[2PInZ]

My Thinkpad laptop was making a clicking noise (first time i've heard it) today, and I restarted manually because the computer was frozen. Whenever I turn it on i get the clicking noise and a red box that says

"Hard drive not installed
If Operating System is not found
Re-install hard drive"

I don't know what to do! My college essays are all on this computer....any help?

 

[ceri sheeran]

Hi,

First thing would be to stop using the machine for the time being.

Don't tun the hard drive for the time being for any reason.

A clicking hard drive is very likely to be at or very nearly at failure.

What backups do you have of your data, not just the program CD's for whatever you have installed.

You are unlikely to have any option but to replace the hard drive.

Laptop hard drives are normally more or less modular and easily replaced.

Do you hae your original Operating System installation CD.

Recovery may be possible but expensive. Talk to your college IT department.

Sadly you may be about to learn a very expensive lesson about the need to backup your data.

If the laptop is on a college Network do you have any data backed up on to server space on the college network. Or onto any other media, flash drive CDR DVDR or ??

If you have access to a desktop you may be able to slave the laptop hard drive into it.

Or use an external hard drive enclosure to install the latop hard drive into. In order that you can attempt some recovery.

Good luck.

Ceri

 

[2PInZ]

Is there any way I can open up my laptop and see if there's anything physically wrong with the hardrive? It's just so sudden....everything was working fine...

What ways can I recover the information on my hardrive? Can you give me some links or how-to's because this is my first time. I don't want to go spend money on help just yet...Yes, I do have my OS Installation CD. I have backed up my data, except on the same hardrive...in the past I've only been hit with viruses/spyware/etc. I didn't expect the whole boat to sink...

 

[ceri sheeran]

Hi,

What make and model laptop

The hard drive may possibly if you're lucky just be a little loose.

Ceri

 

[2PInZ]

thanks for the quick responses....the laptop is an IBM thinkpad A21p

i hope its just a bit loose

 

[winbob]

If you manage to get the System to boot from the HD....Immediately run "CHKDSK /F".

If you have been a good boy, Santa may save your bacon!!!

 

[2PInZ]

can anyone tell me how to open my laptop up and see if there's any obvious problem?

 

[Scorpion]

Google is your friend...

...and in this case, so is the IBM website....took me 3 minutes...

CLICK HERE for the manual for the unit. All info is in there. Open it and make sure the drive is secure.

Scorp