operating system not found on any devices

[Justin6898]

When I start up my computer, I get the message:

"operating system not found on any devices"
I started getting this message after I ran "System Mechanic 6" and compacted the registry.

Its an older computer but it has XP on it.

I have the Windows XP CD, and I have the Quick Restore CD that came with the computer when I got it. (Windows 98)

Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

-Justin

[Rich M]

When are users going to learn you don't clean a registry like you would a bathroom. Why on earth would anyone want to compact a registry with hard drives so cheap today there is absolutely no need for such silliness.
Your only real choice is to boot to the XP cd and run XP repair:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Let's hope the little bit of registry repair that this does will rebuild it because if not, you earned the right o do a clean install of XP.

[Seth_]

Like Norton, Registry Mechanic is great for PC repair techs, but sucks for the user.

"Cleaning" the registry will have no significant impact on speed or stability.

[Justin6898]

Ignorance is my only defense! :-(

Here's what comes up when I tell the computer that I want to repair:

Its a black screen that says:

Microsoft Windows XP Recover Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.

Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the Computer

C:\>

What do i do from here?

Thanks so much for the help!

[Seth_]

Originally Posted by Justin6898

Ignorance is my only defense! :-(

Here's what comes up when I tell the computer that I want to repair:

Its a black screen that says:


What do i do from here?

Thanks so much for the help!

You can't do anything in the recovery console that will help you. You need to run the repair as Rich suggested. For simpler instructions, click here. Do full updates right after the repair.

[Justin6898]

1.
When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
2.
Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.
3.
Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
4.
In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
5.
Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
6.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.

I followed the instructions until I got to step 5.

It acts like its waiting for me to choose a partition, but in the box it says:

Unkown Disk:

<There is no disk in this drive.>

Any ideas on how that is happening?

Thanks again,
-Justin

[Murray S.]

Howdy:

Sorry but "Repair" isn't going to cut it here.. You are going to have to do a complete re-install.. partition, format and install XP all over again..

And YES, you WILL lose everything !!

Murray

[Seth_]

You're Welcome.

Do not proceed with the repair install of the CD doesn't detect that you already have XP. Try this:

1) Boot into the recovery console and type in fixboot. See if the computer will boot up normally.

2) If not, do the same as above but type in fixmbr. Will the computer boot normally now?

3) If not, attempt the repair install again, but do not proceed if you don't have the option to "Repair the current installation of XP".

[Justin6898]

I'm not too worried about losing everything (there wasn't much on it to begin with)

How do I partition space if its not seeing the "disk in the drive"?

-Justin

[Seth_]

Originally Posted by Murray S.

Howdy:

Sorry but "Repair" isn't going to cut it here.. You are going to have to do a complete re-install.. partition, format and install XP all over again..

And YES, you WILL lose everything !!

Murray

Right, the repair only replaces part of the registry, so there is a good chance it won't work. Other than attempting to repair the boot files, a clean install is likely the only solution.

[Justin6898]

Originally Posted by Seth_

You're Welcome.

Do not proceed with the repair install of the CD doesn't detect that you already have XP. Try this:

1) Boot into the recovery console and type in fixboot. See if the computer will boot up normally.

2) If not, do the same as above but type in fixmbr. Will the computer boot normally now?

3) If not, attempt the repair install again, but do not proceed if you don't have the option to "Repair the current installation of XP".

I'll try these.

-Justin

[Seth_]

The last attempt at using the recovery console to get your system booted will be bootcfg /rebuild

If all the above doesn't help, then you will need to download a 98 boot floppy, delete the partitions, and create a new one. Then, the XP cd should detect the hard drive in order to proceed with a clean install. We can get to that if need be.

[Justin6898]

1) Boot into the recovery console and type in fixboot. See if the computer will boot up normally.

FIXBOOT cannot find the system drive, or the drive specified is not valid.

2) If not, do the same as above but type in fixmbr. Will the computer boot normally now?

Nothing happens...it just brings up another command prompt below it.

3) If not, attempt the repair install again, but do not proceed if you don't have the option to "Repair the current installation of XP".

It still doesn't see a disk in the drive.

[Rich M]

This drive is really messed up, is it a sata hard drive, because it looks as if to get XP to install, you will need to push F6 in the beginning of setup when cued by setup and install a sata driver from the floppy, if fixmbr doesn't work.As for formatting, the XP install will do all that for you once you get into setup.

[Justin6898]

Originally Posted by Seth_

The last attempt at using the recovery console to get your system booted will be bootcfg /rebuild

If all the above doesn't help, then you will need to download a 98 boot floppy, delete the partitions, and create a new one. Then, the XP cd should detect the hard drive in order to proceed with a clean install. We can get to that if need be.

None of the above worked...so I guess the we'll have to try what you were talking about above.

Can you try to explain it for me step by step?

Thanks for all the help

-Justin