Brand: Other Computer
OS: Windows XP
RAM: 512MB-1GB
CPU: AMD Other
Type: Laptop
Question: When I try to power up my laptop, I get a message saying operating system not found, and when I try to reinstall windows xp, I get a message saying that windows does not detect my hard drive. How can I fix this problem? Any and all help would be deeply appreciated
you will need a new harddrive. you can replace it yourself if you are comfortable dissecting your laptop, or you can send it to a computer SHOP. That message alone does not mean the Hard Disk Drive is bad, altho likely. Laptops are very complicated to work on if you have NEVER done it before. I would not rush into replacing the HDD before TROUBLESHOOTING further.

You could try a boot device that will plug into a USB port for some further troubleshooting. Such as a CF (compact flash) card reader and the 512Mb-2Gb compact flash card. Then you should be able to boot CMOS and set 1st boot to other or USB, depending on your choices. Also if you did not do this before, when trying to reload WINXP, then go back into CMOS & set 1st boot to CDROM and try to re-install WINXP from your CD.

Good Luck.



you may also check in the cmos to see if your hard drive is detected. there should be a setting to automatically detect hard drives. Hard to IMAGINE it would need to be change if it has been working. but your drive should be listed unless it has become unplugged, it may infact be bad, it happens! Thanks for all the help, I am going to take it into a computer repair shop. Thanks again for the help.