«

Hi, I need some advice what to do.

Started my computer today, got a message "Operating system not found".

Decided to try and boot from the CD (Windows 98 SE) - got the same message
"Operating system not found" (didn't seem to recognise the CD drive although
the light came on and went off at startup).

Tried booting from a floppy disk, chose option "Start computer with CD Rom
support". Oak technology driver started then gave message "No drives found,
aborting installtion". I have 2 CD drives - one a ROM and one a CD writer.

After that, still booting from the floppy, I got the message "Windows 98 has
detected that drive C does not contain a valid fat or fat32 partition."

I ran FDisk which stopped with a mesage "No fixed disks present".

I could understand if the hard drive had packed in but I can't understand
why I couldn't access my CD drives which makes me wonder if both problems
are a symptom of something else (I don't want to replace the hard drive only
to find that there was nothing wrong with it).

Any suggestions?

Thanks - Joe

"Joe Black" <> wrote in message
news:GDokb.183273$...
> Hi, I need some advice what to do.
>
> Started my computer today, got a message "Operating system not found".
>
> Decided to try and boot from the CD (Windows 98 SE) - got the same message
> "Operating system not found" (didn't seem to recognise the CD drive
although
> the light came on and went off at startup).
>
> Tried booting from a floppy disk, chose option "Start computer with CD Rom
> support". Oak technology driver started then gave message "No drives
found,
> aborting installtion". I have 2 CD drives - one a ROM and one a CD writer.
>
> After that, still booting from the floppy, I got the message "Windows 98
has
> detected that drive C does not contain a valid fat or fat32 partition."
>
> I ran FDisk which stopped with a mesage "No fixed disks present".
>
> I could understand if the hard drive had packed in but I can't understand
> why I couldn't access my CD drives which makes me wonder if both problems
> are a symptom of something else (I don't want to replace the hard drive
only
> to find that there was nothing wrong with it).
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks - Joe
>
You need to get brave and take the cover off. Check the data cable from the
motherboard to the Hard Disk Drive and CD ROM Drive. Pres down firmly on the
connector plug. I nay have come unseated. Failing that, very carefully
remove and replace the connectors, one at a time, to the motherboard and the
drives. If that doesn't work it gets more technical.

"Joe Black" <> wrote in message
news:GDokb.183273$...
> Hi, I need some advice what to do.
>
> Started my computer today, got a message "Operating system not found".
>
> Decided to try and boot from the CD (Windows 98 SE) - got the same message
> "Operating system not found" (didn't seem to recognise the CD drive
although
> the light came on and went off at startup).
>
> Tried booting from a floppy disk, chose option "Start computer with CD Rom
> support". Oak technology driver started then gave message "No drives
found,
> aborting installtion". I have 2 CD drives - one a ROM and one a CD writer.
>
> After that, still booting from the floppy, I got the message "Windows 98
has
> detected that drive C does not contain a valid fat or fat32 partition."
>
> I ran FDisk which stopped with a mesage "No fixed disks present".
>
> I could understand if the hard drive had packed in but I can't understand
> why I couldn't access my CD drives which makes me wonder if both problems
> are a symptom of something else (I don't want to replace the hard drive
only
> to find that there was nothing wrong with it).
>
> Any suggestions?

Firstly check the IDE cable(s). I would think that both the HDD and CD-ROM
are on the same IDE ribbon/controller and that either the cable has come
lose or the IDE controller has packed up.

I hope it's a lose cable. Although not picking up either CD drive is a
worry. That's three drives giving trouble, suggesting more than one IDE
controller/ribbon cable. Unless the writer is on it's own cable and it's too
new for the BIOS to boot from. Just guessing here, more information is
needed really.

What age is the PC and did you move it or do anything to it immediately
before this problem?

