Windows XP Pro Startup Problem

[WolfpackRon]

I get the message "operating system not found" at startup on an old HP computer with Windows XP Pro. Does this sound like a hard drive problem or possibly a virus problem. This computer has a fairly new 30GB hard drive. Computer had been working properly before the problem happened. Thanks in advance. WolfpackRon.

[PrntRhd]

New IDE cables or used the old one?
I would check for loose cabling first.

[WolfpackRon]

I used the old IDE cable, but it has been working for approximately 10 months. It still could be a bad cable, however. I can exchange the IDE cable. Tomorrow. It is my bed time. I will start fresh tomorrow. Thanks for the post. I just looked at the BIOS and nothing was listed under primary master and slave. I may have a bad cable. That would make sense or a bad motherboard. This computer is very old. WolfpackRon.

[Paul Komski]

How old is this old PC and was this drive working in it previously? Regardless - if not recognised in BIOS you have a problem. Cables, connections and jumpering being high on the list. Then faulty hdd or mobo controllers - so worth trying to see if the BIOS recognises the drive on the other channel.

[WolfpackRon]

Paul,
The processor is a 350mhz Pentium II. I just reseated the IDE cable and and then replaced the IDE cable to the hard drive and CD burner drive that are not listed in the BIOS. I still have the message "operating system not found." When I look in the BIOS, after Primary Master and Slave the word "None" is listed. Under Secondary Master and Slave I have a DVD player and another CD drive listed. How do I check the the "mobo controllers?" Also, what did you mean by "seeing if the BIOS recognizes the drive on the other channel?" Thanks, WolfpackRon.

[Paul Komski]

When I look in the BIOS, after Primary Master and Slave the word "None" is listed So not detected in the BIOS. If there is an option for auto detect ensure that is what is selected.

Under Secondary Master and Slave I have a DVD player and another CD drive listed. This is the secondary "channel". By choosing to connect the HDD cable in place of the CD and DVD cable you could exclude channel #1 as being problematic of itself and what is what I was referring to with "seeing if the BIOS recognizes the drive on the other channel?".

After that it is trial an error but if this drive previously worked in the PC and now doesnt the easiest way to check is to try the hdd in another pc or a known good one in your pc; but you must ensure that its cabling, connections and jumper settings are all OK.

[WolfpackRon]

Paul,
I reversed the secondary and primary connectors and still had the error message. I then removed the power plug to the CD burner that is connected to the same "channel." This fixed the problem. I guess that means the CD burner is bad. Much better the CD burner than the hard drive with all the data. Could not understand why it affected the hard drive, but it did. Thanks for your help. WolfpackRon.

[Paul Komski]

That's a bit surprising and sounds like you may have some bad connections which you corrected by moving things around and touching cables etc.