[RESOLVED] Operating system not found

Acer2000 · 07-19-2007, 12:31 PM

Hi,

I turned my hp desktop computer on today (windows ME is the OS) and I got the following message on a silly black nerve racking screen:

operating system not found

What is this? There are very important files on this computer.

Please help me.

I know I should have backed up

Thank you so much

Geekgirl · 07-19-2007, 02:44 PM

Pretty much telling you it cannot boot into Windows. Find the manufacturer of your hard drive and run their Hard Drive Diagnostics Utility.

Also look in the BIOS, is it seeing your hard drive? Are there any cd's or possibly a floppy in the drives?

Jlp1928 · 07-20-2007, 06:10 AM

Hi,

Some times the boot records are corrupted or missing (Virus?). Boot disk to DOS A:> and run SYS C:. Will put them back. Files are Command.Com visible, Dos.Sys and IO.Sys hidden. May get you back up and running.

Good Luck, Jim

**Done_Fishin** · 07-20-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jlp1928

Hi,

Some times the boot records are corrupted or missing (Virus?). Boot disk to DOS A:> and run SYS C:. Will put them back. Files are Command.Com visible, Dos.Sys and IO.Sys hidden. May get you back up and running.

Good Luck, Jim

to do this you'll need a bootable floppy or Millenium CD .. the emergency floppy in either floppy or CD format will be best in order to have the sys comand on it after booting ..
don't use any other OS bootable floppy .. that's a can of worms you don't want to open!!

ceri sheeran · 07-21-2007, 04:46 AM

Hi,

Download the executable file to create a WIN ME bootable floppy disk from http://www.bootdisk.com.

Save the file somewhere, then double click on it to create teh bootable floppy disk.

Your WIN ME Operating System Disk should also be bootable.

From a C: prompt you can also try the WIN 98 fix of restoring the registry

At an A:> prompt type exactly

scanreg /restore

Choose a date from the five offered when the system was working. Follow the prompts to reboot.

You may have to re-install updates and any new software

hth

Ceri

Jlp1928 · 07-21-2007, 05:39 AM

Hi,

Ceri is right, but any running Win 98 sys will make you a boot disk to do the job. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Progs, Startup Disk. There are lots of downloadable Floppys or CDs if you don't have floppy.

Luck, Jim

**Done_Fishin** · 07-21-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jlp1928

Hi,

Ceri is right, but any running Win 98 sys will make you a boot disk to do the job. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Progs, Startup Disk. There are lots of downloadable Floppys or CDs if you don't have floppy.

Luck, Jim

unfortunately he can't boot ... so he needs to use either a different computer (who uses win98 these days ?) or visit www.bootdisk.com .. as ceri said before..

Acer2000 · 07-21-2007, 11:31 AM

Thanks everyone,

The data and all my files are now safely on Cd.

**Done_Fishin** · 07-21-2007, 12:31 PM

did you recover by doing as said above or something else .. please explain what helped you and also whether you consider this thread now resolved .. thanks

Acer2000 · 07-21-2007, 12:36 PM

It simply solved itself! I can't believe it but this is what happened.

**Done_Fishin** · 07-21-2007, 12:48 PM

you may have had a bad connection either power cable or IDE cable that decided to reseat itself .. I have had similar problems myself with both cables ..

keep it in mind in case it happens again ..

**Bartender** · 07-22-2007, 09:15 AM

acer, I would like to second Done's comments. Sounds like a loose power or data cable inside. Betcha it's time to open that PC up and blow the dust out anyway. Check the power and data cables going to your HDD, and check where the HDD plugs into the motherboard too.
If you've never looked inside just google "IDE hard drive cable" or similar and you'll find sites with pictures.
A can of compressed air is the safest way to blow out the dust. I use an oil-less air compressor with the regulator set way down but that's not really advisable

Blast a little bit between the fins on the CPU heatsink and through the vents on the power supply. Take it outside first! The dust is very fine and will adversely affect anyone with allergies.

