What to do Windows freezes then crashes and on auto-reboot Hard drive not found?

Answer 1

It is recommended that you contact a computer repair professional if you lack the knowledge to repair the system yourself, as you may cause further harm. That being said, a typical repair person would try to isolate the problem one step at a time. First, they would check the cables inside the computer to make sure they are all secure. Rarely, loose cables can come undone (or someone may have intentionally/accidentally disconnected it). If the connections all look secure, the next step is to try and use the hard drive on another computer that is known to work. If it works on that computer, the issue is either the cable or motherboard. If the hard drive fails, it may need to be repaired or replaced. Note that your data is most likely lost if the hard drive is bad, unless you are willing to pay to have the drive repaired or have the data extracted, which may run thousands of dollars. This is why backups are always important, since devices can and do fail sometimes. If the hard drive works on another computer, the repair person can check the cable (swap it out for another), and then the motherboard. In other words, it is likely that there is a hardware failure, since the hard drive "cannot be found." Care must be taken when working with hardware, as a single static shock can render hardware destroyed, which is why this answer includes the recommendation that you contact a professional if you lack the knowledge to attempt such repairs yourself.