another "no operating system found...."

[skippi]

compaq desktop running Win 98
aside from C: it has one partion
from previous crash requiring use of the
Compaq restore disks.
(called, by the restore program "system save (D: )")

Worked for over a year afterwards
up until a couple days ago.
I left it on for a period of about three hours.
It would not come back to life when prompted by
keyboard strokes or mouse movement.

Now when I push the start button a black screen stating,
" operating system not found in any devices.Press any key to continue"
when I do so the same screen appears.

I down loaded a boot disk from bootdisk.com
on another win 98 Presario (laptop)

The desktop boots to win98 saying
corrupt or missing
HIMEN.SYS in CONFIG.SYS
(does this mean on the boot disk or on the desktop's CMOS?)

It does continue to load.
I selected #1 "boot with CD support"
then
at the A:> prompt I typed
fdisk /status <enter>

returns with
no fixed disks present

I would like to recover some files so I will try
whatever before using restore disks and formatting.

As stated I have another win 98 machine (but it's floppy now may have issues
it does have a CD burner attached via pc card), restore disks for it
and a win98 CD (licensed)

Thank you kindly in advance for any help.

[Murf]

For whatever reason it is not seeing your hard drive.

Reboot and get into SETUP, the screen tells you what key(s) to use to get into it. I believe a Compaq is F10.

Once in there nose around the different menu's (each system is different), under the first menu, usually called Standard, see if the Hard Drive is listed. Also it should be set to AUTO after IDE, could say IDE 0 or maybe IDE 1...

See if there is a menu item that will auto detect yopur drives and run it to see if it finds the drive. If you can't find anything then find where you can set "System Defualts" again usually a "F" key.

Save & Exit and see if it finds the drive.

[Nick Grana]

I would like to recover some files so I will try whatever before using restore disks and formatting.
Now is not the best time to be looking to save critical files. A long, long, time ago in a Galaxy far, far away.......wait, not that. But backups should be made before catastrophic failures. After is, well, too late.:sad:
I wish you luck in recovery.:cool:

[skippi]

First I would like to thank you for taking the time to reply, guys

Murf, At the binking cursor, I have tried every "F" key but it will not go to a set up menu
I never see a screen that tells me what key to use on this machine.
Or
Do you mean boot with the EBD and try for "set up"
When I use F8 it gives me the
Which do you want to do
1) Normal
2) ...
3...
ect
screen is the the "set up" you mean?
Again thanks for the help

Grana, you are so right!!

[tucker42]

If you are getting to the boot menu then something is working on the hard drive. If you can get in on safe mode or anything get those files backed up first.

You need to press F10 several times BEFORE you see the Windows logo, by the way.

[skippi]

thanks Tucker, I believe the boot menu I am seeing is on the
the boot disk (EBD) I am operating from ?

I have tapped the F2, F8 , F10 , F12 and tried holding them down for a while at the blinking cursor, unless I have the boot disk in I get nothing.

BTW - I never see the hard drive indicator light flash or come on either.

I am going to try taking the cables off and cleaning them.
This unit was recently transported but worked fine afterward.

[Nick Grana]

If you are getting to the boot menu then something is working on the hard drive.
thanks Tucker, I believe the boot menu I am seeing is on the
the boot disk (EBD) I am operating from ?
Actually the boot menu comes from the bios.
You mentioned moving recently. Taking things apart and reseating all cables, connectors, and cards may get you back again. Something got loose.
Tapping F10 rapidly while booting should get into cmos. If not, possible virus on system taking up memory area (first 640k ram) for that operation.:cool:

[skippi]

Thanks Nick,
Checked all cables and removed and plugged in the power cable
it was very tight.

I then used your method => tapping F10 and this time I got to "set up"
(there was no EBD in drive A)

Followed Murf's suggestions first doing a "Set defaults and exit "
no change same old screen -.> No Op... system found on any drives

Went to set up again
I then checked all available menus on the under IDE all lines said "Enable"

Under " Boot disks" no hard disk was found just CD and floppy
I set it to "floppy first"

Reboot - this time it checked the memory - counted to 56MB top of the screen
then it came back with same old -- No Op Sys............

From the EBD I choose option 2
Gave me the three statements about missing FAT32
and partitions, third party .... and viruses

then
from the command prompt I typed
SYS C:
got
"invalid function"

Tried
FDISK /STATUS
got
"no fixed disks present"

What's next guys?

Incidentally if it helps.
this problem occurred after using the pooter for several different operations
and loading a purchased application "Design It 3D"
and running the ap for about an hour,
I then let the system run and the power management shut down the hard drive.
Never has started since.

Hope that helps and as always thanks for taking the time to type.

I am following all reccos and sugs to the best of my meager abilities.

Sure hope the HDD is not FUBAR

[Nick Grana]

I would check to see if hard drive is actually spinning up at boot. You'll have to put your finger on it or have your head close to hear it spin up or not.
If not spinning up, then it is frozen. Few ways to possibly overcome that for a short time. If disk is spinning, then something is wrong with the drive parameters like master boot record (mbr) or losing the boot files. Many things can have that same symptom. Would have to investigate quite a bit further.:cool:

[skippi]

Thanks Nick, this was an easy one as I have the machine on the bench with the cover off.

There is no spinning/noise/vibration coming from the drive when I boot it.

I tapped it with a small screw driver handle (the ol' Fonzie trick) - no joy.

While I had it switched off, .I swapped power cable and unplugged and replugged the ribbon cable.

No change.

[tucker42]

R.i.p.

[Murf]

I'm afraid she went to IDE heaven. If it doesn't at least spin up make a gurgling noise, nadda, then she is dead. Try unhooking everything but the Hard Drive and see what happens.

[skippi]

Sa shame, good ol girl gone before her prime well maybe not.

Murf, I would like to do as you recco but
when you say disconnect everything ah
power wise or ribbon cable or both?

As an aside, this pooter was given to me by a workmate.
He said it had this problem that I now have and have described.
This is why he gave it away.

I had let it sit for about 6 months before trying it and when I did it
worked for about an hour before going kaput.
No chance of this being some kind of wierd timed virus is there?
The workmate's daughter used this unit on the internet. She did have
some anti virus software installed but probably not updated.

I would like to use it as a shop computer for some design work and inventory.

I guess the Bay of E(vil) is the best place to get a small HDD these daze?

Being a neophyte do I just plug in another HDD and see if it runs?
Or do I have to format/partion and add the operating system ?

[ajpieper]

You all gave up to easily. I happen to have the EXACT same problem ----- however---- I have a brand NEW Hard Drive!

I had no operating system to start with. I installed it and booted up a few times, installing some hardware like DSL/mouse ect. Even got on the internet. Life was grand. Then I insert McAfee viruscan disk to update my protection and eversince it boots to the screen No OP system found.

[worknstiff]

hey ajpieper,
welcome to CTH, you'll have to start your own thread describing your problem/s, i'm sure help will come your way.