Computer doesn't Recognize HDD

[KanadianKewlKat]

I am running XP Pro on my computer. On another drive I have windows 7. My computer stopped booting to my XP drive all of a sudden, but it would let me boot to my Windows 7 drive. That lasted for about 3 days. Now I can't boot to either drive. When I start the computer it says there is no HDD. I tried to use the XP disk to repair, that didn't work., so I thought I'd do an XP install. But my hard drive doesn't show up all the time. Or it will show the HDD but upon trying to pick a partition to set up XP in, it then tell me there is no HDD. I get the blue screen of death, and have to manually force a shut down. Other times it tell me that the HDD is RAW, and it needs to be formatted.

My question is, HELP!

How can I get the HDD to format? Is there a way to do it through DOS. Sometimes I can't even get to the DOS prompt. The bootup section is corrupt. I need to repair it, but can't if the system doesn't see my HDD.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[aford10]

Try a new cable. It could be a loose or defective cable.

Can you get into the BIOS? Can you get it to boot off the XP disc? If not, the problem isn't in the HD.

 

[MGDJoker]

If you are using a IDE harddisk make sure the jumpers are set correctly sometimes cable select has issues. Ive had problems similar also with dual booting Windows Vista and XP. U have to install the older OS first t hen install the newer one from what i have found. Its been while since i have dual booted but that was the problem i ran into.

 

[number13]

how old is the computer, it could be a motherboard problem, download the Ultimate Boot CD and see if you can run the diagnostics

 

[KanadianKewlKat]

Try a new cable. It could be a loose or defective cable.

Can you get into the BIOS? Can you get it to boot off the XP disc? If not, the problem isn't in the HD.

I can get into the BIOS, and I can boot off of an XP disc. But... when I try to install XP, it will then say that there is no HD. My HDD is an ATA disk.

The computer is only 3 years old. Where can I get an Ultimate CD Boot?

 

[KanadianKewlKat]

how old is the computer, it could be a motherboard problem, download the Ultimate Boot CD and see if you can run the diagnostics

I found the UBCD, is it the same program as WIN.ISO, you build a bootable CD with options to add drivers etc?

 

[aford10]

UBCD has a bunch of diagnostic programs built into it.

Did you check to make sure the cable is snug or try a new cable?
Have you tried the manufacturers HD diagnostic?

 

[KanadianKewlKat]

UBCD has a bunch of diagnostic programs built into it.

Did you check to make sure the cable is snug or try a new cable?
Have you tried the manufacturers HD diagnostic?

Yep, Checked the cable, and tried a new one, I don't have a manufactures's disk.

I'm trying to make the UBCD, but it keeps giving me error messages, and won't make the ISO file

 

[aford10]

You don't need a disc to use the manufacturers diagnostic. You can download them off their website.

Have you checked out this walk through for UBCD4W?
http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm