The Energon Pub

Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:49 pm

ok so my laptop crashed again, and now it says

"Cant find operating system" at the reboot screen

ive tried everything from backup discs to rebooting discs and even resetting the settings in the BIOS menu

I am at a complete loss here

News Credits: 38 · Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:06 pm

What operating system are you using?

Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:08 pm

windows 98

News Credits: 38 · Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:16 pm

Uh. That I don't know about. My first comp had 2000 on it.

Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:21 pm

it says you can choose which one you will be running the most so i can choose from
windows 95, 98/2000, or other

for the one i use the most, if that helps.
but rite now if no one can help me ill just sell it for parts, and buy a new one for christmas

News Credits: 14 · Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:15 pm

I've never seen a machine offer those kinds of options.

And Windows98, geez that's so incredibly old.

could it be the hard drive failed?

If you try any of the other options like 2000.

Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:13 pm

hey at first I was going to introduce myself, but I'll just put that on hold for a few minutes. I couldn't help but notice this topic. it looks like either your hard drive failed, or it fragmented. another possibility is that your hard drive did a head crash. any one of these would render your hard drive about as useful as a paper weight. I'd get a new hard drive, if possible.

News Credits: 38 · Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:19 pm

And then rip apart your hard drive and use the platters for coasters. You'll have the most informative drink holders among all of your friends. And then use the magnet as a paper clip holder.

Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:29 pm

it is really an easy fix. first you could try to reinstall the OS. or test the failed hard drive and if possible, test it in a different laptop. if the drive still doesn't work then you can get a new hard drive for ten to fifty bucks on ebay that will work on your system. if it DOES work then your laptop's primary IDE controller has failed and the whole system is useless. to find instructions on how to replace the hard drive you should check the manufacturer's web site. just follow those instructions to the letter and your laptop should be working again soon.

Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:55 pm

thanks guys, but the problem is, the laptops a Gateway Solo Series, and i dont think the hard drive is compatible with my newer computers,

anyone no if geek squad might no anything.

ps. the laptop is a few years younger than i am

Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:53 pm

Iron-Man wrote:And then rip apart your hard drive and use the platters for coasters. You'll have the most informative drink holders among all of your friends. And then use the magnet as a paper clip holder.

ha ha no ****. I had an old Samsung 1GB drive, that worked fine, but by 2004 was pretty much completly worthless... I mean my flash drive has more space than that! We ripped it part, I think we threw away the platter but the magnets are still awesome fridge magnets to this day...takes some force to get those things off!

I agree with the hard drive probably being toast. Honestly if windows 98 was its native OS, than the hardware by today's standards is pretty old. I think its time to purchase a new computer, or laptop.

News Credits: 97 · Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:27 am

It's probably time to buy a new laptop.

Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:50 pm

if i sell it for parts anyone know what i can expect the starting price should be?

my mom said $50 at best

News Credits: 14 · Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:27 pm

You can probably get a IDE laptop to desktop adapter for your hard drive, or a USB enclosure to turn into an USB external drive for 5 to 10 bucks.

As for selling it for parts, you could depending on the parts get well more than 50 bucks. Memory will probably fetch the higher price, as older memory is some times hard to come by these days.

Also the display may be worth something to someone looking to repair theirs.

And keyboards are always good to have around if only for the actual keys.

Try putting it up on ebay, you may find someone who needs a part from it.