My messed up computer

Alright, I am having some really aggrivating issues with my computer. Whenever I boot up my computer, it goes past the Windows XP loading screen, and then I go to a black screen that says
"Primary Hard Disk Drive 0 Failure
Strike F1 key to continue, F2 to run setup utility"
So I press F1, and i get, " No boot device available, Strike F1 key to retry, F2 to run setup utility"
I got this message for a week a while ago, then when I started it up it randomly worked. Every once and a while, I would boot it up, get htis message, reboot, and it would work. Now, I keep on getting this message and it won't stop!!
When I put in the reinstall operating system disk, and I try to fix or reinstall, it cant, because there is no hard drive being recognized. I went into setup utility, and for Primary Drive 0, it says "not installed"
At this point, I think there is something wrong with the connection. I opened up my tower, and unplugged the hard drive, and replugged it, and it still wont work. I can't however unplug hte hard drive from where it connects to the motherboard, it doesn't want to come out. Any suggestions are more than welcomed, and I dont really think my hard drive failed, as customer support told me, because it did start working after the first time i got this, and now I hav the problem again.

Post your full system specs, it will help us try to fix this for you

256mb of ram
Nvidia GeForce 2 MX
Windows XP
A Maxtor Hard Drive 60gb (I don't know what model)
Anything else?

have you gone into the BIOS and tried to have it autodetect the drive?

have you cleared the CMOS and let it try again?

an intermittent like that can be hard drive failure starting.

do you have a spare drive to try?

edit

tried a fresh CMOS BATTERY?

well, could you tell me how to do the BIOS, and CMOS stuff. Because if it involves like booting in safe mode or anythign i cant, because i cant even get by the boot screen. I havn't but if you tell me how to I might be able to.

also, i dont hav another drive

Open up your computer and check the Hard Drive cable. Make sure it is seated properly! Could be loose and that is why it is sometimes working. Or the cable is just old and bad for some reason. Always check the hardware before messing around in the BIOs. I have learned this the hard way myself.

It seems to be plugged in properly. I would try to recconect the hd to mother board cable from the motehrboard, but it seems soo damn attached to the motehrboard, it makes me feel as though i will snap the motherboard.

Yep as oldwarriordood said, I know you said you checked the connections, but if you can replace the ide cable with another one if you can, as you mentioned it was tight in at the motherboard end. Don't use too much force as motherboards are quite fragile. You could also try a different stick of memory, as memory faults can cause all sorts of problems. But if your not that confident in trying this, theres no shame in asking someone to help you, rather that then damaging your PC.

How old is your PC, from the specs it seems quite old, if I was you I would get someone to look at it for you

I think its 4 years old. Do you know of any places where computer repairs are done or anything of that sort? I checked the cable for tears and stuff, but didn't find any.

I messed around inside the tower, and I took the hd out of its bay, and put it back in, dusted a little, etc. Now when I start it up, I get the same error, but when I go into setup utility, it shows under primary drive 0, Hard Drive. When I select it, it shows Maxtor and the model number. I am making progress, but what do you think I should do next?>

any thoughts?

Hope you get the problems sorted out.

Do bear in mind though a failing hard disk will still work intermittently until one day it grinds to a total halt.

buy another hd to test it out, if that fails, your mobo is probably dying?

It depends on where you are from, I'm from the UK so there are a few places that could do it, but as this is what I do for a job I would do this myself. If your from the USA check you local paper, yellow pages etc, There maybe someone local who can come out to give you an estimate, most self employed engineers can decide whats wrong(usually for free), and give you a price if they can fix it.

But what MaglorD touched on about your Hard drive failing, is the same conclusion I have come to..

It sounds to me like the logic board on the drive is failing or dead. BIOS can't find the drive because the drive isn't reporting itself.

Well, I am going to give it a few more trys. I am going to get a new stick of ram, and try that inside it, I am going to get a new cable, and try that, and if those 2 ideas fail, I will get a new hard drive. So what is this thingy iwth like BIOS and stuff not being able to report itself? Is there an easy fix?

And where are you gonna buy those things?

You can better just take your pc with you to that store and ask them or they know what is wrong. And then let them fix that.

It will cost a lil bit more then doing everything yourself but it is the best solution i think.

Sounds like hard disk faliure

I doubt new ram will solve it, as it sounds like your hdd, but more ram is always welcome

remember if its an IDE system and new enough to get a ATA 133 cable (take the old on with you if you are unsure)

i dont see it mentioned, so I will mention it, but remember to back up all your data whilst the old drive is half working, when it fails it will go and you will have to pay a fortune to get any data off it, and even then companys dont usually garentee the quality of what they pull.

Make sure the HDD is set the same as the old on (Cable Select or Master etc...)

To the bios / cmos, once the new drive is added, it should just be a simple case
of selecting auto detect and it should go.

Once installed you will need to re-install windows, video drivers, modem drivers, sound drivers and guild waws (the important one =D)

If you dont want to waste money see if you have a friend with an old working hard disk about, it dosent matter on its size, but if its workin you can test the stability of your mobo, cables and psu.

"Computers aint they fun"

Are all hard drives the same? DO I need a special hard drive htat will be compatible with my system?