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BOOT DISK FAILURE

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23 replies

by azlan07

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I am using pc with Win98 OS. currently I cannot Start my PC. Message BOOT DISK FAILURE, PLEASE INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER appear. After insert Win 98 start up disc the PC still cannot start. SACNDISK and CHKDSK did not find any error on my HD. Directory in C: did not show WINDOWS and any work files. Our company technical support told me that my HD is corrupted. Because of many important file in it, I exchange my HD with my colleague PCs. The result is my HD is OK (boot normaly) at another PC but my friends HD facing same problem in my PC, I called our company technical support again and explain what I have done. They guess that my Mother board is corrupted. Anyway I want to know what is the real problem is it virus attacked, motherboard error or data cable error and I would like to thanks to all who can give suggestion and advise.

23 replies

by still_learning

Check your ribbon cables, verify that the red edge of the cable goes to the number one pin on both the HDD and the IDE Controller. Boot the computer and press designated key to get to the CMOS panel (usually it is F1, F2 or Delete). Check the driveconfiguration and verify that it is set to AUTO. While you are at it, verify that the System Date and Time are correct. Exit the CMOS panel choosing to save the changes.
Boot the computer with the startup disk in floppy drive.
Choose the without cd-rom support option.
Type SYS C: (at the command prompt) and press enter (this reloads the system files on the HDD).
When this process completes, reboot the computer without the floppy (your system should boot).
Finally run your Anti-Virus software.

by pca57

You could try disabling the fdd in the bios setup then see if it boots. If it does process of elimination will prove if it is the cable or the fdd.

by b.scott1

Go in to the BIOS and make sure that the HDD is being read in the BIOS and that it's settings (capacity, PIO, etc....) are correct. Many of the newer BIOS chips and MB's have a "detect hard drive" setting in the bios. See if the MB can detect it. You may have a bad IDE controller on the MB itself.

You could see if you could find a PCI IDE controller and plug the HDD in to it to see if the HDD will be recognized. You can pick up the Ultra DMA cards at any computer store.

If the IDE controller on the MB is bad, I think I would get a new MB as the speeds tend to be better with the on board controller as compared to the PCI.

by b.scott1

BTW......what caused it? If it is the onboard IDE controller, a power spike is a very likely cause. If you have severe static electricity problems, that may be an issue too. I have never seen a virus wipe out an IDE controller before and since you seem to be able to move the HDD's from one computer to another and check if they work, I'm assuming the cables are installed properly. The only other thing to check would be to use a new IDE cable (or use the one from the computer that detected you HDD fine. You know everything worked on that box) and see how the box reacts.

by dcosgrove

just one other possibility, while in the bios, check to see what the boot order is. If you cant boot to a floppy either, it is possibly set to boot from network or CD.

by edsdave

Create a bootable floppy disk and adding FDISK to it set the BIOS to boot on floppy drive insert the disk and reboot. When you reach the A prompt type fdisk /mbr. When this is finished reset bios to C drive boot and reboot. If getting same error then copy command.com from the system disk to the c drive and reboot.

by cwunder3

It sounds like the IDE controller on you Motherboard may be bad. Try installing the HDD on the secondary controller.

by ddelauder

This can be caused by the start up routine not being able to see the hard drive on your system.
Look at the computer screen when you first turn the system on and it will, most likely say which key, generally the delete key, to hold down to enter the BIOS start up area. Scroll through the menu in the Bios start up menu and find a line which say something like Find or Identify hard drives. Click on that and it should then find your hard drive. The menu will change to show several different configurations of your system, look for the one that matches your hard drive size and select that one. In most systems the most likely hard drive selection will be marked with a "Y" next to it denoting that you can simply press the "Y" key to select the most logical drive selection. Then select the "SAve and Exit" selection. Try to reboot. If this works then you are done.

by ddelauder

It could be that the battery on the mother board is dead. This battery supplies power to the memory chip which holds the basic start up (BIOS) information.
The battery looks like a watch battery (a flat disc). There is a battery connection tab overthe top of the battery which is fragile and can be damaged easily. Slide the battery out of the battery holder and go to an Electronics store or Computer store to buy a new battery.
Once the new battery is installed then go into the Bios area on startup. There should be a message on your system when it trys to start up which will tell you which key to press during startup to enter BIOS. Select the find hard drive selection and the system will put up a short list of possible hard drives. Look for the drive which is the size of your drive and select it. Most systems will put a "Y" next to most likely choice and you can just press "Y", then select the "Save and Exit" choice. Shut down and restart your system.

by ddelauder

It could be that the battery on the mother board is dead. This battery supplies power to the memory chip which holds the basic start up (BIOS) information.
The battery looks like a watch battery (a flat disc). There is a battery connection tab overthe top of the battery which is fragile and can be damaged easily. Slide the battery out of the battery holder and go to an Electronics store or Computer store to buy a new battery.
Once the new battery is installed then go into the Bios area on startup. There should be a message on your system when it trys to start up which will tell you which key to press during startup to enter BIOS. Select the find hard drive selection and the system will put up a short list of possible hard drives. Look for the drive which is the size of your drive and select it. Most systems will put a "Y" next to most likely choice and you can just press "Y", then select the "Save and Exit" choice. Shut down and restart your system.

by michaeltubs

Cable error is apossiblility however it would be more likely that your Cmos has been flashed with a virus. Very common over the last few months. New flash bios probably in order.

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