'Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk & Press Enter'

[spiceboy67]

My brother switched off his pc (Phillips IQon) after updating his security but when he switched it back on he got the error message 'disk boot failure, insert system disc & press enter'. I checked a few forums which suggested loading windows xp again which we've tried but it only brings up the error message ' windows could not start because of a computer configuration disk hardware problem, could not read from selected boot disk, check boot path & disc hardware'. Another forum has suggested unplugging and putting back the power & data cables to the hard drive, before I do that does anyone have any other ideas what the problem might be and how we can fix it, cheers.

[vehelpfulguy]

It looks like yout PC has "lost" the fact that it has a hard disk installed.

This information is normally held in the BIOS of your computer. In case you dont know, the BIOS is held on your motherboard and it is a small computer program.

When you power up your PC the BIOS program runs and checks if the PC has all the components it needs to work (memory, CPU, keyboard, mouse, hard disk etc).

It also checks if there is a device with an operating system installed (Windows, Linux or whatever). It looks like your BIOS has "lost" this hard disk (or cannot find it).

more....

[squarebear]

Perhaps a daft suggestion but he doesn't have a floppy disk in his PC when he boots up by any chance?

[vehelpfulguy]

continued...

As your computer starts up you have the opportunity to go into your BIOS and check it is ok, or make changes.

Watch carefully as your computer starts up (before Windows starts to load) and it will say something like "Press Delete key to enter BIOS" (it may not be the Delete key on your computer).

You MUST press this key BEFORE Windows starts to load or it is too late. If you miss it, then shut down the PC and try again.

The main BIOS window wll look something like this:

http://www.blog.tycotec.com/wp-content/uploads /2008/04/bios.gif

Once you are in the BIOS search round for the place where your devices are listed (hard disk etc). For the hard disk set it to AUTO and it should hunt round and find your hard disk.

If it finds the disk then chose the option like "Save changes and exit" and then restart your computer.

Hopefully when it restarts then Windows will restart.

[vehelpfulguy]

If it is NOT my suggestion above, that your PC has "lost" the hard disk, then it looks like your Windows hard disk has become corrupt.

As your computer starts up, first the BIOS runs, then as the BIOS finishes it "hands over" to the system disk (which contains say Windows) and that should then start up.

There are some very important system files on the hard disk and these allow Windows to start. If any of these files have become lost or corrupt then Windows cannot start.

You could try to put the Windows XP CD in the computer, "boot" from the XP CD, and then do a REPAIR install. This should install new versions of these important files and allow Windows to start.

If your Windows XP CD says it cannot find the system disk (as you have already indicated) then my feeling is that it is my first sugestion, that the BIOS has "lost" the hard disk in its configuration.

You need to go into the BIOS and add the hard disk to the configuration.

[spiceboy67]

no floppy disc squarebear....info in bios looked fine vehelpfulguy, tried using XP disc but it only loaded half of the disc and then failed again, the screen has now gone totally blank, looks like it's totally knackered but thanks for the advice, it was worth a try. It's about time he bought a new one anyway, cheers.