Problems with Computer (Win XP)

Hey just joined.

Anyway I have a problem with my computer, I restarted it because it seemed to be going slow then when it was booting up it had a problem. Now everytime I turn on my computer it doesn't work. It always says "Insert Boot diskette into A Drive" or something similar. I thought I might start it in safe mode and restore it to previous times when it was working but I have tried clicking F8 and nothing will happen, I had a problem with my computer not long ago and my brother got it into safe mode and he said he just clicked F8 but I have tried that and it won't work it just goes to this Blue Box asking how I would like to boot the computer up or something, btw Im using Windows XP.

Can someone tell me how to fix this?

 

PS: Im on a different computer at the moment because the one im talking about wont boot up at all.

 

Enter the bios and check make sure that it's set to boot from your hard drive first or only, and that the hard drive is detected and displayed.

 

The 1st boot device says: IDE-0, 2nd boot device: Floppy and the 3rd Boot Device: CDROM.

Anyway here is exactly what it says when I try and just start up my computer normally:

Searching for Boot record from Floppy...Not Found
Searching for Boot record from CDROM...Not Found
Searching for Boot record from SCSI...Not Found

Insert BOOT diskette in A:\

Press any key when ready.

 

Have you tried and checked what I suggested?

Is the hard drive displayed correctly in the Bios?

Set the Bios to boot from the hard drive only and see if it starts.

 

How do I do this?

 

All the settings are fine as I didnt change any of them I just want to know why it won't go into the actual Boot Menu so that I can get into safe mode. I press f8 and just this BOX comes up saying if i want to boot with the CDROM or Hardrive 1st, i click hardrive it does the same message as i said before i do CDROM it does the same message as before.

 

It won't go because the Boot Sector for some reason is either missing or corrupt.

I asked you if your Hard Drive is detected and displayed in the bios to see if it was a drive problem.

If it can't find the Boot Sector, it will automatically look in the next device that the bios is set to and so on.

For example, on your system it will firstly check the Hard drive, and if that doesn't have the required files, it will go to the Floppy Drive, then the CD Rom.

That's why it's asking you to insert the floppy.

 

So what can I do to get this thing working again?

 

Again, is your hard drive detected and displayed in the Bios?

If it is, there aren't a great deal of options apart from a Repair using the Recovery Console. (you need the Windows CD)