Hard drive not detected until I reboot

[piaff1]

When I first boot the computer it doesn't detect my hard drive, but if I power off and then reboot it does. This happens everytime, and it always starts up on 2nd boot.
I am running XP Pro and my drive has several partitions which were created with Drive image. My file system is NTFS. I have run a full virus scan- no virus found.
Any ideas please?

 

[G0AOZ]

What type hard drive is it? IDE, SCSI, etc. Maybe a spin-up time has been set which is "too slow" for the BIOS, and it fails detection.

If you've not already done so, I'd suggest making a backup of all data and important info, then run the manufacturer's disk tests on this drive. It could be these are the telltale signs indicating imminent drive failure...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[kmcferrin]

If you go into the BIOS of your mainboard, there may be an option for the "Quick POST" or "Quick Power On Self Test". If that is enabled on your PC then your PC may be completing post and ready to boost before the drive has finished spinning up (or at least the drive isn't ready at the time that it was polled). Disabling "Quick POST" may solve the problem.

You can probably test this by hitting the "Pause" key on your keyboard as soon as the BIOS splash screen comes up, then wait 3-5 seconds, and hit any key to resume booting. That pause should be more than enough time for the drive to spin up to it's ready state.

If you have an add-in disk controller card, that may complicate things somewhat.

 

[piaff1]

Thanks for the tips. I have tried all above suggestions with no joy, but eventually my hard drive is no longer found. I have checked BIOS and its not listed. I have reset my BIOS to default. HD settings Auto. My hard drive is IC35L 120 AVV207-0, 123,52 gB.

I have checked all connections on motherboards and drives. MY HD is set as primary master.

I have tried to use Recovery consul, but unable to as "no hard drive found"

I have tried to restore Acronis Drive image, but set up reports no HD found.

Do you think my HD is dead?

Do I just need to get another hard drive and install following makers directions, or do I also need a separate HD controller. Sorry I do not know much about hard drives.

Would it be best to obtain the same HD to make life easier?

Help would be appreciated please.

 

[edfair]

Late into the discussion but it sounds like the hard drive was having problems getting identified and now won't ID at all.
It sounds like the drive is toast.

A drive is all you need. The only potential problems have to do with the type of cabling and getting one small enough to fit within the BIOS limitations.

You will need to verify that the drive jumpers on the new drive match what is on the old drive to have it do a plug to plug match.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.