Boot Failure

I wasn't sure which forum to post this question in... if I need to start another one, please someone let me know. I've messed up a computer... don't know how, don't know exactly what to do to fix it. Last night, after a really loud and irritating noise, I shut the computer down and rebooted, hoping to get rid of the noise (loud ticking like noise)

As it was trying to start back up, it continued that noise for a few seconds, then I got the following message....

BOOT FAILURE
Please insert BOOT diskette into A:
Press any key to continue

So ok... I found the boot disk, inserted it, and pressed any key. It took me to a few steps which finally led me to a menu...
Install Operating System
Install CD Rom
Change boot settings.... etc.

I wasn't sure what to do there, but everything I've tried, I get another message saying that the command can't be found and to type the command. The example it gives is .... C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM

Is there any help for my dumb luck at all? Anxious to hear from anyone with suggestions....

Thank you!

 

if you get past the POST test, it sounds to me like your BOOT sector is too corrupt for windows to boot(im assuming you're using some version of windows) or you have had some sort of irreparable physical damage to your HDD

try doing a repair installation ... if that doesn't work either let someone else help you or you're going to need to use a HDD forensic software app(like GetDataBack or File Scavenger) to rescue your files .. and once you've backed them up onto a different HDD then do a reinstall of your drive ... if your HDD is physically damaged i know there is software that allows you to recover some of your files but I do not know the names of any

 

Sounds like a disk failure. You probably will not have any luck trying to boot from it. What you may be able to do is attach it to another PC as a slave or get the data, or install a new HD with a new OS andattach the old as a slave. Unless there is no data needed, in which case, scrap it. ;-)

 

It's a Gateway.....

 

gateway builds computers ... what brand is the hard drive? like western digital, maxtor, seagate, etc ... it's good to know because then we know what brands to recommend and which can be faulty ... plus different companies gives different diagnostic software so we can tell you what software you need to download

 

Let's try a little something.......boot off your floppy and at the A prompt type FDISK/MBR, then enter.

Restart, (without floppy in drive), and see if it makes any difference, clicking is not necessarily indicative of HD 'physical' failure.

 

Ok.... I think there's no hope for the computer in question... I took the case apart as much as I could, but I couldn't find anything. I did find somewhere in something, that said Panasonic DVD-III drive. Don't know if that's any help or not.

I also tried typing FDISK/MBR
and got the same message..... "The following file is missing or corrupted: COMMAND.COM. Type the name of the command Interpreter."

I'm so confused...

 

OK, it was worth a try. Follow what Mastertech told you. Here's another way round it. Do you see that cable in Masters screenshot, try going from the other end. Look on the motherboard and you will see the other end of that data cable.. There should be two slots on Mobo: IDE1 & IDE2. Follow it, (or them), back up and have a look at whats there. If only 1 cable you have a DVD attached and an HD. If 2 cables you prob have HD on end of 1 and DVD on end of other.

Once you've found the HD, look on top and you should find the info we need to help. Good luck.

 

u may not need to open the case so long as you know Gateways serial number or the model number for the computer ... go here http://support.gateway.com/support/default.asp?clv=DD# ... and you should be able to locate your PC and find out what hdd you are using

 

Ok.... I think I found out what kind it is, finally. After turning the tower upside down and taking it half way apart, something in the top that looks like that picture says.... Quantum

 

Ok, I know this is gonna sound dumb to you.... do I download that to a floppy from this computer, then try to run it on the messed up one?

 

Ok... thank you. Gonna go try it now

 

Ok, I did what you said.... saved Maxtor to this HD, then to a formatted floppy. Then booted the other computer from the Maxtor disk. Here's what happened:

After the Gateway screen went away, the screen went black and said "Caldera DR-DOS" at the top. From there it went into Maxtor Power Max 4.09. Next was the Disclaimer, then the Handling Precautions.

It continued on with the Test Status.... then a little blue box popped up with the following:

Select Device:
PIIX4 Primary Master: No device found
PIIX4 Primary Slave: No device found
PIIX4 Secondary Master: MATSHITA DVD-ROM SR-8583
PIIX4 Secondary Slave: No device found

That's where I've stopped... don't know where to go from there, or even if there's anywhere to go from there.

 

I took the disk out, hit the power button to turn off... then turned on again. While showing the Gateway screen, I hit the F1 button where it took me to BIOS Setup Utility.... Under the Power tab there, where it says Hard Drive, it says "Disabled". Is this what I'm suppose to be looking for, or something else?

I'm sorry to be such a bother and so ignorant when it comes to this stuff. Just wanted to let you know, that I appreciate your help and suggestions.

 

I looked again, but didn't find it under the Main tab.

Under the Advanced tab, I clicked on IDE Drive Configuration, where it says........
Primary IDE Master - None
Primary IDE Slave - None
Secondary IDE Master - MATSHITA DVD-ROM SR-8583
Secondary IDE Slave - None

Does a sleep button on a keyboard have anything to do with causing this problem? I had been fooling around (where I had no business) trying to get the earphone thing to work on my computer. I may have hit this button, as I hit a few at the top of the keyboard. Just before it started that noise, a message popped up, something to the effect of "Standby, etc." I didn't get to see the message long, before it disappeared, and I shut it down due to the noise.

 

I clicked on it and it's set for Auto. Even redid it, just in case. It still says, nothing found for Primary Master.

I haven't located an IDE detection option yet.

Thanks for the sleep button not having anything to do with it. That's one small worry eliminated.

 

Everything appears to be connected right... I sure hate this... thanks for your help.