Unsure if my problems are caused by the hard drive controller or the hard drive itself. I've searched the forum and found a similar problem but no rectifying answers, and that user had replaced the OEM hard drive with an aftermarket part.

It would boot fine, then it started BSOD'ing at random. Figured it was a memory issue. I was wrong. Then it started failing on boot saying BOOTLDR is missing or NTLDR is missing, those type of erros. I've tried every OS after XP MCE2005 (x32) with the same results.

 

I haven't tried buying a new ATA-6 hard drive for it yet since that's $60-ish and may be in vain. Money's tight for me these days. I'm looking at buying new laptops for the wife and I (coupon codes need to start coming out like they used to, in email), but would like to give this laptop to my 14 year old daughter to play around on and to keep as a backup.

 

Also, I hate having a computer problem beat me at the game. :)

It's a Dell XPS M140 as the title states. Bought new in Jan 2006 (dinosaur). Intel Pent M 1.86 or whatever, 2gb ram, 80 gig stock drive.

 

If anyone has any tricks on how to tell if it's the drive or the MB, please please let me know.(or has a working ata-6 hard drive for cheap)

 

Thanks.

Bob