Question Dell Optiplex 3010 doesn't present hdd

[barrelrider]

I have an old Dell 3010 that was booting fairly recently, but no longer does. It has a 500g hdd.
If I boot to bios, the only bootable device is listed as the PXE network boot, which has never been applicable to this pc. If I click on Add a boot device (paraphrasing) it says "no file system found". If I mount the drive as an external drive on a separate pc I can read it fine, windows is there. I've replaced the sata cable, and tried a different sata port (the one for the dvd), and no help. I tried another hdd that I believe is bootable and was originally from a like kind unit, it's the same, no bootable partition.

I ran a PSA Diagnostics test. It reports an issue with the video card, error 2000-0332, but this wouldn't cause the hdd to go missing (right?)

• Video memory - Video memory integrity test discrepancy
• PSA diagnostics detected a video memory failure. Reset the system memory and update the BIOS to the most current version.

Resetting the ram doesn't change anything.

The hdd test seems ok.

What else can I try? Has the mainboard failed?

 

[mdd1963]

The extent to which the drive can be tested shows, presumably, the drive is at least recognized, It's possible the drive's MBR boot partition might have become corrupted.

Is there any data you need from the drive?

As the data is accessible in another PC, at least you have access to retrieve anything needed...

Was it running Win10? If so, have someone make you a bootable Win10 installation USB , and you can at least attempt a repair install/keep my programs/data, or quick format/reinstall, at your choice *after* recovering your data through the other PC is needed.

 

[Lutfij]

I ran a PSA Diagnostics test. It reports an issue with the video card, error 2000-0332, but this wouldn't cause the hdd to go missing (right?)
This might generally indicate that the PSU might be struggling to power all devices in your system. It could also mean that the drive is faulty or failing.

Which form factor of the Dell OptiPlex 3010 are you working with?

 

[barrelrider]

I ran a PSA Diagnostics test. It reports an issue with the video card, error 2000-0332, but this wouldn't cause the hdd to go missing (right?)
This might generally indicate that the PSU might be struggling to power all devices in your system. It could also mean that the drive is faulty or failing.

Which form factor of the Dell OptiPlex 3010 are you working with?

This is what I think is called a small form factor tower - standard pc height and depth, 4" wide.

 

[barrelrider]

The extent to which the drive can be tested shows, presumably, the drive is at least recognized, It's possible the drive's MBR boot partition might have become corrupted.

Is there any data you need from the drive?

As the data is accessible in another PC, at least you have access to retrieve anything needed...

Was it running Win10? If so, have someone make you a bootable Win10 installation USB , and you can at least attempt a repair install/keep my programs/data, or quick format/reinstall, at your choice *after* recovering your data through the other PC is needed.

Right...I tried inserting a windows 10 usb drive and when I get to the big fork in the road, "keep your files etc" vs "clean install toss data", it won't continue with the first option which I'd prefer.
There isn't any data on this pc that needs to be kept. But it was originally a windows 7 pc, got the free upgrade to windows 10, and so I'm concerned that a fresh install will not be activated, somehow. I have the product key on the box, and I haven't been through this in a few years, but I'm not sure it will accept that product key with a windows 10 clean install?

 

[barrelrider]

From what I have read, in this circumstance windows will auto-reactivate. However I keep getting this error when I try to install windows:
"Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for the installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x8007025D".
That error can be cause by a bad usb windows image, or a bad target drive, but I've redone the iso from scratch and tried a different hdd, always get this same error. What else can I try?

 

[barrelrider]

Looks like it was a bad stick of ram, even tho I'd tested that along the way. Thanks for your input it was very helpful!

 

[barrelrider]

The extent to which the drive can be tested shows, presumably, the drive is at least recognized, It's possible the drive's MBR boot partition might have become corrupted.

Is there any data you need from the drive?

As the data is accessible in another PC, at least you have access to retrieve anything needed...

Was it running Win10? If so, have someone make you a bootable Win10 installation USB , and you can at least attempt a repair install/keep my programs/data, or quick format/reinstall, at your choice *after* recovering your data through the other PC is needed.

It has installed; but it won't activate. That's what I was worried about. The error is "Windows reported that no product key was found on your device. 0xC004F213". The Get Help form in windows 10 says click the button below to contact support...and there is no button. Cool!
So what do I do now? The generic key doesn't work, it says the pc doesn't have a valid digital license or product key.

 

[mdd1963]

No older backup image you could reimage with? (If so, product key can easily be extracted running a portable version of UVK, under the 'system info' tab)

UVK - Ultra Virus Killer

Free software for computer virus removal and system repair. Deletes all types of malware

www.carifred.com

EaseUS Keyfinder also claims to be able to find/extract product key from an externally connected OS drive, but, that would require you to again reinstall that drive into an operating PC, either internally or via USB dock/adapter, but, here's the link for the free software...(I have no experience with it personally)

Recover Windows 10 Product Key from External Hard Drive

Lost the Windows 10 product key? You must be wondering how to Recover Windows 10 Product Key from External Hard Drive. Worry not. Read ahead to find a detailed guide.

www.easeus.com

Good luck

 

[barrelrider]

No older backup image you could reimage with? (If so, product key can easily be extracted running a portable version of UVK, under the 'system info' tab)

UVK - Ultra Virus Killer

Free software for computer virus removal and system repair. Deletes all types of malware

www.carifred.com

EaseUS Keyfinder also claims to be able to find/extract product key from an externally connected OS drive, but, that would require you to again reinstall that drive into an operating PC, either internally or via USB dock/adapter, but, here's the link for the free software...(I have no experience with it personally)

Recover Windows 10 Product Key from External Hard Drive

Lost the Windows 10 product key? You must be wondering how to Recover Windows 10 Product Key from External Hard Drive. Worry not. Read ahead to find a detailed guide.

www.easeus.com

Good luck

It's good to know about those key recovery products. But no there is no backup for this, it was not a well used pc in it's day, kind of an eternal spare.
Why would several articles state point blank that if you upgraded from w7 to w10 during the free upgrade period, the key would be embedded in the pc at some level, and a fresh reinstall would find that key and activate? That's quite frustrating. Based on those articles I took this step, and wonder if I've lost the windows 10 install now for good.