Why the hard disk cannot be found at startup

 

We can use exclusion to narrow down the problem scope step by step and finally find the answer. First, let's assume it's a software problem. If we eliminate this possibility
Check whether the hard disk data line is in contact with the power cord and is damaged.
We will replace the hard disk on the computer. If this is not the case, it indicates that there is a problem with the original hard disk.
It indicates that the problem is caused by other components except the hard disk, and then we use the exclusion method to further narrow the problem scope.

Hardware problems:
1. Poor contact. Check the plug-in carefully.
2. Damaged data cable or power cord. Check whether the data cable and power cord are damaged.
3. Problems with the motherboard itself. If you have a warranty, you will be entitled to repair by the computer company. If you do not have a warranty, you can consider replacing it with a new one.
4. Hard Disk problems.
(1) 0 magnetic channels are damaged.
For solutions, see:
Use the winpe with ptdd Partition Table doctor to solve the problem of Hard Disk 0 track damage
Use disk genius to handle disk 0 disk damage

(2) The primary Boot Record is damaged.
For solutions, see:
Use a winpe with ptdd Partition Table doctor to repair the Master Boot Record of the hard disk

(3) chip, disk, or other damages.

If you have a warranty, you will be entitled to repair by the computer company. If you do not have a warranty, you can consider replacing it with a new one.

Software problems:
1. virus problems. Start your computer with a Windows PE disc with Kaspersky or other antivirus software and upgrade it to the latest virus database,
Focus on disk Boot Sector and system memory detection and removal.

For solutions, see:
Use Windows PE with anti-virus software to scan for viruses

2. BIOS settings problems.

The hard disk cannot be found and the system cannot be accessed. the following error message may be displayed on the screen (different error messages are displayed on different motherboard ):

Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press ENTER
(Disk boot error. Insert the system disk and press Enter)

Press the delete key (press the F2 key) to start the system and type the BIOS setup program. (Or you can simply select "load fail-safe defaults" in the BIOS setup program"
Or press "load optimized defaults" and press Enter. Select y to confirm. The former is a conservative setting, and the performance of the entire system slows down,
However, if the user's system is unstable, You can fine-tune it based on this setting; the latter is the default BIOS factory settings, if the user has modified a lot
If it is not appropriate to set the parameters, you can use this item to restore them to the factory value. Finally, press F10 to save the settings and exit and restart the computer)

There are two points worth noting:
(1) Advanced BIOS features

First boot device [disable] (you can select the first boot item as the hard disk)
Second boot device [disable]
Third boot device [disable]
Boot other device [disable] (if all the above three items are disable, as long as this item is enable and (2) is set correctly, the hard disk will still be correctly detected by BIOS
To)

(2) Standard BIOS features

IDE channel 0 master [none] (as long as it is set to none, the hard disk cannot be correctly booted. Try to set these items to auto, and the BIOS will automatically detect the hard disk)
IDE channel 0 slave [none]
IDE Channel 1 master [none]
IDE Channel 1 slave [none]

Note: you only need to set one of them to auto and the BIOS can automatically find the hard disk where the operating system is located.
This may also be the reason why the optical drive cannot be found at startup.

If (1) is set to disable or (2) is set to none, the hard disk cannot be detected by the BIOS when the system is started.