when i start up my computer it starts to load then goes to a black screen and says OPERATING system not found... my hard drive is connected to the computer but keeps telling me it did not find any hard disk drives.. when i try to do a PRIMARY hard disk self check it says "no ide device" found i checked it out online and tried to fix it by copying the set up disk onto a blank DISC like a site i found told me too but still no luck.. is there anything i can do or am i destined to buy a new hard drive??
ideas please...
thanksIs this a laptop or Desktop?

If it's a Desktop computer, have you opened it up to see if the Hard Drive is hooked up properly?its a lap top.. an hp pavilion dv6500
and ive already TAKEN the hard drive out and re connected it again many times. no luckWas this laptop dropped ? ?
How old is it ? ?naw i just turned it on one day and it just didnt work.. could i have gotten a virus or something cuz its fairly new.. only a year old if that...Is it still under warranty?i have no clue.. i just wanna know if there is any other method i can take in trying to fix it or am i going to need to buy a new hard drive??A virus will not cause this issue...
Does anyone you know work on PC's that could assist in removing and re-connecting the HDD ? ?
Laptops can be tricky to work on and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Your Owner's Manual should have instructions on HDD removal.

EDIT: If it is less than a year it is still under Warranty...attempting to fix it yourself may VOID this warranty so check this first.
Getting it into a shop would be the best alternative.i dunno im not computer retarded im pretty handy with them i just wanna know if there are any methods i could take in tryin to fix it. everything i have tried LEADS me nowhere.. a couple times i thought i fixed it but it ends up saying theres no hard drive connected..As i said consult your Manual...
First thing i would try is removing and re-seating the hard drive.

He says he's removed and replaced many times, to no avail.

Have you checked your BIOS/Boot Menu? Is it set up to load from a hard drive that doesn't exist, or another drive?