HELLO!!! I have a problem, my computer does not detect the hard disk, therefore it doesn't start, it's got to be a virus because I can enter the BIOS but it doesn't show me the option to set the HD to boot, it only shows me Floppy, CD Rom, LAN (by the way it's a Dell). It's got to be a virus cause I was checking another HD that had the same problem (as a slave) and now I have the same problem.

I have the recovery disk (the one that came with the comp.) it let's me get to set a Recovery but then it takes me only to the C:Windows>

Do I have to reinstall the windows, I already updated the servicepaks, this would mean that I'll loose those updates, I don't want to do that, is there a program to boot and detect, eliminate this virus? PLEASE A LITTLE HELP!!!!!

Hi ,

I had the same specific problem changing from ide to sata drives a while ago on an old pc running xp . In the bios settings there is an option ( if running sata drives ) and that must be set to

sata / raid disabled and bios parameter set to ide emulation

Obviously the age and make of the bios will give different bios parameters .

XP has built in sata drivers so you don't actually need the disc install

On my old system the 2 x sata drives I installed were undetected , the bios parameters I set were enable sata , until the bios is told to recognise the hd it will not show in the bios boot menu .

Added a link to a relevant article with a few other suggestions should you get stuck .

Common Troubleshooting Methods When OS Install Unable to Detect SATA Harddisk Drive My Digital Life

Hope this helps .

BTW forgot to say - a good free antivirus that performs a boot scan ( should you be able hopefully to get your drives running ) is avast home edition , free and only requires a quick registration . This will check the boot memory then scan as a normal AV . In the option menu you can set a boot time scan - this will scan your pc without entering the OS and is pretty reliable as AV's go .

Honestly doesn't sound like a virus to me , just incorrect bios settings but better safe than sorry .

AV is downloadable from :

avast! - Download antivirus software for spyware and virus protection

download the free home edition ver : 4.08 i think is the most current version .

Try update the BIOS to the latest version, you may need to backup the existing BIOS first.

Also, take the jumpers away from the HDD and just let the PC to detect it again.

I knew DELL comes with certain HDD diagnostic by pressing certain hotkeys on the KB, you can contact DELL and find out.

Hope this helps!
Bill