Old Computer... I need help

[DXgeneration8]

Now I have this OLD compaq from about the year 1999/2000.
When I try to get it to boot, it says No operating System found. I figured that was the result of a HDD failure, but I tested the HDD in a different computer, and it works fine. I tried Booting from the Win98SE CDROM, but that didnt work either (I put boot from CDROM as first). and specs....i believe it has a AMD K6-2 (500 Mhz) with 64MB RAM... Im normally good with this stuff, but this one's got me puzzled. help would be greatly appreciated.

[DXgeneration8]

Ive been messin with it, and i noticed it detects my HDD as a CDROM in the CDROM Slot, and it detects the CDROM as a CD in the HDD Slot....but it wont pick up the HDD in the HDD Slot....I Dunno Already

[DarthBrady]

Now I have this OLD compaq from about the year 1999/2000.
When I try to get it to boot, it says No operating System found. I figured that was the result of a HDD failure, but I tested the HDD in a different computer, and it works fine. I tried Booting from the Win98SE CDROM, but that didnt work either (I put boot from CDROM as first). and specs....i believe it has a AMD K6-2 (500 Mhz) with 64MB RAM... Im normally good with this stuff, but this one's got me puzzled. help would be greatly appreciated.

"No Operating system found" is a Bios error Message.

When you turn on your PC, the Bios is responsible for checking all motherboard components for physical error, then it checks RAM, then Hard Disk Drives and their Setting(master/slave/cableselect). after that, it drops off, and its up to the Hard Disk Drive to "take over" from there. If the Hard Disk doesnt start doing its job, this bios will give you this message.

What this message is telling you, is that your PC is booting normally, but when the hard Drive "takes over" well, itd not booting an Operating System. This could Happen for many Reasons:

-the hard disk jumper setting or cable may be incorrect. CHECK THIS FIRST
-the hard disk may not have an operating system installed on it at all.
-the operating system's boot sector may be damaged.
-the operating system may be have missing or corrupt boot files.(such as the HAL or SAM sets)
-the operating system may have missing or corrupt Dynamic Link Libraries
-a boot sector virus has locked the hard drive


the first thing I would do, is use a boot disk, or a linux live CD to boot on, and look and see what's on the hard disk.

In most cases, the most sure-fire thing to do, is the following (unless you have important data on the drive you dont want to lose):

-format the hard disk, and reboot
-use a boot disk or CD, to erase all partions from the hard disk. and reboot again
-use a boot disk or CD, to re-format the drive - VERY important step
-set up new partions appropriately, and reboot again (unless you are using XP, it will do this step for you)
-install a fresh operating system. reboot
-install all hardware drivers needed, in the correct order they require (this can be tricky!) rebooting between every driver installed!


**NOTE** this is general advice, keep in mind that every PC and operating system can require special steps, or instruction for each general step I have mentioned. Also, MAKE SURE, you have every thing you think you may need to do this BEFORE you attempt it. So do your research first!!!! And it's a good idea to have another PC handy, so you can still get what you need, if you get stuck. ;)

[DarthBrady]

Ive been messin with it, and i noticed it detects my HDD as a CDROM in the CDROM Slot, and it detects the CDROM as a CD in the HDD Slot....but it wont pick up the HDD in the HDD Slot....I Dunno Already

are you saying you switched the CD rom and HDD cable slots? NO!! This can completely destroy a hard drive very easy.

MAKE EXTRA SURE ALL CABLES AND JUMPERS ARE SET CORRECTLY BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT TURNING ON YOUR PC!!!!

[DXgeneration8]

I looked at the jumpers....fine.
I looked at the cables......fine.
But the thing is... the HDD works in my new computer, but wont work in the old one. and i cant get the computer to boot from CD at all. it just wont let me.

[DarthBrady]

I looked at the jumpers....fine.
I looked at the cables......fine.
But the thing is... the HDD works in my new computer, but wont work in the old one. and i cant get the computer to boot from CD at all. it just wont let me.

ok, so :

-when you put it in another PC (the HDD) does it boot an OS from that HDD?
-what is the exact order for boot sequence in your Bios?
-are you trying to use a backup copy of a CD to boot from? (note tha certain builds of windows will not boot from a backup copy.)

[FERGUS_MANERGUS]

WOW, DB is more computor liturate than anybody i know

[DXgeneration8]

yeah, bad HDD. thats my final. i got a real windows 98 boot disk, and that works, unlike my backup. that says it could not detect my HDD. so im gonna get a new one.

[DarthBrady]

yeah, bad HDD. thats my final. i got a real windows 98 boot disk, and that works, unlike my backup. that says it could not detect my HDD. so im gonna get a new one.

