Can I ask a stupid question?

Did it come with a SATA hard drive?  I think that it has both IDE and SATA controllers, but it may have only came with an IDE HD?    Does it boot?

I have both IDE and SATA controllers with 2 IDE HDs and 1 SATA HD in a PC of mine and it gives the same kind of message for the controllers that don't have SATA HDs connected to them.

Charlye

hchrist.

As you've just received the computer, open the case, to check that all the cables securely plugged in, because sometimes they can become dislodged during shipping.  If this fails to correct anything, then phone Dell's Tech, Support ASP about it.

Bev.   

NOt a solution for me:  here is my post on a similar issue:

OK here is the deal.  Had the system about a year and sometimes it would hang on boot.

Thought it was the hard drive.

Bought a NEW one.  Had no luck.  The Bios will not detect the Harddrive in the PRIMARY AREA.  Bios updated to A06.  However when I plug the CD ROM in the PRIMARY IDE/Controller Port the BIOS does detect the CD ROM. 

Bought a new CONTROLLER card.  It did the same thing.  Harddrive on PRIMARY was not detected.

I researched this and heard that some of the Pentium Chips 2.53 that were manafactured could have been defective based on a FILM left on the Microchip.  This would cause a potention issue with having Harddrives detected.   No matter what I have tried I have no luck and can't boot.

I presume I have one of these PENTIUM 4 defects.  Anyone heard of this?   Maybe it is the Motherboard.  Here is the CHIP information as read atop the chip itself after pulling the HEAT SYNC OFF.

IntelRC@01

Pentium 4

2.53ghz/512/533

5L6s2 Costa Rica

3308a421-0650

Any help or suggestions are needed badly.    have installed many harddrives.   By the way, I sometimes had luck booting my machine if I leave the computer on for an extended period.  Example  4 hours, now I leave it on for days and try a restart and don't have any luck.   Almost as if the machine needs to be hot before it works.

Email is  bar23@lycos.com  Name is BrunoRicci

Thank you,

Bruno

I had that EXACT problem on my D8400, just bought a month ago.  Here's a temporary fix.  The problem with this fix is that the drive is viewed by the mobo as ATA and not SATA, but at least you can boot up and run games etc.

Step 1:  Press F2 at the 'Dell' screen when you first turn on your computer

Step 2: Arrow down to 'Drives'

Step 3: Select 'Drive Operation' and set it to Combination

Step 4: exit and restart computer