"Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up

Marval · 06-02-2008, 07:31 AM

I will apologize before hand because i do not have an enormous amount of detail to include in my post.

I am running a millenium workstation
Yesterday i was reviewing old "diskettes" to see which ones i could toss. I placed the diskette in the drive, reviewed its contents through My Computer and if they were files i know longer needed i would choose Edit/Select All/Delete to empty the diskette.

At one point i put in a diskette and noticed a lot of application and dos files that i did not need so I highlighted all the files and hit delete. I did not hit enter. Suddenly i had about 3 or 4 active dos windows up on my desktop - i quickly went to task manager and ended all sessions of dos and terminated my session of My Computer. I noticed that one of the dos windows had a message something like "unable to locate path, can not create RAM" Unfortunately i did not write down the error so i am only going by memory.

i finished what i was working on and continued using the computer as well as surfing the web. Once i was done i powered down the station. wHen i went to reboot it i get the error "non system disk or disk error Replace and strike any key". I've tried hitting F4 and F1 during the boot process but nothing happens?

I have no idea what i did to cause this. I dont know why the programs on the diskette executed when all i did was highlight them and choose delete.
I dont know if all i need is a start up diskette? I dont know if i erased the hard drive or what?

I would very much appreciate any guidance that anyone can offer on how i can troubleshoot this and fix my problem.

This was a PC that was given to my step son so i do not have a boot disk for it.

dai · 06-02-2008, 11:44 AM

have you left a floppy in the drive

Marval · 07-02-2008, 04:15 PM

nope, no floppy in the drive -

acd0 · 07-10-2008, 12:18 PM

as in windows ME?
you may have done yourself a favor. upgrade to at least win2k.

dai · 07-11-2008, 01:59 AM

boot from a floppy boot disk to the A promn't and run
scanreg /restore

**blah789** · 08-27-2008, 08:09 PM

(To OP)
You may very well have.
I know it's late and you may have reformatted and started over by now, but if not, read this post
Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer?
Testdisk may be able to recover your partition if you accidentally deleted it.

P.S: My original thoughts were also you did hit enter and left the floppy in the drive, but i suppose first guesses aren't always the right ones.

06-02-2008, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marval Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 OS: millennium	"Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up I will apologize before hand because i do not have an enormous amount of detail to include in my post. I am running a millenium workstation Yesterday i was reviewing old "diskettes" to see which ones i could toss. I placed the diskette in the drive, reviewed its contents through My Computer and if they were files i know longer needed i would choose Edit/Select All/Delete to empty the diskette. At one point i put in a diskette and noticed a lot of application and dos files that i did not need so I highlighted all the files and hit delete. I did not hit enter. Suddenly i had about 3 or 4 active dos windows up on my desktop - i quickly went to task manager and ended all sessions of dos and terminated my session of My Computer. I noticed that one of the dos windows had a message something like "unable to locate path, can not create RAM" Unfortunately i did not write down the error so i am only going by memory. i finished what i was working on and continued using the computer as well as surfing the web. Once i was done i powered down the station. wHen i went to reboot it i get the error "non system disk or disk error Replace and strike any key". I've tried hitting F4 and F1 during the boot process but nothing happens? I have no idea what i did to cause this. I dont know why the programs on the diskette executed when all i did was highlight them and choose delete. I dont know if all i need is a start up diskette? I dont know if i erased the hard drive or what? I would very much appreciate any guidance that anyone can offer on how i can troubleshoot this and fix my problem. This was a PC that was given to my step son so i do not have a boot disk for it.

06-02-2008, 11:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 41,951 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	Re: "Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up have you left a floppy in the drive __________________

07-02-2008, 04:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Marval Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 OS: millennium	Re: "Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up nope, no floppy in the drive -

07-10-2008, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
acd0 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 23 OS: freebsd, slackware	Re: "Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up as in windows ME? you may have done yourself a favor. upgrade to at least win2k.

07-11-2008, 01:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 41,951 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	Re: "Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up boot from a floppy boot disk to the A promn't and run scanreg /restore __________________

08-27-2008, 08:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 865 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: "Non System Disk or disk error" on boot up (To OP) You may very well have. I know it's late and you may have reformatted and started over by now, but if not, read this post Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer? Testdisk may be able to recover your partition if you accidentally deleted it. P.S: My original thoughts were also you did hit enter and left the floppy in the drive, but i suppose first guesses aren't always the right ones.