If it's an old system (AT) I'm not sure but I don't think the motherboard
depends on the 12v rail from the PSU, maybe the PSU is shot and that's why
it can't detect the drives (which do require 12v). Maybe the 12v rail has
packed up or is very weak. I'm not sure on that, I'm sure someone will
correct me if I'm wrong.
--
~misfit~


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 9/10/2003

>
> Firstly check the IDE cable(s). I would think that both the HDD and CD-ROM
> are on the same IDE ribbon/controller and that either the cable has come
> lose or the IDE controller has packed up.
>
> I hope it's a lose cable. Although not picking up either CD drive is a
> worry. That's three drives giving trouble, suggesting more than one IDE
> controller/ribbon cable. Unless the writer is on it's own cable and it's
too
> new for the BIOS to boot from. Just guessing here, more information is
> needed really.
>
> What age is the PC and did you move it or do anything to it immediately
> before this problem?
>
> If it's an old system (AT) I'm not sure but I don't think the motherboard
> depends on the 12v rail from the PSU, maybe the PSU is shot and that's why
> it can't detect the drives (which do require 12v). Maybe the 12v rail has
> packed up or is very weak. I'm not sure on that, I'm sure someone will
> correct me if I'm wrong.
> --
> ~misfit~

Hi Misfit

My son was playing a game on it and the game "froze" and when he rebooted it
came up with "Operating system not found", I don't think the computer was
moved.

Not sure of exact age of computer but it is a few years old - a Gateway
Pentium 600 coppermine. The original hard drive packed in and they replaced
it under warranty so the hd is about 2 years old.

I took cover off and checked tightness of cable and connectors - nothing
loose. All drives appear to be on the same cable.

Thanks for your reply - Joe.

"Joe Black" <> wrote in message
newswrkb.183403$...
> >
> > Firstly check the IDE cable(s). I would think that both the HDD and
CD-ROM
> > are on the same IDE ribbon/controller and that either the cable has come
> > lose or the IDE controller has packed up.
> >
> > I hope it's a loose cable. Although not picking up either CD drive is a
> > worry. That's three drives giving trouble, suggesting more than one IDE
> > controller/ribbon cable. Unless the writer is on it's own cable and it's
> too
> > new for the BIOS to boot from. Just guessing here, more information is
> > needed really.
> >
> > What age is the PC and did you move it or do anything to it immediately
> > before this problem?
> >
> > If it's an old system (AT) I'm not sure but I don't think the
motherboard
> > depends on the 12v rail from the PSU, maybe the PSU is shot and that's
why
> > it can't detect the drives (which do require 12v). Maybe the 12v rail
has
> > packed up or is very weak. I'm not sure on that, I'm sure someone will
> > correct me if I'm wrong.
> > --
> > ~misfit~
>
> Hi Misfit
>
> My son was playing a game on it and the game "froze" and when he rebooted
it
> came up with "Operating system not found", I don't think the computer was
> moved.
>
> Not sure of exact age of computer but it is a few years old - a Gateway
> Pentium 600 coppermine. The original hard drive packed in and they
replaced
> it under warranty so the hd is about 2 years old.
>
> I took cover off and checked tightness of cable and connectors - nothing
> loose. All drives appear to be on the same cable.
>
> Thanks for your reply - Joe.

Hi Joe.

Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one HDD
and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running IDE
drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are all on
one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole different
kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until you
have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI uses
50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look please?

Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary diagnosis,
that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the way
it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power supply
instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power supplies
(Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try, it's
quite easy to do.

Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
add-in board? Also, where are you?

