Computer - what has my son done!!

mumoftwins

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help please? My son's computer shows this message on starting up -

Insert Boot Disc 'A' to continue

and that is as far as it gets........................

Does anyone know what has happened please?

Thank you

pstones578

mumoftwins wrote: »

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help please? My son's computer shows this message on starting up -

Insert Boot Disc 'A' to continue

and that is as far as it gets........................

Does anyone know what has happened please?

Thank you

The PC may be trying to boot off a floppy disc. You may need to boot the machine up into the BIOS, watch the screen when it boots and you may se a message along the lines of PRESS F12 (or could be another F# button) TO ENTER SET-UP. Once you are in the BIOS you will have to have a poke around and look for the boot order options (may not be called this) and change the order so it boots off hard drive. Read the instructions on screen near the bottom that will explain how to change options. When your done you will need to exit out and save settings. See how you get on with that.

basmic

If it's not the boot-up sequence, as described above, then prepare for a reinstall.

HalfaSixpence_2

Check if he has left a floppy in the drive first - if there is a diskette in the floppy drive when you switch on, the computer will assume you want to boot from it; then when it finds it isn't a bootable disk, it will prompt you for the disk it thinks you want to use. If there is a disk there, take it out, switch off completely, switch on again and it should be OK.

This was the most frequent query back when floppy disks were common and I worked in IT, but today it's less likely as fewer floppies are used. Worth checking, though, particularly for moneysavers who might be using older games and kit!

niceguyrichy

try hitting F1 and see if it continues anyway.
if not, reboot and tap F8 until you get windows boot options.

jaydeeuk1

Is it a windows 98 machine by any chance?

Strider590

Sounds much like corrupt windows install, probably a virus, probably going to need a full reinstall.
Try the above advice first and i'll come back later if your still stuck.

old_codger1

pstones578 wrote: »

The PC may be trying to boot off a floppy disc. You may need to boot the machine up into the BIOS, watch the screen when it boots and you may se a message along the lines of PRESS F12 (or could be another F# button) TO ENTER SET-UP. Once you are in the BIOS you will have to have a poke around and look for the boot order options (may not be called this) and change the order so it boots off hard drive. Read the instructions on screen near the bottom that will explain how to change options. When your done you will need to exit out and save settings. See how you get on with that.

... or 'esc'

Whilst you're in set-up it's also worth checking if the hard disk is still recognised. This can usually be done by examining the standard CMOS settings or similar. It should look something like this...



If the disk isn't detected immediately it can usually found by simply going to the appropriate entry, (320Mb Primary master in the above example), and pressing <enter>

However it's done, if you can't detect the hard disk in the BIOS you won't get very far with the machine.

mumoftwins

Thanks for all the suggestions! I am just home from work so will pop up to his room shortly and have a go and be back on later.