E5420 missing hard drive/boot cycle randomly

[localzuk]

We started our replacement programme for our Dell E5400 laptops, replacing them with Dell E5420s (we have E series docks everywhere, so it made sense).

 

However, we have an issue appearing where at random the machine will reboot, then get stuck at boot saying that it can't find the hard drive. A hard power off and on resolves it, and it boots back up ok, but without a hard power off it just cycles saying the hard drive is missing.

 

I've read elsewhere that their appears to be an ESD issue with this model of laptop, which causes the screen to go 'snowy' but we don't seem to get that symptom.

 

Anyone got any ideas?

 

We're kinda stuck in that odd 'how on earth do we report this issue to them, and how do we reproduce it for them?' place at the moment, so any thoughts?

[Dom_]

Assuming nothing pops up in event manager?

 

Are you using SSD's? I had a similar problem with the last batch of OCZ's I had, overheating, then not picking up on reboot, but turning off for a couple of seconds made them work ok again (until they all died!).