Guys

Looking for your help.

My PC at home died on me yesterday. When I switch it on, I get the opening Compaq screen, therefater I get a message on a black screen, along the top, in capitals, to say that I need to insert a system disk, which I don't have.

The PC is only a year old. I took it, hot foot, last night back to PC World, but it was out of warranty by nine days. Anyway, the technician took a wee look and advised that the hard drive was goosed, although that said he couldn't properly test it offering some feeble excuse about the PC being a 'new type' and not having the right 'machine'. He also quoted some horrific prices to repair -cheaper buying a new PC!

Anyway, I'm desperate! I need the PC up and running ASAP as I'm in the middle of two website re-builds, and all my data is on the goosed drive.

It's a Compaq Presario ; any suggestions? Please .....................................

What is the exact model?

Input here for more info:

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

If there is a hard drive issue you can diagnose it depending on the hard drive manufacturer:

Do you know the manufacturer of your hard drive?

You will find the major brand diagnostics listed here:

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

With a few others listed here:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

What happened to your System Disk? This is as important as your computer. You can always buy another from Compaq / HP.

In a worse case scenerio you can slave this drive on another computer to extract the data.

You could try the 6 floppy boot disks to try the Recovery Console but this is dependant on the Compaq system not Microsoft. Therefore it is only a try:

How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks


If you cannot boot into Windows I would suggest first trying the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307654

To try to fix the boot:

Assuming that your XP is on C: then:

Type:

FIXMBR C:

then enter. After that completes type:

FIXBOOT C:

then enter. After that completes type:

BOOTCFG /rebuild

then enter. After that completes type:

EXIT

then reboot.

If in the process you are asked to run chkdsk say YES.

Also after the BOOTCFG /rebuild you will be prompted to:

C:\Windows
1. Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
2. Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
3. Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)

Reply:
1. Yes
2. XP
3. /fastdetect

I am inclined to agree with the PC World diagnosis, odd as it seems and contrary to normal experience. I had same issue once and even adding a new HDD and using the old one as a slave didnt work; it was damaged inside. My data was important and I had to use a company to rebuild the drive for me - cost £300; A subtle reminder that Backups are important!!! If its important and you need the data, try this company (as i assume you are in uK?)- they sorted it for me:- nsysonline .