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General discussion

Cannot find the operating system

by wan018 Nov 6, 2004 10:03AM PST

after a crash, I couldn't start my laptop. It always shows a message:" cannot find the operating system ", only occasionally I can start it successfully, most of the time what I can see is that message. can anybody please help? thanks in advance.

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6 Posts
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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by KenSanramon Nov 6, 2004 10:17AM PST

Your notebook boots the operating system off your hard drive at startup so if you are having intermittant problems (you say it is still working at times) than perhaps either you have a connection issue with the hard drive (loose cable between hard drive and motherboard --can get loose especially if you travel with the notebook alot or there is a lot of vibration (in car, etc) or you may have a hard drive that is partially corrupted or failing.

A hard drive is not too expensive to replace and if it is just the connection that would cost nothing if you know how to open the area housing the hard drive (usually in bay underneath the notebook) and check that.

If the notebook is under warranty then you should be able to get a replacement hard drive or have them check it.

If not under warranty you should be able to have someone help you and even put a new hard drive in (you would have to reload the operating system and programs or transfer the contents of your hard drive to it using Symantec Ghost, etc) but again that would not cost too much if that is the case.

The things too expensive to repair are motherboard failure or LCD failure (or even video card failure in a notebook) but your hard drive or its connection seems to be the issue here.

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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by wan018 Nov 7, 2004 7:03AM PST

Thanks for your reply KenSanramon,

I tried to unplug and replug the hard drive twice but the problem still there. furthermore, yesterday the laptop showed a message saying: that the newly installed hardware or software had a problem, please uninstall it and in the meantime the laptop would shut down. but I haven't installed anything recently. so does that imply that the hard drive is faulty? your advice will be much appreciated. once again, thanks for your reply.

cheers,

wan018

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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by KenSanramon Nov 8, 2004 3:14AM PST

Well, your issue is probably hard drive related whether it is the software corrupted on the hard drive (viruses, spyware, corrupted operating system) or whether you have a hardware issue with the hard drive (bad connection or failing drive).

If this is under warranty then send it in .. if not you can probably find a good technical friend to reinstall the software and or put in a new hard drive for not too much money.

You can easily get a replacement hard drive in the $75-$150 range.

But if it is under warranty use that avenue first.

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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by wan018 Nov 8, 2004 3:25AM PST

thanks for your help, KenSanramon. I will replace the hard drive.
cheers,

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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by KenSanramon Nov 8, 2004 3:31AM PST

Make sure you know the hard drives you can use in your notebook but you should be able to determine that pretty easily. You likely have a 4200rpm hard drive and you could increase your access time by getting a 5400rpm hard drive now, etc.

You should find the hard drive in many notebooks in a slot under the notebook you access with a screwdriver -- many notebooks have a proprietary connector at the end you have to take off the old hard drive and put on the new hard drive (between the drive and the motherboard).

The big thing is if you need any data off the old drive you would have to use Symantec Ghost or something to retrieve it.

If you have Windows Restore disks it would be easy to restore the notebook to its original state on the new hard drive -- but you would not have any of your data or added programs.

If you only have the operating system disks you have to install this and then find all the drivers you need to make the notebook work from either your enclosed CD's or the manufacturer website.

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Re: Cannot find the operating system
by wan018 Nov 10, 2004 9:22AM PST

Thank you very much KenSanramon. I really appreciate it.

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