Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Operating System Not Found?

0 helpful
12 replies

by mikevjr2

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Most of the Time when i turn on my:

Compaq 1800T (Laptop)
192 RAM
48 GIG
1 ghz
Windows 2000 SP4

It gives me a Operating System Not Found Error,
and like every other day it decides to work just fine, (Operating system is obviously installed), I've gone into the BIOS which doesn't give you many options, and Loaded the Default setting to see if it would pick up the HD, but that failed.
I ran Win2K bootable CD just to see if it would even detect the HD and that was a no-go. the HD seems fine and so does the motherboard, i had it off for 1.5 days to see if it might be an overheating problem (even stuck it in the freezer, eek!). so i called compaq and even after explaining this, the tech says "If you are recieving this error, than you have no operating system" and i asked to speak with a Senior Tech, and guess what he says, goto the bios and Load The Default Settings. and this was after i repeated to them 4x each that i've already tried that.. Could it be the motherboard or the HD, or another problem im unaware of?

12 replies

by lmon

Just a thought. Have you checked in the bios to see if your first boot device is the hd if not change it to that.

If that does not work I would try to reformat. Wipe out the entire drive and start from scratch. Hopefully you all the cd's that came with it. If the problem persists then you know that it is a hd issue.

by mikevjr2

My boot settings are as follows (Floppy than CD than HD) Assuming that its trying to boot from the floppy and only the floppy for some wierd reason, than it wouldn't goto the next option which is CD. which can't be the case because i can boot from a CD when im getting the error.

by willcomp

Since it will boot sometimes and sometimes not, sounds like hard disk is not being recognized by BIOS at times. Most times that I've seen similar behavior, it was the hard disk electronics beginning to fail. Usually comes a point when PC will not boot at all.

You need to backup any critical data files when system does boot up.

One other thing to try is to remove and reseat hard disk. Could be loose connection. In a notebook such is possible though not likely.

Maybe someone else will have further suggestions.

Good luck.

by sgt_shultz

if this used to work and now is a problem, then i agree with willcomp. hd disk is the problem and if under warranty compaq should replace it. if this cropped up about time hard disk was replaced, see BIOS settings see if you have time settings for how long bios waits for hd to spin up. make it wait longer. fiddle with what settings you can find. smartdisk etc. turn on/off one at a time. search hd mfg website for more info on this problem and try flashing the bios to latest greatest.
i have heard of some hd's causing this problem and don't rmemeber if it is bios on hd or bios on computer that fixes it. you may as well try all applying all the rompaq's and see if that affects the problem.

by thechas

Hi Mike, got your message.

I have to agree with willcomp and Sgt Shultz, it sounds like the controller on the hard drive is failing.

You might try removing the hard drive and using a good quality spray contact cleaner on the cable and the drive.

Make sure that you back up any critical files the first chance you get.

The only other things that I can think of, are an intermittent power cable, or a problem with the IDE controller on the motherboard.

Chas

by mikevjr2

Actually now that you mention the power cable, sometimes i have to move it around to get it to work, but the battery should be able to run the disk. could my power cable be causing damage to my laptop that might cause that?

this will be closed so you can just message it to me using the board..

-Mike

This discussion is closed to new replies.