I see this all the time, and its usually one of three things:
-Incorrect jumper pin setting!
-ide Cable is not hooked up correctly, make sure the #1 pin is lined up!
-incorrect bios setting

[NiXoN5050]

You dont have a bad HDD, Your hard drive is fine, I have a Compaq Presario 500 MHz as well, and I have had this problem as well and I am an IT Tech, Remove the jumper from the back of the hard drive totally, Remove the plugs that lead to the hard drive then press the power button for a few minutes (3 Minutes atleast) This clears the Cache, Memory and everything else (Resets the tower(Motherboard)) After this cut the system on and let it boot without the hard drive once you recieve the message that there is no OS simply shut the PC down, Reconnect the hard drive (MAKE SURE that the plugs running from the motherboard are pluged in the right slots on the board)(It has become a problem when anyone takes there system apater they put the plugs back into the board wrong and recieve the error you recieve) Once the drive is pluged back in boot up and see if windows loads if NOT then simply place the system restore disks into the drive and load it (When you held the power button in it reset the bios config so it should be set back to default now) IF windows 98SE does not load then find a version of Windows XP and install that instead (I use windows XP ) If you are not happy with the XP it is easier to reload 98 SE with XP already installed.

[DXgeneration8]

yeah but that old of a computer...i doubt it can handle XP. now 98 crashed and will never get passed the initial screen, gives me a retarted error over and over and over. im gonna try out 95, if that doesnt work, XP, if nothing works, im giving up.

[DarthBrady]

You dont have a bad HDD, Your hard drive is fine, I have a Compaq Presario 500 MHz as well, and I have had this problem as well and I am an IT Tech, Remove the jumper from the back of the hard drive totally, Remove the plugs that lead to the hard drive then press the power button for a few minutes (3 Minutes atleast) This clears the Cache, Memory and everything else (Resets the tower(Motherboard)) After this cut the system on and let it boot without the hard drive once you recieve the message that there is no OS simply shut the PC down, Reconnect the hard drive (MAKE SURE that the plugs running from the motherboard are pluged in the right slots on the board)(It has become a problem when anyone takes there system apater they put the plugs back into the board wrong and recieve the error you recieve) Once the drive is pluged back in boot up and see if windows loads if NOT then simply place the system restore disks into the drive and load it (When you held the power button in it reset the bios config so it should be set back to default now) IF windows 98SE does not load then find a version of Windows XP and install that instead (I use windows XP ) If you are not happy with the XP it is easier to reload 98 SE with XP already installed.

RIGHT ON! See, I knew is wasnt a bad HDD! I am no official IT tech, but I know a great answer when I see one. ;)

NiXoN5050, your help is always welcome here. Thanks for the support! It's nice to have a Real IT Tech here at CoolROM, Maybe you can teach us something new somtime :)

[Fierce Deity]

Between DarthBrady and Nixon, I think we'll be able to solve most of our computer problems now... YAY!

You two should gentically engineer an offspring.

[NiXoN5050]

Ok You say you have a 500 MHz Processor right? Now.. What is the error your getting? Try the windows XP, it MY 500 MHz Processor and 256 RAM can handle it YOURS can too and in all actuallity it runs faster and better then win 98 did on my PC so give it a shot and see if it works, I have a feelin you are gonna be pleasently suprised.

[NiXoN5050]

Thanks for all of your support, if it wasent for people having issues I would have nothing to do with my time, If you post a problem I will look at it, if I cant help Ill let the user know that I do not know how to fix it but I will research it so that I may learn how to fix it. I am a real IT Tech and I know what I am doing when it comes to helping people out but I am not a know it all, I still have alot to learn and there are people out there right now that even with no college education know more then I ever could, and to those people I say this.. Keep up the good work, keep doing the research, with every problem and issue we can only learn more, thanks yall for making my day and showing appreciation.

[DXgeneration8]

the computer only has 56mb of ram though.... and if you said youve had this computer before, then do you know by any chance what drivers i need to install? like whats the hardware? i know the sound is ESS allegro something, but thats already done. the video is what i am having trouble with, it only went to 16 colors, but i got it at 256 colors, it used to run at 16 or 32 bit before it crashed but i dont know what the hardware is. so if you know what the hardware drivers i need to use are, it would be greatly appreciated.

[DXgeneration8]

i got the video running now, i looked up the model of the motherboard and voila... i got it. so it runs fine now. thanks for all of the help ;)

[NiXoN5050]

Kewl the video should be Trident 3D, and it SHOULD have come with 64 MB Ram. need any more help let us know.