Boot Disk Failure

[kaheiyeh]

Today when I turned on my computer, I was greeted with this message during the boot up process, "Boot Disk Failure. Insert System Disk and Press Enter.". Thinking it may have been a loose cable, I checked all my wiring again, but everything was fine. After about five reboots, the system finally found the OS and loaded Windows.

Is this a sign that my hard drive is on its last legs? I've had this drive for almost a year. My hard drive is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB SATA - ST380013AS.

[Alm()nd J()y]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

No I'm thinking your BIOS messed up or something and was trying to boot from your disc or floppy drive, but then it obviously fixed itself or something.

[kaheiyeh]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

No I'm thinking your BIOS messed up or something and was trying to boot from your disc or floppy drive, but then it obviously fixed itself or something.

Indeed I did check the BIOS. I loaded up the Fail Safe Settings and Optimised Settings to see if it would make any difference.

[-[MDS]-Stormy]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Change the mobo battery (CR2032 most likely, and available anywhere watch batteries are sold).

[farty_mcrablice]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Did it get far enough to boot into safe mode?

[kaheiyeh]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Did it get far enough to boot into safe mode?

No, the screen stayed still at the point with these 3 lines at the bottom:

----
Boot From Disk:
Boot From Disk:
Boot Disk Failure. Insert System Disk and Press Enter.
----

Then it'd stay there until I reboot the system.

[farty_mcrablice]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Could very possibly be a bad hard drive. Have you had any problems with it before this? Does it get especially hot or make any funny noises?

[Alm()nd J()y]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

If you have a copy of Windows you try reinstalling.

[kaheiyeh]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Could very possibly be a bad hard drive. Have you had any problems with it before this? Does it get especially hot or make any funny noises?

I've never had any problems with this hard drive. I don't hear any wierd noises comming from the hard drive; in fact I find it quiet. SpeedFan's HD sensor says it's 30C at idle.

[farty_mcrablice]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

If you have a copy of Windows you try reinstalling.

It's not very likely that it's a software problem. Probably a bad hard drive or possibly a motherboard problem. You can eliminate software by trying to boot from a windows startup disk. If it boots, it's software. If it doesn't, it's hardware.

[-[MDS]-Stormy]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Like I already said, replace the motherboard battery, and then reset the bios to its default. If it works you can thank me later. If not, then it is time to start troubleshooting (and you're only out a couple of $$).

Today 05:32 PM Alm()nd J()y
No I'm thinking your BIOS messed up or something and was trying to boot from your disc or floppy drive, but then it obviously fixed itself or something.

That sure sounds like the bios isn't keeping its settings, which is a sign that the battery is dead or dying.

[kaheiyeh]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Like I already said, replace the motherboard battery, and then reset the bios to its default. If it works you can thank me later. If not, then it is time to start troubleshooting (and you're only out a couple of $$).

That sure sounds like the bios isn't keeping its settings, which is a sign that the battery is dead or dying.

I've mentioned in the OP that after a few tries and changing a few BIOS settings, I was able to load windows again. How long is the CMOS battery's life expectancy?

[Sir. S.A.S]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

mine did that for some reason and i found it was reading the wrong hard drive, so i went in to the bios and corrected it (all sorted)

[Eden]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Do you have a floppy disk in your drive?

Thats the exact same error I think I get when I forget to remove a floppy disk next time I boot up.

[kaheiyeh]

Re: Boot Disk Failure

Do you have a floppy disk in your drive?

Thats the exact same error I think I get when I forget to remove a floppy disk next time I boot up.

I don't have a floppy drive in my computer. I removed it a few months ago.