"Operating System Not Found"

[Impact55]

I get this error message when booting up my friends compaq.. I reformatted it previously with Windows ME, so it was running a basic OEM version. I believe I fixed this probelm in the past with a fdisk /mbr, but it doesnt seem to be working this time . Any tips to getting this computer working again (I want to LAN with him!!! ) ? Or is the harddrive fried? Thanks in advance.

 

[DaiShan]

can you do a reformat and install windows again? if you can then maybe the os got corrupted somehow, if you can't maybe the hdd is dead, also make sure all connections are tight, and the hdd is still listed as a boot device.

 

[brianp34]

my mom's compaq does EXACTLY the same thing. i've reinstalled a couple times with the compaq system restore and a couple of times with a clean copy of win xp pro. i can't get it to stop no matter what i do. you just have to start it up a couple of times untill it finally gets its into gear or...weird i know but its all that will work. stupid compaq :frown:

brian

 

[bruincal]

hey, at where i work, we have several computers that have this problem too ... they're old Micron computers, and they're running win2000 ... they just sit around ... and on some random days, the error message comes up, "Operating System not Found" ... so what we do is we reboot the thing like 3 times, (or kick it) and it starts up normally...



--kidding about the "kick it" part =]

its probably that some components are lose are in need of a few restarts to get it going .. we never really bothered to figure out what was going on ...

 

[dexmanone]

Compaq = Packard Bell = Nightmares in Hell

 

[brianp34]

lol...my friend bought an emachine that has the same problem. he's punched and kicks these big dents in the case; turns out a cable was just loose. the compaq is not that easy though...stupid compaq :frown:

brian