Cheers,
--
~misfit~


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 9/10/2003

In article <RLvkb.183574$>, ~misfit~@his-
desk.com says...
>
> "Joe Black" <> wrote in message
> newswrkb.183403$...
> > >
> > > Firstly check the IDE cable(s). I would think that both the HDD and
> CD-ROM
> > > are on the same IDE ribbon/controller and that either the cable has come
> > > lose or the IDE controller has packed up.
> > >
> > > I hope it's a loose cable. Although not picking up either CD drive is a
> > > worry. That's three drives giving trouble, suggesting more than one IDE
> > > controller/ribbon cable. Unless the writer is on it's own cable and it's
> > too
> > > new for the BIOS to boot from. Just guessing here, more information is
> > > needed really.
> > >
> > > What age is the PC and did you move it or do anything to it immediately
> > > before this problem?
> > >
> > > If it's an old system (AT) I'm not sure but I don't think the
> motherboard
> > > depends on the 12v rail from the PSU, maybe the PSU is shot and that's
> why
> > > it can't detect the drives (which do require 12v). Maybe the 12v rail
> has
> > > packed up or is very weak. I'm not sure on that, I'm sure someone will
> > > correct me if I'm wrong.
> > > --
> > > ~misfit~
> >
> > Hi Misfit
> >
> > My son was playing a game on it and the game "froze" and when he rebooted
> it
> > came up with "Operating system not found", I don't think the computer was
> > moved.
> >
> > Not sure of exact age of computer but it is a few years old - a Gateway
> > Pentium 600 coppermine. The original hard drive packed in and they
> replaced
> > it under warranty so the hd is about 2 years old.
> >
> > I took cover off and checked tightness of cable and connectors - nothing
> > loose. All drives appear to be on the same cable.
> >
> > Thanks for your reply - Joe.
>
> Hi Joe.
>
> Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one HDD
> and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running IDE
> drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
> channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are all on
> one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole different
> kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until you
> have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
> cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
> They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI uses
> 50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look please?
>
> Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary diagnosis,
> that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the way
> it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power supply
> instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power supplies
> (Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
> power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try, it's
> quite easy to do.
>
> Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
> add-in board? Also, where are you?

Could be a simple peripheral conflict, get them to remove all cards
except the display, if it has cards.

>
> Hi Joe.
>
> Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one
HDD
> and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running IDE
> drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
> channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are all
on
> one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole different
> kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until you
> have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
> cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
> They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI uses
> 50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look please?
>
> Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary diagnosis,
> that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the way
> it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power supply
> instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power
supplies
> (Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
> power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try, it's
> quite easy to do.
>
> Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
> add-in board? Also, where are you?
>
> Cheers,
> --
> ~misfit~

Hi Misfit

Sorry I put you crook, there are in fact two cables that plug into the
motherboard next to each other.
(I am in Tauranga)

I tried swapping hard drives with a friend and his one gives the "Operating
system not found" error on my computer and my HD works OK in his computer so
it looks like you were right and the drive controller is shot. (I don't have
access to another power supply so I can't test that).

How major would it be to fix, do I have to replace the motherboard, is it
worth it or should I just do a swap-a-box at the local computer shop?

Thanks for your time and help.
- Joe

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 21:27:44 +1300, "Joe Black" <>
wrote:

>
>>
>> Hi Joe.
>>
>> Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one
>HDD
>> and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running IDE
>> drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
>> channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are all
>on
>> one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole different
>> kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until you
>> have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
>> cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
>> They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI uses
>> 50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look please?
>>
>> Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary diagnosis,
>> that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the way
>> it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power supply
>> instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power
>supplies
>> (Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
>> power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try, it's
>> quite easy to do.
>>
>> Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
>> add-in board? Also, where are you?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> --
>> ~misfit~
>
>Hi Misfit
>
>Sorry I put you crook, there are in fact two cables that plug into the
>motherboard next to each other.
>(I am in Tauranga)
>
>I tried swapping hard drives with a friend and his one gives the "Operating
>system not found" error on my computer and my HD works OK in his computer so
>it looks like you were right and the drive controller is shot. (I don't have
>access to another power supply so I can't test that).
>
>How major would it be to fix, do I have to replace the motherboard, is it
>worth it or should I just do a swap-a-box at the local computer shop?
>
>Thanks for your time and help.
>- Joe
>



Stop ****ing around with it and Take it to a shop.

