dead hdd?

or just a reinstall of windows?

have a dell inspiron 1721.. it keeps asking for the bios password..

i entered it and goes to boot up like normal, then blue screen and repeat..

i went into setup and disabled the bios password to see if it would bypass it and it doesnt.

 

What is the Blue Screen stating when it comes up?

 

I cant read it.. flashes too quickly

 

Are you able to boot into safe mode F8.:confused

What version of windows.

 

nope, not at all, running windows 7.

I got the bios password.

I managed to install ubuntu and take everything off ...

when i go to re intsall windows it tells me there is no hard drive found..
confused:confused

 

Run the Ubuntu DVD in live mode instead of installing it. Because you installed it, Windows can't see the drive. The Ubuntu installation formatted the drive to EXT3 or EXT4 which are Linux formats and assigned Linux naming conventions to the partitions it created which Windows doesn't recognize.

When you run the Ubuntu DVD in live mode, run GParted (included as part of the system/disk tools). Delete ALL partitions on the drive leaving it as a raw drive OR you can create a new NTFS formatted partition. Windows should then install on either the raw drive or the NTFS formatted partition.

 

cheers, i tried that, partitioned it and had one as NFTS And one RAW

still getting

No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation.

 

***UPDATE***

managed to get windows installed,

in the bios HDD was set to RAID only, (changed that and drives were then found)

rebooted and still asked for bios password on every start up,

Removed bios password, reboots fine.

So windows is installed...

Then reboot again after installing some basics..

and the computer beeps around 10 times... It then gives the option to start windows 7(boots up fine) or to run windows memory diagnostic tool ( which im currently running)

Its a Dell Inspiron 1721,

Link to the beep code diag..
http://support.dell.com/support/sys...ems/inspd530/en/om/html/trouble.htm#wp1085300


so........... im trying to update the bios ... which is very unsuccessful, the battery needs to be above 10% and of course this cursed laptop has a dead battery and runs on mains..

anyone think it could be a bios issue or whats your thoughts?

much appreciated!!!!!!