Disc boot failure!!!

[Naz]

Please help!
I'm getting a start up errror message.
Before start up I get an error message that reads "disc boot failure, insert system disc and press enter" .

Would like to use formatting C as last option. (OS XP)

Thank you in advance for your help.
Kel

[paul9]

after making sure you do not have a floppy disk in the drive, then get a win98/me boot disk and run scandisk. if these actions do not cure your problem, then it could be time to use fdisk /mbr again from the boot disk.

[kendo]

yeah check the floppy drive first

scandisk is not on a typical 98 bootdisk unless you add it, the ME version will build a ram drive and make those options available but running the 98 versions of scandisk on XP operating system could cause additional issues

since the os is XP, try booting off of the installation cd and selecting the repair option

[Bill in SD, CA]

Does this happen all the time or sporadically?

Could also be a poorly connected/bad IDE cable. A quick swap might be the solution.

The repair option as stated above could avert the format.

Bill

[Naz]

Thank you for all your replys.
I wish it was as simply as a floppy disc.
Yes, it does it all the time. The operating system will not boot at all.
Tried the 98 scan disc already...no luck. I will try the XP installation disc.

Does anyone know what could have started this problem?
Thank you in advance.
Kel

[Bill in SD, CA]

Could be a virus in the MBR. Drive could be bad.

Try running a diagnostic disk on the drive from floppy.

Bill

[pickel]

Have tried installing the start up disc to see if you can get to an "a" prompt , then get into windows ???? Or boot from the CD and re-install windows ???