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March 28th, 2025 17:10
XPS 8930, D: hard drive disappeared this morning
(Windows 11, XPS 8930)
Has hard drive failed or issue with Windows 11?
My C: is 250GB SSD and D: is 1 Tb hard drive.
I woke up this morning, and found the D: no longer shows up in Windows File Explorer.
I ran Dell Support Assist, Disk Management but it did not fix the problem.
I tried to do a System Restore from the last restore point it created (March 27th 2025 yesterday when Windows11 updated itself) but it failed and now I am trying to restore from backup from 1/25/2025.
I am wondering if the hard drive failed.
If so, how do I open up the system and how to tell if it has failed?
Any advice appreciated.
No Events found!
goodnewsforyou
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April 10th, 2025 16:29
Summary: I could not see the 1Tb HDD using any of the tools mentioned. Nor could I boot into BIOS. Mouse right click context menu does not show even with other mice.
Workaround: following suggestions and advice from @bradthetechnut and @Chino de Oro
1) The monitor cable was connected to the video ports on the mother board. I connected the monitor cable to the other HDMI port directly to the graphics card. Now I could get into BIOS.
2) Replaced the old 256Gb SSD with a new 1Tb SSD and removed the HDD (likely dead).
3) Installed Windows 11 on the new SSD.
Issue remaining:
Mouse right click context menu does not show. Microsoft support verified drivers are up to date and gave up blaming the hardware! (even though same issue exists on a different mouse) However, I learned now that the keyboard has a button (3 lines) that is the same menu and works.
(edited)
JOcean
9 Legend
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March 29th, 2025 03:19
Run diagnostics, F12 at boot, and watch for drive errors. Also check disk management to see if the drive is shown as non-allocated.
goodnewsforyou
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March 29th, 2025 20:40
@JOcean It will not boot into BIOS. Monitor remains dark when I press F12. And yes, as mentioned, I did try "disk management"
JOcean
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March 30th, 2025 03:14
@anilphilip F12 can be used for the BIOS but you should also see a diagnostic menu option. Are you tapping F12 constantly immediately at BOOT?
goodnewsforyou
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March 30th, 2025 17:00
Yes I must have tapped it over 100 times easily. Then I see the LG monitor saying "no signal, entering power saving mode shortly". And then the screen goes black.
But the Dell power button is on.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
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8.9K Posts
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March 31st, 2025 01:17
When was the 8930 introduced, 2017?
Try replacing the size 2032 CMOS battery if it's 5+ years old. Then see if you can access the Boot & Diagnostics menu to run diagnostics. But first, see if your D: drive now shows up. Did you check My PC or My Computer?
Bad batteries affect BIOS and therefore PC operation.
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 01:27
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000135183/how-to-replace-a-cmos-coin-cell-battery-on-your-dell-desktop-computer
Thank you. I searched for how to replace the battery but the symptoms of incorrect date and time do not apply.
bradthetechnut
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March 31st, 2025 01:33
Battery goes low before date/time reset shows up. By the time that shows up, battery is nearly dead or dead. And you're having BIOS problems.
Battery can always be tested.
(edited)
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 01:34
BIOS update failed. Downloaded the Dec 1 2023 BIOS update and tried to flash and got this popup
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 01:39
Tried to update via Support Assist
(edited)
bradthetechnut
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March 31st, 2025 01:40
You replied so quick, you probably missed my edit: Battery can always be tested.
You'd be surprised the things that don't work on a low battery. Replace the battery before bricking the motherboard trying to do a BIOS update.
When the battery was low in my Precision 3620, I kept getting BSOD's. When I tried to reload OS, it didn't work. I then replaced the battery and reset BIOS via the blue jumper method.
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 01:41
Strangely enough, Support Assist did not find any hardware issues.
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 02:09
@bradthetechnut Yes, I missed your reply. Thank you. I shall go out and get a 2032 from Walmart tomorrow morning. But I am still puzzled why a full hardware scan by Support Assist cannot find any issues. Why does it show it as GREEN.
Good grief, I mean the entire hard drive has disappeared!!!
bradthetechnut
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March 31st, 2025 02:28
If you replace the battery, can access BIOS, but the HDD still doesn't show up, then it could be dead, but I doubt it.
When you replace the battery, double-check the connections to your HDD - reseat the cables and push them in good.
Support Assist didn't see the D: drive because BIOS and Windows aren't seeing it.
(edited)
goodnewsforyou
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March 31st, 2025 21:18
Whoa! there is no documentation for this. see "Replacing the coin-cell battery" https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/xps-8930-desktop/XPS-8930-Service-Manual/XPS-8930-Service-Manual?guid=guid-5d3b1051-9384-409a-8d5b-9b53bd496de8&lang=en-us
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