Operating System Not Found

[mrdavid57]

I bought a computer from my job and I think they formatted the hard drive because of the licensing issues. When I boot the machine, I get operating system not found. What do I need to do to get the operating system back? I think I have most of the software to do this, but I just don't know what to do first. I've had this problem before on another box, but I don't remember what I did first. fdisk? Please help me.

Thanks

 

[wolluf]

Depends on which operating system you are going to load. If its win9x/ME you'll need an appropriate boot disk (available from

http://www.bootdisk.com

if you haven't got one). You'll need to boot from it, use fdisk to create a partition (there may be one there - best remove & recreate), reboot from boot floppy again (with CD support & istall disk in fdrive). Format the drive, run setup from CD & follow instructions.

If NT/2K/XP, boot the PC from the install CD, and follow instructions (includes tools to partition & format disk).

 

[knporter]

What OS are you planning to install? Win2000 and WinXP will ask you to partition and format the drive when you begin the install. If your machine supports booting from a cd-rom all you have to do is put in the Win2000/XP cd and follow the prompts. Make sure you go to the Windows update site after the install is done to install service packs and security updates. "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people."

--Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

 

[CharlieJax]

You have several options:

1) You can use a boot disk (createable from the OS disk that you are trying to install if it is W2K or XP).

2) You can use a bootable CD Rom (if the system you are using allows them)

Either of these options will help you to install the software on the system. CJ
- If chickens could fly would they egg ugly people?

 

[DBSSP]

You need to use a bootdisk to partition the drive (just in case it wasn't already done). You need an OS, particularly 98 or XP (ME is junk to me). Either of these will load on boot if the bios is set to boot from the cd drive. Away you go. Jay
"If the words up and down were reversed, would you trip and fall or trip and fly?"