One of the work desk tops a IBM netvista PC, has a problem starting windows. This pc was being used by someone else and it got hung up while in use. I am not sure what CAUSED the problem. So It was restarted. After restarting It cannot start windows and says 'no operating system found, press F1 to start bootup'. I was also informed that another person tried to start it in safe mode and had a diaglog box come up which asked to start up in last known good configuration and they selected 'No' now inspite of PRESSING F1 or even F8, the system keeps doing the same thing'saying no operating system found press F1.
Can anyone tell me what to do? Can you tell me how to get into the bios to have pc to start from Windows XP CD. I have the original XP CD with me.
Thanks
regards
The Saint"No operating system found" USUALLY means the HARD drive is damaged or dead. Go to the BIOS (F1) and see if the hard drive is there and make it be the first boot device (for this test). If it shows, but it will not boot, download a diagnostic FROMT he appropriate hard drive makes's site (it will fit on a floppy) and boot that and have it analyze the hard disk. Report back with any errors.

You could make sure the CDROM is listed as first boot device (or before the hard drive) and try to boot with the CDROM, but if the hard drive has problems, it will not allow Windows to be found or repaired. If the drive is OK, you could try fixmrb from the repair console, in case just the MBR is damaged.Thanks, will try that and report back. Just to confirm. we need to press F1 at the time of start up Plese confirm.
The SaintYes, F1 for IBM. You usually see that message from a cold boot, rather than a restart. You can press it several times, before the Windows logo.