the person i'm fixing it for had brought it to me when I first told her to, it would still have been under warranty. That expired on 6/6/08. LOL.....guess it will just have to sit until she can pay to replace the drive. thanks for your help

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  • Posted on Oct 10, 2008
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It sounds like the hard drive went bad. Can you see the hard drive in the bios at all? When you try and boot the computer does it say drive not found? Try booting from the vista cd and see if you can start a new installation. If you can do the intallation the drive is ok. If not the hard drive is bad.

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What operating support system is compatible with Dell Dimension c521?
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Hi there,

For Dell system there is always a self diagnostic with it. It will either tell you to press a key during boot time before Windows or a cd that you got with the computer or that you can download at DELL website.

This would be the best way to go since it will test the hardware and tell you what is wrong right away.
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If it gives you the option of "Complete Reinstall" or "Repair", choose Complete Reinstall.

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Go to link below just over half way down.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimC521/en/SM_EN/parts.htm#wp1110418

Please rate 4 thumbs for the free answer
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