Operating sytem not found

[Damien]

Hi, I am new to this site and would really appreciate any advice anyone out there has to give. I am having a serious problem with my computer and I have tried everything I can think of. I really hope someone can help as I badly need my computer back and don't have the funds to get a new one. I have tried to supply as much info as I can but if you need more please contact me. Thanks in advance, Damo.

I have had my computer for three years and it has never had any serious problems. I had some IBM anti-virus software installed on the machine and it used to run background checks of the system. On one particular occasion one of my family
was using the computer and it ran a background check during which it crashed and
hung. He tried to get control back but was unable to and thus had to give the system a 'cold reboot' by recycling the system power. He then started up the system again and everything was fine. The anti-virus software ran again and the same thing happened. He did a 'cold reboot' again and that is when problems started to occur. The following is an account of the situation:

The computer runs Windows 95 (version B I think but I am not too sure) and initially had this version of Phoenix BIOS on it:

4A4LL0X0.86A.0024.P09

I upgraded this to version 4A4LL0X0.86A.0031.P14 which I downloaded from the intel support site: http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/al440lx/ AFTER the problems started to occur. I would like to stress that the problems were occurring with the original BIOS version. However, the update had no effect and the problem persisted.

Anyway, when I turn the computer on everything initially seems to be fine. It starts to run through the BIOS bootstrap procedure. It runs POST and everything seems to be ok. It gives me the option to enter the BIOS setup menu by pressing F2. I can then hear the computer check the A: drive for a bootable disk and then check the C: drive but once it reaches this point the following message appears
(this is exactly what it says I have double checked):

"Operating System Not Found"

I have used a bootable floppy to try and access the C: drive and I still can't. I have tried to use fdisk but that comes up with: "error reading fixed disk" and this happens whether or not I enable large disk support. I have tried fdisk/mbr and it claims to be unable to rewrite the master boot code. I purchased norton utilities and I tried to boot off the emergency disk supplied and it told me that the hard drive could not be recognized because the system was being fooled into thinking it had a certain hard drive but hadn't. I used the antivirus disk supplied and it said it could not scan the fixed disk.

I opened up the computer and had a look at the hard drive. These are the following
specifications I noted:

Model: Fujitsu MPB3043AT

This is a 4.3GB hard drive and the CHS setting should be (according to a
label on the hard drive), C = 8940, H=15, S=63. However, when I set the BIOS settings for the Primary Master to 'auto' and reboot the computer the settings come up as:

Model: Fujitsu MPB3021ATU

max capacity 2163MB, C=4470, H=15, S=63. The label on the hard drive has a list of different versions of this make of drive and the CHS setting of each. This particular drive is on that list with those exact CHS settings but this is not the hard drive that is in my machine. I have tried to manually set the CHS settings to
C = 8940, H=15, S=63, but this had no effect and the computer still wouldn't boot.

I had a quick look at the jumper settings and they are fine and in the 'master' position as specified by the fujitsu site:
http://www.fujitsu.co.jp/hypertext/hdd/drive/overseas/mpb30xx/jumper.html

i.e. pins 1 and 2 are covered and pins 3 and 5 are covered.


I would appreciate any help on this matter as I really need my computer back and I am all out of ideas at this stage. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks again for your time,
Damien.

[BobD]

Sorry I can't add anything, it sounds like you tried just about everything that you could. If you can't access it from booting via floppy, sounds like the hard drive electronics have gone bad and you've lost everything. Try different jumper settings even though you know which ones are the correct ones. If you can try it in a different machine this may work, doubtful but worth a try.

[markjj]

Damo.
I note you're running Win '95 but can you get hold of a Win '98 disc and try booting from that? Follow the install procedure if you don't mind losing your data on the HD as '98 may warn you that it will replace the o/s currently on the the HD. If '98 cannot write to the HD (it will give you a message to that effect) then I can only conclude as BobD has, that the HD has probably had its day.
Cheap HD's are relatively easy to come by. Do you have computer fairs over the weekends near where you live? My friend just picked up a recon HD 6 GB with 3 months warranty for £15.
Mark

[hacker]

I didn't see if you checked the hard drive cable. Make sure both ends are secure (if you didn't already). Also, try getting a new cable. Check the stupid stuff first is my motto.

Good Luck!


------------------
I was called "hacker" before there was a HeathKit.

[Damien]

Thanks for replying so quickly. I did actually check the cable
although I had a good idead this wasn't the problem as the computer
was never opened up before or moved from its original position.
I will give the win '98 idea a go and see what happens.
Losing the hard drive is a bit of an inconvenience for me but its not
the worst thing in the world provided I can get a replacement. I have the
computer insured with the place I bought it and I have rang the helpline to ask them to sort it out. They tell me that because I flashed the BIOS with an upgrade that wasn't from their site (Packard-Bell) I have forfeited my
warranty. This really annoys me as I paid about 1/3 the price of the computer for this insurance. Anyway, they told me if I flash the BIOS again with a different upgrade (from their site) they will be able to help me. I get confused here. My computer has a Phoenix BIOS. When I bought
the computer the version that came with it was 4A4LL0X0.86A.0024.P09.
As my motherboard is an AL440LX intel motherboard I found and upgrade to this BIOS on the intel site: 4A4LL0X0.86A.0031.P14. The BIOS version they want me to use is 4A4LL0X0.11A.P07.0009. There is a conflict between the
11A and the 86A. 11A means the board was made as OEM for NEC or Packard-Bell. My computer is Packard-Bell so that would make sense but then why did I my computer come with 86A? Also, I have tried to upgrade
using the BIOS version 4A4LL0X0.11A.P07.0009 but it won't let me. It
comes up with some error (L05 - I think). If you have any suggestions I
would appreciate them.

Thanks again for your replies,
Damo.

[BobD]

Yep it sounds like you have a big mess. With your detailed knowledge I'm surprised that you have a Packard Bell. Well, we all start out with that one don't we! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif Sounds like tech support got you on a loop hole about your warranty, but from the description you give about OEM bios vs. regular sounds like their flash wouldn't have worked anyway. I'd try calling again and talking to somebody else and play dumb. i.e. you have the original Bios Version 4A4LL0X0.86A.0024.P09 and their flash won't take
4A4LL0X0.11A.P07.0009.

[Damien]

BobD, cheers for your reply. When I bought the computer three years
ago I didn't even know what a hard drive was so I suppose that would explain the Packard Bell choice. I was thinking about playing dumb as you
say but unfortunately they have all my details and I can't go changing my story at this stage. I have had enough messing around. I am just going to
try and hook up a different hard drive and see if I can boot off that. If
I can I will buy a new one and bin the other. Thanks for you help anyway.

Damo.