Problem Getting Computer to Boot

[cpwiz...ops]

Hi, The computer I am working on is a Gateway with Windows 95 OS.

The problem:

Upon Bootup get an a promt (a: ) and the computer requests to "insert bootable media into the appropiate drive".

I created a bootdisk (from bootdisk.com) and the bootdisk loads. I know the bootdisk works.

I insert the bootdisk and it runs for about 30-60 seconds, then at the A: prompt I want to change to C: to run a scandisk and the Computer tells me there is no C drive, or d drive. only the A drive seems to exist.

Some background:
Computer is not connected nor has it ever been connected to the internet. Used for word processing and excel spreadsheets only. No games.

I am a little weary of opening/taking components apart.

The Questions:
1) How do I get the computer to recognize the C drive?
2) What are the possibilites of the problems?
3) Why would this happen all of the sudden? wouldn't there be some sort of warning?
4) How do I determine what's really going on with this computer and how to fix it best?

Any help and or direction would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Annie

[jdc2000]

Unfortunately, it sounds like your hard drive may have died. If the computer is old enough that it originally came with Windows 95 and the hard drive has not been replaced, then it has likely failed. When you power the PC on, you should see some BIOS messages appear on the screen. It should try to detect the hard drive, and a failure message may appear when it tries. You could try pressing whatever key sequence is needed to get into the BIOS setup, and try using the BIOS setup options to detect the hard drive.

[Idnew]

The drive may have failed or the BIOS may have lost its settings or a dead CMOS (http://www.computing.net/windows31/wwwboard/forum/11593.html#) battery - check the BIOS and see if there is an entry for your hard drive (http://www.computing.net/windows31/wwwboard/forum/11593.html#), or if it can 'autodetect' one - you may have to choose that as an option

[cpwiz...ops]

Thanks for all your hlep!
I will check the battery and the harddrive.