Missing operating system on laptop

matphil · 7 February 2008 at 1:32PM

Hi.
Whilst using my laptop the pages I had open shut themselves down and the laptop then shut down.
I thought that it had over heated so waited until it had cooled down and switched it back on.
Now it doesn't work it just says missing operating system.
A friend told me that my hard drive has probably gone.
It is a packard bell easynote E600.
Can anything be done to repair this or shall I just chuck it.
Thanks.

Fliss_Harper · 7 February 2008 at 1:36PM

Well, you could replace the hard drive maybe, but I'd get a better anaylsis of what has happened.

fwor · 7 February 2008 at 2:43PM

As the previous post says, it's too early to say for sure that the hard disk has failed.

If you're OS was not fully patched then it could be malware - for example there's a website based one (Mebroot, IIRC) doing the rounds at the moment which both installs a rootkit and writes to the MBR, either of which if done ineptly could make the laptop unable to boot.

First thing I'd try is to download a hardware diagnostic program from the PB website and see if that gives any more clues.

matphil · 7 February 2008 at 3:26PM

Thanks both.
The Os was probably not fully patched as I have never patched it. It is windows XP home edition, if that makes any difference.
Would I be able to download a hardware diagnostic program as I can't get anything up on the laptop, if so could you tell me how please. I am using a different one at the moment.
Thanks.

Hkem · 7 February 2008 at 3:35PM

Can you access the BIOS? This is the screen that comes up before the Windows Logo comes up, and should give you the option to press F4 to enter the BIOS setup. I don't recommend fiddling with the BIOS unless you are savvy with these things, but it will be able to tell you whether the Hard-drive is detected. If it isn't, then you've found the problem. If it is, then I recommend a reinstall of the OS, unless you have a recovery boot disk.

matphil · 7 February 2008 at 3:47PM

I just switched it on and the windows log on screen doesn't come up.
I have pressed F4 and nothing happens.
It now says NTLDR is missing.
Thanks.

fwor · 7 February 2008 at 3:57PM

The following seems to be right - though it does say E6 series, not E600 - as a diagnostic for RAM and HDD:

http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/index.php?i=6917051000&pi=platform_Lynx_K8

It's a bootable CD, so you may need to change the BIOS settings to make it boot from CD before HDD.

matphil · 7 February 2008 at 4:03PM

Could you tell me how to change the BOIS settings please.
Thanks.

fwor · 7 February 2008 at 4:06PM

Sorry my typo - should be BIOS.

Varies from make to make, but usually it's Del, F2 or F10 key as soon as it starts up.

matphil · 7 February 2008 at 4:22PM

I have made the cd. I'm not sure if I'm on the right page or what to do.
On the top of the screen it says Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, Exit.
Is this the right screen. I clicked on boot and it says Boot Device , Recovery Boot.
What shall I do next, please.
THanks.

fwor · 7 February 2008 at 4:37PM

Sounds like you've found the right screen. All you need to do is check the boot order and ensure that the CD-ROM boots before the HDD, save the changes (usually F10), put the CD in the drive and reboot.

Missing operating system on laptop

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