dhammaguest

Bri, OK. Thanks for the suggestion.

Today, I had the same problem again (disk not found, insert system disk ...). Before opening up the box, I inserted the XP CD and again tried to go through the Repair Console, trying to remember the Admin password if any (I dont remember setting any). When that did not work, I rebooted, and this time I got the Blue Screen with a message that windows found a problem and I should check all new hardware and software etc.

So, it does look like intermittently the BIOS is able to see the HD. It may well be some voltage issue. I have been having intermittent problems powering up the PC but I did not relate that to this booting problem. The intermittent problem I have powering up the PC is that when I press the ON button on the front of the PC, nothing happens. Sometimes repeated toggling the button powers it up, but sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't I just wait for some time and try again and after waiting some time it powers up. I attributed that to ON/OFF switch going bad. But it may very well be a voltage problem. Wow.

Thanks for the suggestion.