[JohnGo]

 This Dell Inspiron 5520 has stopped booting up. It shows the message in the attachment  but when I press any key to reboot, it does nothing. The boot menu has UEFI in blue and Legacy Boot above it In white.  The boot list option shows Legacy in blue.  I appreciate help to overcome this no boot situation. Thanks very much.  

[Advertisements]

Hi John

It looks like a dead hdd

restart and press F12

do you get a menu with a diagnostic screen

if yes run that and see if hdd is found

[peterm]

Hi John

It looks like a dead hdd

restart and press F12

do you get a menu with a diagnostic screen

if yes run that and see if hdd is found

[JohnGo]

Shortly after starting diagnostics I get a pop up box reading : MSG: Hard Drive--Not installed. Do you want to continue testing?  Yes; No; Retry

[peterm]

you need a new hard drive 

we can try and get data off this one 

may work may not

Do you have backups

[JohnGo]

Ok. I want to try to retrieve the data. There is no backup. The computer was used only 2 hrs. on one day per week so its not a great loss.  I'll be away for a few hours but will post further when I return.

Thank You.

[peterm]

Before you go can I have the service tag number on you computer

 

Do you have any data you need to get off this computer? If yes then make a ubuntu bootable usb or dvd
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview NO install needed
Copy your data to an external drive or another computer/nas.

Insert the usb or cd/dvd and boot your system. You may have to change bios settings to boot from the usb or cd/dvd (every computer is different) We can help with this.

When the computer boots choose TRY UBUNTU and let the system boot.

When booted look on the left-hand side of the screen and click on Files icon

 

Then click on Other Locations

 

Click on your drive for example Win 7

 

Click on Users Icon

Click on your name listed under users

You should now see your data e.g Documents Pictures etc.

Copy your data to an external drive or another computer/nas.

When finished Click on the shutdown icon in the top right-hand corner Click on Power Off

 

[peterm]

Were you running windows 8.1 or windows 10

 

To boot from the linux usb

Insert usb turn on and press F12 - do you get the option to boot from usb

[JohnGo]

I'm about to attempt the steps you gave in post #6. First I'll answer your question in posts 6 and 7:

Service Tag  1QWZFS1.  Running Windows 7.

[peterm]

Hope the linux works.

After you install a new ssd - not hdd

Also you will need a 16GB usb or larger if you want to reinstall all the sell stuff

Go here https://www.dell.com...so/recoverytool

Download the tool 

put in your service tag

and it should create a bootable usb with windows and all the drivers

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

 

Try this, disconnect the computer power cable from the outlet, remove the laptop battery, press the power button two times!

 

Put back the laptop battery, power on the computer and check if the HDD is detected again.

[JohnGo]

SleepyDude: The process didn't work, however, I have had it to work long ago on my PC to discharge static electricity. Thanks.

 

Peterm: I have attempted the  https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview but couldn't figure it out. I'll try again asap. I'm very busy at the time.  I'll let you know how it turned out when I do so.

 

Thanks to you both for the help with this. 

[peterm]

Let us know where you get stuck

I will see if I can find better

Do it when you can

We will still be here

[peterm]

Have a look at this

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

 

If the BIOS doesn't see the HDD then most likely its dead and it doesn't matter the OS you use.

 

To be 100% sure its not a problem with the machine remove the HDD and connect directly to a SATA port on another machine to see if the HDD is detected by the BIOS.

[JohnGo]

RE: Post 14.

I have access to another same model working laptop as the one I'm working with.  Is it as simple as removing the hhd in question and installing in the working machine to test ?  Will it affect the good machine upon re-installation?