Power indicates that the desktop PC is no longer identifying the internal SSD or HDD.
Power indicates that the desktop PC is no longer identifying the internal SSD or HDD.
Power blip this morning. My Dell XPS 8700 running Windows 10 is having trouble recognizing its internal SSD or HDD. Disklayout.txt lists each disk with "status = No Media", "Size = 0" and "Free = 0". The final line says "There is no media in the device." The computer won’t boot itself because it can’t see its drives. After a hard restart, the rear green PSU light stays on, fans spin slowly, and the motherboard light is on. I expect mechanical sounds when powering up, but I don’t hear them yet. I’ve always thought the two-stage mechanical sound comes from the HDD starting up.
Update your post with complete hardware details and operating system information.
PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, used, refurbished)?
Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, current usage?
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I believe the power interruption might have led to sufficient data loss, resulting in corrupted files. Execute "dism" and "sfc /scannow".
Refer to the guides:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-d...s-10-image
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-...es-2626161
Another chance is that the power issue affected the PSU and/or other parts.
Check your system specifications and apply the software fixes first.
Machine acquired in 2014. Operated daily and remains fully functional until recently.
Dell XPS 8700
Bought with Windows 8; upgraded to Windows 10 over five years ago. Updates have been applied regularly.
Processor: i7-4770 @ 3.40GHz
Memory: 24 GB RAM
Storage: SSD boot drive 256 GB (~70% utilization), HDD data disk 4 TB (~35% utilization)
Power supply unit – Dell OEM Model AC460AM-00, maximum power output 460W
My belief is that the PSU has given up. Check the Reliability History/Monitor: a rise in different errors indicates a weakening or failing PSU. PSUs offer three voltage levels (3.3, 5, and 12) to various system parts. This means some elements might seem functional while others fail. Can we replace it with another known working PSU? At least 500 watts, more if possible. Make sure to use only the cables that came with the new PSU. PSUs can be checked but it needs a multimeter. It won’t be a complete test since the PC isn’t under load. FYI: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually...er-2626158 Also: Not the aim to rush into buying a new PSU (unless needed). Read the reviews to understand more about PSUs and use the calculators to determine a suitable replacement. Is all important data secured?
I believe you're correct. I ran a multi-meter voltage test on the 24-pin connector and the readings were significantly off—definitely not reliable. Based on your suggestions, I ordered a replacement PSU (550 watts, ATX size). It should arrive this Friday. I’ll install it and share an update once everything is fixed.
All HDDs are backed up to an external drive, but the SSD for apps seems to be the issue. I also noticed data appears on my desktop, likely stored there on the SSD. I’m looking into possible improvements.
Thanks a lot for your help. I’ll follow up after the PSU swap. I’m hoping Windows isn’t corrupted and have access to any recovery tools if needed.
Best,
Ralston18
The specifications regarding voltage have a range of approximately 10%.
The new 550w PSU is installed properly, all cables are secured, but the performance remains unchanged. It seems the replacement PSU didn’t improve things. The system still shows issues with SSD and HDD detection, and BIOS only recognizes MSATA for SSDs. The motherboard might be damaged despite the PSU change. You may need to look for a compatible motherboard and CPU, or consider using external enclosures for data access.