**Done_Fishin** · 07-22-2007, 09:42 AM

I tend to use an old (but never used for painting) "Paintbrush" and a hoover .. keeping the hoover as far away from the PC as possible and blowing the dust outside .... keep far away as possible because many years ago there were rumours about the motor """possibly""" affecting the magnetic surface of disk drives .. and like the old saying ""touch wood"" I always take precautions .. (i find and touch wood so as NOT to upset the wood fairies!!)

a gentle brush and sucking clean helps move the dust ..

at work we have an air compressor .. you could always use one from your local petrol or gas station to blast the cobwebs away

Jlp1928 · 07-23-2007, 05:56 AM

Hi,

Just a hint. A failure to boot from the Hard Drive does not prevent a boot from the floppy, CD or any other available boot source.

Jim

07-19-2007, 12:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Acer2000 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 467 OS: XP Home Service Pack 2	[RESOLVED] Operating system not found Hi, I turned my hp desktop computer on today (windows ME is the OS) and I got the following message on a silly black nerve racking screen: operating system not found What is this? There are very important files on this computer. Please help me. I know I should have backed up Thank you so much

07-19-2007, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Operating system not found Pretty much telling you it cannot boot into Windows. Find the manufacturer of your hard drive and run their Hard Drive Diagnostics Utility. Also look in the BIOS, is it seeing your hard drive? Are there any cd's or possibly a floppy in the drives? __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

07-20-2007, 06:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Operating system not found Hi, Some times the boot records are corrupted or missing (Virus?). Boot disk to DOS A:> and run SYS C:. Will put them back. Files are Command.Com visible, Dos.Sys and IO.Sys hidden. May get you back up and running. Good Luck, Jim

07-21-2007, 04:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
ceri sheeran Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 285 OS: WINXP	Re: Operating system not found Hi, Download the executable file to create a WIN ME bootable floppy disk from http://www.bootdisk.com. Save the file somewhere, then double click on it to create teh bootable floppy disk. Your WIN ME Operating System Disk should also be bootable. From a C: prompt you can also try the WIN 98 fix of restoring the registry At an A:> prompt type exactly scanreg /restore Choose a date from the five offered when the system was working. Follow the prompts to reboot. You may have to re-install updates and any new software hth Ceri

07-21-2007, 05:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Operating system not found Hi, Ceri is right, but any running Win 98 sys will make you a boot disk to do the job. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Progs, Startup Disk. There are lots of downloadable Floppys or CDs if you don't have floppy. Luck, Jim

07-21-2007, 11:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Acer2000 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 467 OS: XP Home Service Pack 2	Re: Operating system not found Thanks everyone, The data and all my files are now safely on Cd.

07-21-2007, 12:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,464 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Operating system not found did you recover by doing as said above or something else .. please explain what helped you and also whether you consider this thread now resolved .. thanks __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

07-21-2007, 12:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Acer2000 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 467 OS: XP Home Service Pack 2	Re: Operating system not found It simply solved itself! I can't believe it but this is what happened.

07-21-2007, 12:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,464 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Operating system not found you may have had a bad connection either power cable or IDE cable that decided to reseat itself .. I have had similar problems myself with both cables .. keep it in mind in case it happens again .. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Last edited by Done_Fishin; 07-21-2007 at 12:52 PM.

07-22-2007, 09:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Operating system not found acer, I would like to second Done's comments. Sounds like a loose power or data cable inside. Betcha it's time to open that PC up and blow the dust out anyway. Check the power and data cables going to your HDD, and check where the HDD plugs into the motherboard too. If you've never looked inside just google "IDE hard drive cable" or similar and you'll find sites with pictures. A can of compressed air is the safest way to blow out the dust. I use an oil-less air compressor with the regulator set way down but that's not really advisable Blast a little bit between the fins on the CPU heatsink and through the vents on the power supply. Take it outside first! The dust is very fine and will adversely affect anyone with allergies.

07-22-2007, 09:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,464 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Operating system not found I tend to use an old (but never used for painting) "Paintbrush" and a hoover .. keeping the hoover as far away from the PC as possible and blowing the dust outside .... keep far away as possible because many years ago there were rumours about the motor """possibly""" affecting the magnetic surface of disk drives .. and like the old saying ""touch wood"" I always take precautions .. (i find and touch wood so as NOT to upset the wood fairies!!) a gentle brush and sucking clean helps move the dust .. at work we have an air compressor .. you could always use one from your local petrol or gas station to blast the cobwebs away __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

07-23-2007, 05:56 AM	#14 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Operating system not found Hi, Just a hint. A failure to boot from the Hard Drive does not prevent a boot from the floppy, CD or any other available boot source. Jim