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[jereboam]

My elderly laptop, which I haven't attempted to use for ages - possibly more than a year - won't work any more.  It goes through the usual start up stuff, then does nothing for a minute and then says "operating system not found".  It won't boot from the CD either, although it doesn't give a message.  It can see both the HDD and CD, so I don't think it's simply just disc failure, but it is just sitting there doing nothing.

Any suggestions?

[dbug]

My elderly laptop, which I haven't attempted to use for ages - possibly more than a year - won't work any more.  It goes through the usual start up stuff, then does nothing for a minute and then says "operating system not found".  It won't boot from the CD either, although it doesn't give a message.  It can see both the HDD and CD, so I don't think it's simply just disc failure, but it is just sitting there doing nothing.

Any suggestions?

Has it got a floppy drive? - disk left in?
Whats operating system?
Could be issue with Master Boot Record.

[jereboam]

My elderly laptop, which I haven't attempted to use for ages - possibly more than a year - won't work any more.  It goes through the usual start up stuff, then does nothing for a minute and then says "operating system not found".  It won't boot from the CD either, although it doesn't give a message.  It can see both the HDD and CD, so I don't think it's simply just disc failure, but it is just sitting there doing nothing.

Any suggestions?

Has it got a floppy drive? - disk left in?
Whats operating system?
Could be issue with Master Boot Record.

Swappable FDD/CD - don't know where the FDD is - haven't used it for years.
It's W2K
Where does the Master Boot Record live?  If it's on disk, why won't it boot from the CD?

Thanks for the suggestions

[Plomien]

if its the master boot record only real fix is a reinstall or try a boot up floppy disk

[Leomas]

My elderly laptop, which I haven't attempted to use for ages - possibly more than a year - won't work any more.  It goes through the usual start up stuff, then does nothing for a minute and then says "operating system not found".  It won't boot from the CD either, although it doesn't give a message.  It can see both the HDD and CD, so I don't think it's simply just disc failure, but it is just sitting there doing nothing.

Any suggestions?

Has it got a floppy drive? - disk left in?
Whats operating system?
Could be issue with Master Boot Record.

Swappable FDD/CD - don't know where the FDD is - haven't used it for years.
It's W2K
Where does the Master Boot Record live?  If it's on disk, why won't it boot from the CD?

Thanks for the suggestions

Have you changed the BIOS setting to make it look at the CD for booting? If not then it will keep going to the Hard Disc and the CD may not be on the boot list at all.

[Proz]

As above change the bios to boot from cd/dvd ( i know on my lappy i press F2 during boot to get into bios settings ) or failing that maybe the hard disk is fubar  :-/

[jereboam]

if its the master boot record only real fix is a reinstall or try a boot up floppy disk

Shouldn't think I've got a floppy to boot from, even if I knew where the drive was.  And I can't re-install as it won't boot from the CD

Have you changed the BIOS setting to make it look at the CD for booting? If not then it will keep going to the Hard Disc and the CD may not be on the boot list at all.

The F12 key gives a boot menu, so I chose CD from that.  But thinking about it, I've got a feeling it may actually have tried the HDD first.  I'll try changing it in the BIOS.

[jereboam]

As above change the bios to boot from cd/dvd ( i know on my lappy i press F2 during boot to get into bios settings ) or failing that maybe the hard disk is fubar  :-/

That would be be my guess, but I don't understand the behaviour at the moment - why won't it boot from CD?

[Proz]

Is the cd clean and scratch free .... i know my cd drive hates a disk with even a finger print on it .... if its set to boot from cd/dvd maybe the windows disk is fubar too  :-/

[Proz]

Just been reading back the post ..... does W2K not need to install drivers for the cd .... i know XP and later do this themselves i think  :-/...  or am i barking tottally up the wrong tree .... wish i could help more  

[jereboam]

Right, I've changed the BIOS boot settings and it makes no difference - still won't go.  

I'm fairly sure W2K should boot directly from the CD - if the BIOS gives you the option, there shouldn't be a problem.  On W98 you needed to install MSDOS drivers to read the CD if you booted from floppy.

And I just tried another W2K distribution disk and it gives the same (lack of) result.

[RichardH]

As far as I can remember, W2K CD is not bootable.  You need another bootable media to boot to first.

[rickyboy]

Could simply be both the hdd and cd drive are fubar.  Try an xp boot disk or a nero bootable disk just to see if they load.  It should be able to boot without the aid of drivers for the cd drive.  

You could also try a lens cleaner or take out the drive and blow the dust off.  Clutching at straws really but it doesn't sound like a problem with the laptop/motherboard itself or you'd be likely to have problems loading the bios.

[davlad22]

or bin it  

[jereboam]

As far as I can remember, W2K CD is not bootable.  You need another bootable media to boot to first.

You could be right - can't remember.  Don't think the laptop will run XP - it's not a very high spec.  But I suppose I can put the CD in see if it boots - I'll have a go later - got to go and make a vegetarian Bolognese sauce now