"Paul Mathews" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 21:27:44 +1300, "Joe Black" <>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >>
> >> Hi Joe.
> >>
> >> Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one
> >HDD
> >> and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running
IDE
> >> drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
> >> channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are
all
> >on
> >> one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole
different
> >> kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until
you
> >> have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
> >> cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
> >> They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI
uses
> >> 50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look
please?
> >>
> >> Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary
diagnosis,
> >> that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the
way
> >> it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power
supply
> >> instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power
> >supplies
> >> (Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
> >> power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try,
it's
> >> quite easy to do.
> >>
> >> Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
> >> add-in board? Also, where are you?
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> --
> >> ~misfit~
> >
> >Hi Misfit
> >
> >Sorry I put you crook, there are in fact two cables that plug into the
> >motherboard next to each other.
> >(I am in Tauranga)
> >
> >I tried swapping hard drives with a friend and his one gives the
"Operating
> >system not found" error on my computer and my HD works OK in his computer
so
> >it looks like you were right and the drive controller is shot. (I don't
have
> >access to another power supply so I can't test that).
> >
> >How major would it be to fix, do I have to replace the motherboard, is it
> >worth it or should I just do a swap-a-box at the local computer shop?
> >
> >Thanks for your time and help.
> >- Joe
> >
>
>
>
> Stop ****ing around with it and Take it to a shop.

Take it to a shop and some knob like Woger will end up ****ing with it.
You've pretty much proven the board is borked, (the IDE controller is
integral with the board)
If you can pull out the old board, then you'd be capable of putting in a new
one.
Whether it is worth repairing this PC or upgrading to a new one depends on
how old it is, did it meet your needs prior to dying or have you been
waiting for something like this to happen so you can justify to the
financial controler that a new PC is required.
>

In article <80Nkb.184460$>, joeblack99
@hotmail.com says...
>
> >
> > Hi Joe.
> >
> > Hmmm, it's hard to trouble-shoot a PC problem remotely. If you have one
> HDD
> > and two CD drives they can't all be on the same cable if it's running IDE
> > drives, which I'd think it would be. IDE is limited to two drives per
> > channel and most motherboards have two channels. If in fact they are all
> on
> > one cable then it's using SCSI instead of IDE, which is a whole different
> > kettle of fish. I wouldn't think it was SCSI but I can't be sure until you
> > have another look under the hood and check to see if it is in fact two
> > cables, one with one drive on it and the other with two drives on it.
> > They'll plug into the motherboard right next to each other. Also SCSI uses
> > 50-pin cables whereas IDE uses 40-pin. Can you have another look please?
> >
> > Either way it doesn't look good. I would say, as a preliminary diagnosis,
> > that the drive controller is shot. It might not be that but that's the way
> > it looks at the moment. There's a slim chance it could be the power supply
> > instead. I don't know if Gateway use standard wiring on their power
> supplies
> > (Dell don't but I think Gateway might) or if you have access to another
> > power supply to try. If you did that would be my first thing to try, it's
> > quite easy to do.
> >
> > Check those cables again please, and do they go to the main board or an
> > add-in board? Also, where are you?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > --
> > ~misfit~
>
> Hi Misfit
>
> Sorry I put you crook, there are in fact two cables that plug into the
> motherboard next to each other.
> (I am in Tauranga)
>
> I tried swapping hard drives with a friend and his one gives the "Operating
> system not found" error on my computer and my HD works OK in his computer so
> it looks like you were right and the drive controller is shot. (I don't have
> access to another power supply so I can't test that).
>
> How major would it be to fix, do I have to replace the motherboard, is it
> worth it or should I just do a swap-a-box at the local computer shop?

Before you go to the trouble of replacing a board do run down all of the
other possibilities. HDD controller failure is not a common event and the
symptoms may be due to other causes. For example the BIOS settings for
the hard disk are incorrect. I wonder if the BIOS could be corrupted, as
some viruses can do this. Alternately BIOS settings are lost due to a
flat battery.

I assume when you put your friend's hard disk in you went into the BIOS
and entered the parameters or set auto HDD detection. Check to see what
data is entered into the BIOS by auto detection, and if there is a POST
message on the screen about the HDD being detected.

I had a situation recently with a PC with pretty much the same symptoms,
there were several problems the most notable being that the data cable
was connected incorrectly. Have you tried replacing the data cable to the
HDD and try a different power cable. There was also a problem in this
instance of the master/slave jumper being set wrongly.

If there have been no hardware changes in the PC then the BIOS seems to
be the most likely cause before the rare situation of HDD controller
failure. Even a simple matter of peripheral conflict can cause a spurious
error message like "Primary HDD failure" which is nothing of the sort.