Hard Drives

Worst case, the hard drive has failed!

If so, you need a new hard drive, and will need to load Me, and all of your application programs.
You may be able to recover your files using tips from the tech Republic download "200 ways to revive a dead hard drive"

But before you go to that extreeme, try the following;

Insert your Me startup floppy in the floppy drive.
(If you don't have one, either create it on another ME system, or download the Me startup disk from www.bootdisk.com)

If needed, enter BIOS settings, and adjust the boot options so that you can boot from the floppy.

At the DOS prompt, type
sys c:
and press the enter key

If the process fails, you have a bad hard drive.
If it works, remove the floppy, and re-boot.

Immeadiatly back up any critical files and information.

Then run scandisk in thourough mode to repair the drive as much as possible.

If there are a lot of errors reported by scandisk, or the drive is making "strange" sounds, replace the drive ASAP.

Chas

There is a difference between the BIOS failing to recognise the hard disk and the HD having no OS.

If there is OS, the immediate resolution is to boot up from a Startup disk and transfer syetms files to your hard disk with SYS C:

Does the BIOS detect the HD ? If so, enable SMART and reboot. Any SMART status other "OK" (eg "BAD")probably means the HD is failing - these usually have 3+ yr wty so return it!

You can also repair your installation with a Windows ME bootable CD whilst keeping (in theory and if you answer all the questions correctly) your opersonal data files).

Good Luck !

ps which make of HD - Maxtor ? What PC ?